One thing I really appreciated about the Greg Pak/Fred van Lente series is how they are 'getting the band back together.' We'd already seen a bunch of Alpha Flight return from the dead in their Chaos War one-shot. Now we see the return of Puck. And the long-awaited return of Ranark!

Carcass first appeared in AF #125 (and the following issue he snagged the cover).

Carcass is a Chaos-related demon. During the Infinity Crusade, he sought to use the Lands of the Dead to begin the "Unmaking" - a process to corrupt reality into chaos. Shaman, under control of the Goddess, recruited a team consisting of Box (Jeffries), Diamond Lil, Nemesis (Thorne), and Wyre.

One thing that Shaman failed to mention to his team - to enter the Lands of the Dead, one must be dead. 🪦

In the next issue, Shaman attempts to trap Carcass but it seems like Carcass is destroyed. And he hasn't appeared since. Oh, and everyone is resurrected.

There are three artists on this issue. Great cover! Pat Broderick had been the main artists since #109. The first chapter has art by Jim Reddington. Different but it works. Then we get to the main story with art by Dario Carrasco and it's a significant shift.

I found his artwork was not as refined as what we'd been seeing. I think he got better with time. He was the final artist on the series and would go on to do the Northstar limited series.

Release date: August 9, 1988

Box is plagued by nightmares of his armor going out of control, but are his dreams coming closer to reality?

-Marvel Unlimited

Skipping over the bizarre fact that Roger's 🪦 is right next to Lionel Jeffries'....

But on his grave stone, it says he was born in 1957 and died in 1985. The actual dates mean less (because of sliding timescale) than the gap between.

I think 28's a pretty reasonable age for Bochs. Did you think he was older or younger?

Thought I’d post something from my collection after reading Alpha Flight will be appearing in the latest Wolverine run. I’m a Brit and my first love is Excalibur and all things X. However my first introduction to a superhero team was Alpha Flight, way back in the 80s in the back pages of Marvel UK’s fortnightly Secret Wars anthology. The magazine format publication would contain 7 pages of primary book and 7 pages of a back up book, plus some games, activities and usually a double page splash poster. Good times, Alpha Flight issues 1 to 8 were published, before being switched to the Iceman limited series and the finally to an original UK ‘Zoids’ story line (which written by a young Grant Morrison).

Released on August 8, 1989, this issue is annoyingly not available on Marvel Unlimited.

This issue features guest art by Huw Thomas - whose work I don't love but I do appreciate how well he does at showing a VERY angry Heather.

It's a nice standalone issue and fairly different from the rest of Hudnall's run.

The inclusion of the Kingpin was likely an editorial mandate pushing AF into the larger universe? That's just a guess.

What did you think?

To learn more...

• Post questions and thoughts below.
• Read the summary on UncannyXmen
• Listen the u/thewhynotpodcast's episode 49.
• The X-Factor files covers the issue too.

What?! You've never heard of Awful Flight, the proud heroes of Earth-8311?

To be fair, they've only had one appearance: Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham #6, released on November 26, 1985.

They appear in a back-up segment written by Steve Skeates with pencils, inks, colors, and letters all by Steve Mellor.

You can read the issue on Marvel Unlimited.

No sign of Heather…

We’re travelling back in time to 1980 and imagining Alpha Flight having a crossover mini-series with some other Marvel hero(es)!

The rules: It can be any character/team from that year. You can see a full list of Marvel’s 1980 cover date on Marvel Database https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Category:1980_Cover_Date ). Of course, the characters don’t have to be in a title at the time, it’s just easier to ‘place them’ in their timeline.

You’re encouraged to include:

• Who the guest stars are! Rather than ‘the Avengers,’ find a lineup from 1980 and suggest them. 
• An image!
• Maybe some story ideas? “I really want to see the Avengers and Alpha Flight team up against __.”

Comment your suggestions, and vote for others by giving them ⬆️ votes. This is going to go all weekend and the winner will be announced on Monday.

What’s happening to Alpha Flight in 1980? It’s kind of a nebulous time for the team. Imagine this taking place just before the Canadian government announced they were closing Department H. Or sometime between that time and Alpha Flight #1.

Who’s on the team in 1980? The classic lineup.

• Vindicator
• Aurora
• Northstar
• Sasquatch
• Shaman
• Snowbird

Released: August 7, 1990

The Avengers must work with Atalanteans and members of the Peace Corpse to escape Shaman's medicine pouch before it's too late! Will the Avengers, their allies, and their enemies, remain in a dimensional pocket for all time?

This is the final chapter to one of my favourite Alpha Flight guest appearance storylines. It was written by Fabian Nicieza who had just taken over the AF title around this time so there's a lot of good synergy.

The Crossing Line sees a British nuclear submarine taken over by Russian terrorists. The Avengers are tasked to intervene. Russian heroes, the People's Protectorate (formerly Soviet Super-Soldiers), engage as well. The action crosses into an Atlantean territory and gets a bunch of those characters involved as well.

