Avengers Forever is a twelve-issue comic book limited series published from December 1998 to November 1999 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Kurt Busiek and Roger Stern and drawn by Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino.

Publication history[link]

Marvel originally contracted Busiek and Pacheco to produce a series called Avengers: World in Chains, but was too similar to another project (Mutant X) and was cancelled by the company.^[1] As Busiek and Pacheco were under contract, the pair instead developed the concept for Avengers Forever.^[1]

Plot summary[link]

The character Immortus sends his servant Tempus to kill an apparently critically ill Rick Jones, the possessor of the "Destiny Force," a powerful ability utilized during the Kree-Skrull War storyline.^[2] Rick, however, is saved by the alien Kree Supreme Intelligence, who urges him to use the Destiny Force to summon aid. With the help of former Zodiac member Libra, Rick pulls various members of the superhero team Avengers from the past, present, and future.

The team consists of a very disillusioned Captain America, who is pulled from an adventure in which he discovers a high-ranking government official is the leader of the Secret Empire;^[3] Yellowjacket from a time when he is mentally unbalanced and unaware that he is Henry Pym;^[4] Hawkeye from just after the conclusion of the Kree-Skrull War and war against Olympus;^[5] Giant-Man (also Henry Pym) and the Wasp from the present,^[6] while Captain Marvel is pulled from a few months into the future,^[7] and Songbird is taken from an alternate universe.

Although these Avengers appear almost randomly-selected, Libra states that they have been chosen due to his subtle awareness of the universal balance, each one fulfilling an eventually-clarified role in events;

• Cap's presence brought cohesion to the team while his weakened mental state prevented him from dominating it
• The Wasp led the team with strength and flexibility that gave them direction without exerting too much control
• Yellowjacket's eventual betrayal of the team would bring them into the right position to strike
• Giant-Man provided support while irritating and provoking Yellowjacket
• Hawkeye's presence affected both Yellowjacket and Libra's own responses to the crisis
• Songbird's skewed connections to Hawkeye, the Wasp and Captain Marvel in the past, present and future affected Captain Marvel's own decisions regarding Rick Jones's fate.

The Avengers battle Immortus across several different eras (including encounters in the American Old West with the Two-Gun Kid, the Night Rider, the Ringo Kid, the Rawhide Kid, Kid Colt and the Gunhawks, as well as an alternate version of the Avengers from the 1950s), and discover the villain possesses the Forever Crystal, an artifact that can control multiple realities. Kang the Conqueror (who is destined to evolve into Immortus) aids the Avengers as part of his 'rebellion' against his apparent destiny, and reveals that Immortus serves a trio of entities called the Time Keepers, with his previous interactions with the team having been motivated by an effort to keep humanity limited to prevent them from developing into a threat to the universe. These entities eventually reveal that, in various futures- although they reveal later on that this will only take place in forty-two percent of the futures they have witnessed-, mankind will travel into space and establish the Terran Empire, which will be at the cost of many alien cultures. A future version of the Avengers will apparently be at the forefront of the expansion, but the Avengers reject the idea that mankind must be destroyed or contained to prevent these futures happening, Captain America and Songbird arguing that humanity deserves a chance to show that it can be better rather than being condemned for things that have not happened yet and may not even take place in their worlds.

Kang aids the Avengers and in the final battle kills the Time Keepers when they attempt to punish Immortus for failing, the Avengers resolving to strike against the Time-Keepers even after they learn their enemies' motives, arguing that the Time Keepers only seek to eliminate those that might threaten them when they do not even attempt to erase themselves despite the existence of alternate timelines where they themselves became the Time-Twisters. At the same time, however, the Time Keepers' attempts to 'force' Kang to become Immortus after they killed the future Immortus results in a temporal backlash due to Kang's strength of will and the unique temporal conditions of the conflict, culminating in Kang and Immortus being recreated as separate beings (compared to Immortus 'splitting' the original Human Torch into itself and the future Vision). Captain Marvel merges with Rick to save his life- the link with Marvel's future self resulting in Rick being unintentionally linked to Marvel's present self when he, Giant-Man and the Wasp return to their present-, and all the Avengers are returned to their respective time lines with a lingering memory of the incident.^[8]

A consequence of the adventure is that the alternate Earth version of the Avengers formed in the 1950s now exists in mainstream reality (Earth-616) as the Agents of Atlas (consisting of Marvel Boy; Venus; 3-D Man; Gorilla-Man; Human Robot and Jimmy Woo).^[9]

Collected editions[link]

The series has been collected into a single volume:

