Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton
Colourist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Previously, in Young Avengers: Attempting to patch up a tiff between himself and Hulkling, Wiccan uses his dimension altering powers to pluck Hulkling’s mother from the timestream the second before her death. However, it soon comes to light that the women Wiccan rescues is actually a dimension hopping parasite known as Mother, who wishes to take control of Wiccan, Hulkling, and everyone else across the planet.

Teaming up with Loki and Miss America, Wiccan and Hulkling flee New York, only to be stopped by parental figures at every turn – including Loki’s reincarnated father Laufey, and Miss America’s moms. Meanwhile, Kate Bishop has hooked up with Noh-Varr, also known as the Kree warrior Marvel Boy. But their night of passion ends badly as Noh’s spaceship is attacked by Skrulls.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jamie McKelvie
Colourist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Previously, in Young Avengers: When he discovers that Hulkling has been practising his superheroics without his knowledge, Wiccan confronts his boyfriend about his activities. Their argument ends with Billy reaching through the dimensions to rescue Hulkling’s mother from the moment of her death, as a peace offering. Instead of Teddy’s mother however, Billy manages to find a dimension-sucking parasite, who manifests as Teddy’s mother and seems to warp reality around her.

When they go to the Uncanny Avengers for help, Billy and Teddy are reprimanded back into the creature’s custody by the Scarlet Witch and her teammates, and imprisoned in a strange reality. They find themselves inexplicably rescued by Loki, who takes the pair to Asgardia in order to seek answers from the All-Mother. The trio don’t even get that far, as Laufey, Loki’s long-dead father appears at the entrance to Asgardia, out for blood.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton
Colourist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Previously, in Young Avengers: In the wake of the war between Latveria, the Avengers, and the X-Men, the Young Avengers rescued the Scarlet Witch and subsequently retired. Loki, who had perished during the siege of Asgard, was reincarnated as a child. Also, Noh-Varr managed to alienate both his teammates in the Avengers, and his fellow Kree, leaving him effectively homeless.

Kate Bishop, AKA Hawkeye, meets up with Noh-Varr, and their spaceship comes under attack by Skrulls. The enigmatic Miss America finds Loki plotting something untoward towards Wiccan and Hulkling, and proceeds to beat the snot out of him. And Wiccan uses his magical, dimension altering powers to manipulate the timestream and rescue Hulkling’s mother right before her death. Her way of thanking them involves brainwashing Wiccan’s parents.

Marvel unleashed a teaser today for an upcoming arc on Kieron Gillen’s Iron Man series. At first it was just an awesome announcement for me because Dale Eaglesham would be replacing Greg Land (the reason I dropped the series) as the artist, but then some information and speculation started hitting the interwebs.

So, how is this “Secret Origin” like Swamp Thing? Two words: Anatomy Lesson.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton
Colourist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Joe Caramagna

Previously…: Wiccan, Hulking, a new Hawkeye, Patriot, Speed, Vision, and Stature formed the Young Avengers during a time when the Avengers were no longer operating after the Scarlet Witch caused them to disband. After the Avengers returned, they received an unofficial blessing from the team, and continued to operate. Their latest mission sent them to Latveria, where a war between the Avengers and Doctor Doom erupted over the Scarlet Witch, which resulted in Wanda returning to active duty as an Avenger. The Young Avengers however disbanded after the death of Stature.

Loki, god of mischief, was reincarnated as a child after perishing during the Siege of Asgard. However, he was no longer the Loki we once knew, and attempted to remake himself as something completely different. His quest was thwarted when the ‘true’ Loki took possession of his body, with no one else any the wiser. Now, Loki needs an Avengers team, and the Young Avengers look like the right candidates.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Stephanie Hans
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Ok, I’m going to need a minute. Whilst I compose myself, have the recap from this issue instead of my usual ramble.

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery:

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Penciller: Carlos Pacheco
Colourist: Guru eFX
Inker: Roger Bonet
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Joe Caramagna

Previously, in Uncanny X-Men: The events of Avengers Vs. X-Men are reverberating throughout the Marvel Universe. Cyclops is now in custody for his crimes as the Dark Phoenix, not least of which was killing the longtime leader of the X-Men, Professor Charles Xavier. Cyclops regrets Xavier’s death, but the fact that his escapades as the Phoenix has allowed new mutants to be born across the globe means that he feels his actions are justified.

Some of the other X-Men are still unaccounted for. Danger, still under the control of UNIT, the psychopathic alien computer, is the most at risk, but the rest of the Extinction Team are also missing; Psylocke, Magneto, Colossus, Emma Frost, and Magik are all out there. What are their plans now that the Phoenix is gone?

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dale Eaglesham
Colourist: Matt Milla
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Joe Caramagna

Previously, in Uncanny X-Men: The Phoenix Five have been reduced to the Phoenix One. Namor was defeated at the hands of the Avengers after his invasion of Wakanda, whilst Colossus and Magik were tricked by Spider-Man into defeating each other. When the Avengers, X-Men, Scarlet Witch, and Hope Summers battled the two remaining members, Emma Frost and Cyclops, Cyclops turned on Emma and defeated her himself, absorbing all of the Phoenix’s power.

Despite the urging of the assembled heroes, Cyclops would not listen to reason and relinquish the cosmic power of the Phoenix. Instead, he used it to murder his mentor, Professor Xavier, in cold blood. Now the stage is set for the final battle, as Cyclops has fully succumbed to the influence of the Phoenix, and become the new incarnation of the Dark Phoenix.

