Synopsis: The Starbrand was written by Jim Shooter, penciled by John Romita Jnr with inks by Al Willliamson and opens with Ken Connell dirt-biking in rural Pennsylvania. After a risky jump, he finds a bomb-site. Shortly afterwards, he is approached by an old mall, all unearthly and cryptic. He does 'something' and Ken passes out … Continue reading July 1986: Starbrand 1 – Or, what is the deal with the quacking thing?

Synopsis: Introducing the Sinister Syndicate was written by Tom DeFalco, with layouts by Ron Frenz and pencils and inks by Brett Breeding and opens with Peter 'Spider-Man' Parker carrying Silver Sable through a firefight. The mismatched pair are being attacked by a collection of villains which includes Rhino, Boomerang, the Beetle, Speed Demon and Hydroman. … Continue reading June 1986 – Amazing Spider-Man 280 – Or, What? Were Kangaroo and the Spot busy?

Synopsis: Hero worship was written and drawn by John Byrne, with inks by Al Gordon and opens with Jennifer 'She-Hulk' Walters telling her boyfriend Wyatt Wingfoot (remember him? From the Lee/Kirby run) that Central City California is enclosed within an unknown black globe. She Hulk is outside the city with Tony 'Iron Man' Stark, Simon 'Wonder … Continue reading May 1986: Fantastic Four 293 – Or, so who’s actually looking after the kid?

  Synopsis:  102 uses for a dead cat was written by Peter David, with art by Rich Buckler and Bob McLeod and opens with 5 ridiculous looking thugs about to kill Felicia 'Black Cat' Hardy (in costume) after breaking her nose. She's suffering the effects of a concussion, hallucinating that the lead thug is Spider-Man. … Continue reading April 1986: Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 116 – Or, who exactly are we supposed to root for?

Synopsis: Heat was written by Denny O'Neil with art by Mark Bright, Atkin and Garvey and opens with Tony 'Iron Man' Stark (in full Silver Centurion armour) finishing construction of an orbiting space station, pleased with his handiwork. Also pleased is an un-named general from the Caribbean nation of Boca Caliente (you read that right, … Continue reading March 1986: Iron Man 207 – Or, wait the country is called Hot Mouth?

Synopsis: Wounded Wolf was written by Chris Claremont with pencils, inks and colours by Barry Windsor Smith and opens in Spiral's Body Shoppe were the Reavers (Macon, Cole and Reese, former guards from the Hellfire club torn up by Wolverine during the Dark Phoenix Saga) are having there cybernetics upgrading while Oyama Yuriko, a woman … Continue reading February 1986: Uncanny X-Men 205 – Or, this is why I don’t do carol singing.

Synopsis: Sir! Was written and drawn by Walt Simonson and opens with Thor's Chariot being pulled by the goats Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder and standing upon it is well a 6ft6 frog dressed as Thor. It actually is Thor, who has been turned into a frog by the machinations of his brother Loki, who schemes to … Continue reading January 1986: The Mighty Thor 366 – Or, giant frog riding two goats in space, fair to say the drugs have kicked in.

Synopsis: Firestar #1 was written by Tom DeFalco with art by Mary Wilshire and Steve Leialoha and opens with a girl and her grandmother at breakfast. Angelica Jones is having the lines on her hand explained as her being special. This doesn't go over well with Angelica's father Bartholomew who is struggling with having to … Continue reading December 1985: Firestar 1 – I don’t think Grandma is going to make it.

Synopsis: X-Factor #1 was written by Bob Layton with pencils by Jackson Guice and inks by the two of them along with Joe Rubenstein and opens with Scott Summers the former X-Man called Cyclops using his powerful optic blasts to chop wood in his Alaska home. His wife Madelyn calls him in and there's clearly tension … Continue reading November 1985: X-Factor 1 – Think maybe Ghostbusters gonna sue somebody?