• Avengers Forever (softcover, Avengers Legends: Volume 1, 264 pages, January 2001, ISBN 0-7851-0756-8, hardcover, 296 pages, September 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3796-3)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Avengers Forever at the Grand Comics Database
• Avengers Forever at the Comic Book DB

v t e Avengers Creators Stan Lee Jack Kirby Comic book titles Current The Avengers Avengers Academy New Avengers Secret Avengers Previous Avengers: The Initiative Dark Avengers Force Works The Mighty Avengers Solo Avengers West Coast Avengers Young Avengers Limited Avengers: Celestial Quest Avengers Forever Avengers Infinity Avengers vs. X-Men G.L.A. JLA/Avengers Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers Other continuities A-Next The Last Avengers Story Marvel Adventures: The Avengers The Ultimates Initial characters Ant-Man Captain America Hulk Iron Man Thor Wasp Members lists Avengers members A-Next members Great Lakes Avengers members New Avengers members Ultimates members West Coast Avengers members Enemies Baron Zemo Collector Count Nefaria Egghead Grandmaster Graviton Grim Reaper Immortus Kang Korvac Legion of the Unliving Lethal Legion Loki Master Pandemonium Masters of Evil Morgan le Fay Nebula Revengers Space Phantom Super-Adaptoid Supreme Intelligence Squadron Sinister Taskmaster Thanos Ultron Zodiac Headquarters Avengers Mansion Avengers Island Avengers Tower Storylines "Kree-Skrull War" "Acts of Vengeance" "Operation: Galactic Storm" "Bloodties" "Kang Dynasty" "Avengers Disassembled" In other media Television The Avengers: United They Stand The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Film Ultimate Avengers Ultimate Avengers 2 Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow The Avengers (soundtrack) Video games Captain America and The Avengers Avengers in Galactic Storm Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth Alternative versions Agents of Atlas A-Next Ultimates Book:The Avengers

Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek by Michael Netzer
Born	(1960-09-16) September 16, 1960 (age 51) Boston, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer
Notable works	Marvels Astro City Avengers
Awards	numerous; see below

Kurt Busiek (born September 16, 1960) is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.

Early life[link]

Busiek was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in various towns in the Boston area, including Lexington, where he befriended future comic book creator Scott McCloud.^[1] Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them.^[1] He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and McCloud practiced making comics.

During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.^[2] Busiek explains, "A couple of years later, after I’d broken in, I attended my first convention as a pro, in Ithaca, New York, and I stayed at Roger Stern’s house. And we were talking about how much we liked the new X-Men, and he said, 'It’s just a pity there’s no way to bring Jean Grey back,' and I said, 'Sure there’s a way, there's always a way.'"^[3]

Career[link]

During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).^[1]

Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.

In the 1990s, work on some of Busiek's more challenging, less mainstream projects, most notably Astro City, was repeatedly delayed by health problems brought about by mercury poisoning.^[4][5]

In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.^[6]

In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.

In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.

Busiek will be teamed with Alex Ross on Dynamite Entertainment's Kirby: Genesis, an eight-issue miniseries set to debut in the first quarter of 2011. The series, which will be their first full collaboration since Marvels 17 years previous, will feature a large group of Jack Kirby's creator-owned characters, the rights to which were acquired by Dynamite, such as Silver Star, Captain Victory, Galaxy Green, Tiger 21 and the Ninth Men. Ross will co-plot the book, handle designs, and will oversee the book overall with Busiek, who will script the series.^[7][8]

Awards[link]

Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.

Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998, and as a member of the favorite creative team for 1996, 1999, and 2003. In the Squiddy Awards, he was also named the favorite poster (among professional comics creators) to the rec.arts.comics.* newsgroups five years in a row from 2000 through 2004.

Bibliography[link]

Dark Horse Comics[link]

• Army of Darkness #1-3 (Text Pieces)
• Conan:
  • Conan The Legend
  • Conan #1-28, 32, 39, 45-46
  • Conan: The Blood-Stained Crown And Other Stories TPB
  • Conan: The Book Of Thoth #1-4 (Also TPB Collection)
  • Conan: The Frost-Giant’s Daughter And Other Stories
  • Conan: The God In The Bowl And Other Stories HC, TPB
  • Conan: The Hall of the Dead And Other Stories HC, TPB
  • Conan: The Tower Of The Elephant And Other Stories HC, TPB
• The Dark Horse Book of Monsters (Short Comics Story)
• The Hire #4 (Also In The Hire TPB)
• Jonny Demon #1-3
• Shockrockets: We Have Ignition TPB (Collects Gorilla Series)
• Young Indiana Jones Chronicles #1-12 (Text Pieces)