In their next confirmation of the week, Marvel has announced that the “Amateurs” teaser from last week was indeed Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie heading up a new Young Avengers series.

The book will start Kid Loki, America Chavez, Kate Bishop (the second Hawkeye), Wiccan, Hulkling, and Noh-Varr, also known as Marvel Boy. Gillen spoke about the story behind this series, which will begin with Wiccan making some form of magical mistake, and Loki forming the new team in order to right Wiccan’s mistake.

In other news, my Want-O-Meter has broken. Anyone want to fix it for me?

[ComicBookResources]

The next of this week’s Marvel NOW! teasers has hit the internet, announcing Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, frequent comic collaborators, working on a new series.

This is likely the same series that will spin out of the Point One teaser show a few weeks ago featuring Kid Loki (who Gillen has written extensively in Journey Into Mystery) and Miss America Chavez from the Vengeance mini-series.

[ComicBookResources]

Writers: Kieron Gillen and Matt Fraction
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

(Note: This issue continues from Mighty Thor #20, and into Mighty Thor #21)

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: Released by Loki in order to defeat the Serpent during Fear Itself, Surtur has enacted his plan to completely destroy all of creation, working alongside Loki’s former BFF, Leah. The Nine Realms are at war with Surtur’s minions and the Manchester Gods, as well as the Vanir. The one hope in the war effort seemed to be Thor, but Loki tricked his brother into a trap, and left him to drown in a lake of Surtur’s fire, apparently revealing his true colours as a villain once again.

Continuing to sow seeds of doubt, Loki also caused the assembled Asgardian hordes to turn on Volstagg, temporary King of Asgardia. However, when he reported back to Surtur, Loki took the opportunity to steal Twilight’s Shadow, the silhouette of Surtur’s all-powerful Twilight Sword, and flee Muspelheim. Surtur released the Hel-Wolf, one of the first creatures wrapped up in Loki’s schemes, to track down and kill Loki.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Ron Garney
Colourists: Jason Keith and Morry Hollowell
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Joe Caramagna

Previously, in Uncanny X-Men: The Phoenix Force has come to Earth, and possessed five of the X-Men. Magik, Namor, and Colossus were defeated by the combined forces of the Avengers, and their portions of the Phoenix’s power were transferred to Emma Frost and Cyclops, who now possess half of the cosmic firebird’s power each. The Avengers have opposed the Phoenix since it arrived, and have now discovered that the combined might of Hope Summers and the Scarlet Witch are able to damage its human hosts.

Cyclops has realised that in order to defeat the Avengers and their allies for the final time, he will require the entirety of the Phoenix’s power, and sets out to find Emma in order to enlist her in the battle. It looks like the Marvel Universe’s mutant power couple is going to have some therapy sessions in its future, if the pair of them survive the encounter.

Writers: Kieron Gillen and Matt Fraction
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

(Note: This issue continues on from Mighty Thor #19 and into Mighty Thor #20)

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: Loki freed the fire demon, Surtur, from his imprisonment in Limbo in order to stop the Serpent and his armies of fear. Loki also allowed the Manchester Gods to take over the British subconscious known as Otherworld. Oh, and let’s not forget that Loki has also made enemies of Hela, and Mephisto. All in all, Loki’s not doing very well, despite the very best of intentions. We think.

Now, Surtur has ignited the flames of war between the Aesir and the Vanir, and battles rage across all of the Nine Realms. Loki and Thor are fighting battles on all fronts, while the Warriors Three find themselves in reluctant positions of leadership. But the worst is yet to come, as Surtur’s villainous Steward has been revealed as Leah, Loki’s previous best friend who was supposedly removed from existence when Hela drank from the Holy Grail to restore her severed hand. And now, as Surtur’s flames ignite across all of existence, Everything Burns…

Writers: Kieron Gillen and Matt Fraction
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Note: This issue continues from The Mighty Thor #18 and into The Mighty Thor #19

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: The only way to save his brother, Thor, was for Loki to release the fire demon, Surtur, from his imprisonment in Limbo. Along the way, Loki made enemies of a Hel Wolf, adding to his growing list that already included Hela and Mephisto. Surtur escaped and hadn’t been heard from—until now.

Loki and Thor find Broxton under attack by flames that cannot be doused by normal means. Despite their valiant efforts, Thor is gravely wounded. As Loki tends to Thor’s wounds, they hear a summons from Asgardia—upon closer inspection, the World Tree has been set ablaze by these mysterious flames. And now…Everything Burns.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Daniel Acuna and Mike Del Mundo
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Joe Caramagna

Previously, in Uncanny X-Men: The Phoenix Five were drawn to Sinister London, the underground stronghold of Mister Sinister, populated with perfect clones of himself. Using clones of the X-Men and his extensive defences, Sinister has managed to defeat all five of the Phoenix empowered X-Men, and has trapped their cosmic power in clones of Cyclops’ ex-wife, Madelyne Pryor.

Back on Utopia, Danger, Storm, Magneto, and Psylocke are feeling the effects of having five of their team mates become all powerful – they now feel useless. They decide to rectify this, and head to Sinister London in time to see the Five beaten. It now falls to them in order to save the day, or Mister Sinister will be able to power his Creation Engines with Phoenix fire forever.