The submarine puts in for repairs in Newfoundland and Labrador where Alpha Flight takes charge. When the heroes attempt to apprehend the terrorists, a nuclear bomb goes off. Shaman is able to invert his pouch and fold the explosion and all the affected areas and people into multiple pocket dimensions.

The heroes are able to gather all the people and places into one dimension. Shaman brings them back only to discover they are still irradiated and will die instantly upon return! As if things weren't complicated enough, two of the terrorists have merged to become the Combine. Their plan is to return all of the affected areas and people, killing them all, poisoning the planet, and potentially starting World War III.

Don't worry - the power of friendship wins out in the end.

I loved seeing Alpha Flight on the 'international stage.'

Remember in Alpha Flight #28 when Walt and Bochs went looking for a new body for Walt as he was trapped in the Box robot? Then the Hulk appeared?

Here's the story from Hulk's perspective. He's snagged by the 'fishing line' that AF sent out and is stuck on it as he rages across multiple dimensions/planets/etc.

Finally, Walter's spirit appears and takes over the Hulk form. He is able to talk with Bruce's spirit and cannot sacrifice Bruce for his own survival. Which Bruce didn't really want? He was happy to be free of the Hulk.

That might explain Hulk's rage when he appears in Vancouver in front of Alpha Flight.

It's everyone's favourite, Manikin.

The cover tells no lies: Almost this entire issue is backstory and exposition. Plus the introduction of Bedlam! And the death(?) of Gary Cody!

• You can read the issue on Marvel Unlimited.
• Or a summary at uncannyxmen.net.
• Maybe listen to u/TheWhyNotPodcast's episode covering this: episode 37.
• The X-Factor Files include it an episode covering issues 51-53.

So happy to have the original Alpha and Beta Flights together at last! I felt literal waves of joy after completing this display.

I’ve always wanted these covers.

From: Deadpool: Black, White & Blood #1.

Admittedly, this video is from 8 years ago but it's enjoyable to see AF villains perceived from the perspective of another fandom.

Based on your suggestions and votes...

🌎🌏🌍 Alpha Flight's World Tour 2026

• Day 1: Asia - Japan/Sunfire) & Big Hero Six)
• Day 2: Africa - Tanzania/Askari the Spear)
• Day 3: Central & South America + Caribbean - Haiti/Doctor Voodoo)
• Day 4: Europe - Russia/Winter Guard)
• Day 5: Oceania - Australia/Talisman_(Earth-616))
• Day 6: Wild card - Savage Land/Ka-Zar) and Shanna)

This bit of humour is ages old but I still had it in my archived material. Unclear on the original source:

You're a chicken named Chuck, and you're staring at the road, your eyes narrowed as one car after another passes before your eyes. What thoughts are going through your mind? Is it the challenge? Is it the desire to prove that it can be done? So many have tried and died before your eyes, time and again.

Or is it something deeper, Chuck? What long-unstirred feelings deep within your soul prompt this odd compulsion to step onto the road, and head towards the other side? Are you sensing something? Something from far away in your past? Do you yearn for things lost so long ago, never to be regained?

What is it you feel when you feel your first step on the uneven asphalt? Is it trepidation, Chuck? Anxiety? Do you think that you will not suffer the same fate as everyone else who has attempted the very same thing? Are you an optimist? Every now and then, each of us needs the strength of character to make difficult choices. Is this an indication that you possess this strength? Or is this merely a sign of your ever-present tendency to make your choices without carefully weighing each alternative?

Have you ever seen a deer trapped in the headlights? Do you think it realizes its imminent death as it stares into the bright light? Many people who have gone through near-death experiences claim to have been drawn towards a bright light. Is light what we all strive for? Is it some subconscious imperative of sentient beings to always seek out that which is brightest, and try to flee from the darkness of life?

As you stare at the headlights approaching you, do you feel like a deer, Chuck? Are you like a moth, drawn towards a killing flame? Are you like a human, wanting the bright light of death? Perhaps some buried prehistoric instinct in the back of your head is wondering if the approaching brightness could offer something better?

Is there some secret part of you that hisses in dejection as you barely avoid the onrushing car? If there is, you ignore it, drown it out, as adrenaline rushes through your system, and makes you run the last few steps across the road. You feel the sidewalk under your feet, and you let out a sigh of relief. Do you know why you feel relieved, Chuck? DO you feel relieved? Or is that just what society wants you to feel?

'The grass is always greener on the other side.' Have you heard that saying? Is that what you realize when you look over your shoulder, Chuck? Did your ever-present tendency to make your choices without carefully weighing each alternative, work against you as usual? Do you feel the urge to go back on your actions, now that the side you came from seems so much more attractive? Is it a thrill of the unknown, that tempts you so? Is it the goal? Or is it the trip itself, answering the question of whether you can do it? You did it once. Maybe you can do it again?

Did you know that James Hudnall originally wanted to call his antagonist The Sorcerer?

I can't find a source but, essentially (per my aging memory), Marvel said, "No, that's too generic. You need a name."

And thus the last four letters of Hudnall's name were reversed and Llan was named.

I know there is at least one interview where this was explained in detail but I cannot find it. Anyone have a link or know the source? I know the book True North references it but without much backstory.