DC Comics[link]

• Action Comics #837-843, 850, 852-854
• Aquaman: Sword Of Atlantis #40-49
• Aquaman: Once & Future TPB
• DC Comics Presents: Hawkman
• DCU Secret Files & Origins (short text piece)
• Green Lantern #162, 185 (backup stories)
  • Wednesday Comics (2009), with art by Joe Quinones
• Justice League:
  • Justice League of America #224, 231, 232, 240
  • JLA #61 (Backup Story)
  • JLA #107-114
  • JLA Secret Files & Origins 2004
  • JLA: Syndicate Rules TPB
• Legend Of Wonder Woman #1-4
• 9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember, Volume Two (short Astro City story)
• Power Company:
  • Power Company #1-18
  • Power Company: Bork
  • Power Company: Josiah Power
  • Power Company: Manhunter
  • Power Company: Sapphire
  • Power Company: Skyrocket
  • Power Company: Striker Z
  • Power Company: Witchfire
• Red Tornado #1-4
• Sea Devils one-shot (Tangent)
• Showcase '94 #7 (short comics story)
• Silver Age: Green Lantern #1
• Superman:
  • Superman #650-675
  • Superman Annual #13
  • Superman: Man Of Steel Annual #5
  • Superman: Secret Identity #1-4
  • Superman: Secret Identity TPB
  • Superman: Up, Up And Away TPB
  • Superman: Back In Action TPB
  • Superman: Camelot Falls HC
• Tales of The Green Lantern Corps Annual #3 (short comics story)
• Trinity
• Valor #20-23
• Wonder Woman #318
• World's Finest Comics #308, 309

DC/Marvel[link]

• JLA/Avengers #1-4
• Iron Lantern #1

Image Comics[link]

• Cyberforce #?? (Backup Story)
• Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1-6
• Negative Burn Winter 2005 (Short Comics Story)
• New Shadowhawk #1-7
• Regulators #1-3
• Savage Dragon Team-Ups TPB
• Shadowhawk: Images Of Tomorrow #1
• Shadowhawks Of Legend #1 (Framing Sequence)
• Shattered Image #1-4
• Spartan: Warrior Spirit #1-4
• Velocity: Thrill Of The Chase #1-3
• Youngblood Strikefile #8 (Short Comics Story)

Marvel Comics[link]

• Amazing Fantasy #16-18
• Avengers:
  • Avengers #0 (Wizard)
  • Avengers Vol. 3 #1-15, 19-56
  • Avengers Annual #19 (Backup Story)
  • Avengers/Squadron Supreme '98
  • Avengers 1999 (Story Concept)
  • Avengers 2000
  • Avengers 2001
  • Avengers: The Morgan Conquest TPB
  • Avengers: Supreme Justice TPB
  • Avengers: Clear And Present Dangers TPB
  • Avengers: Ultron Unlimited TPB
  • Avengers: Living Legends TPB
  • Avengers: Above & Beyond TPB
  • Avengers: The Kang Dynasty TPB
  • Avengers Assemble Vol. 1-5 HCs
  • Avengers Forever #1-12
  • Avengers Forever TPB
  • Avengers/Thunderbolts: The Nefaria Protocols TPB
  • Avengers/Thunderbolts Vol. 2: Best Intentions TPB
  • Avengers: The Ultron Imperative ("jam" project)
  • Avengers Vs. Thunderbolts #1-6 (co-writer)
• Captain America/Citizen V '98
• Darkman #1-6
• Defenders vol. 2 #1-12
• Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Comic Magazine #5, 8 (dialogue/scripts)
• Fantastic Four/Spider-Man Classic TPB
• Heroes (page In Marvel benefit poster book)
• Iron Man:
  • Iron Man Vol. 3 #1-25 (#14-25 Co-Plot)
  • Iron Man/Captain America '98 (Co-Plot)
  • Iron Man 1999 (Co-Plot)
  • Iron Man: The Iron Age #1-2
• Marvel Age Annual #1 (pages In "jam" story)
• Marvel Holiday Special 1994 (short comics story)
• Marvel Super Heroes #9, 12, 13
• Marvel Year-In-Review '92 (short humor pieces)
• Marvels #1-4 (Collected in TPB and HC)
• Marvels: Eye Of The Camera #1-6
• Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet
• Maximum Security #1-3
• New Thunderbolts #1-6 (Co-Plotter)
• New Thunderbolts: One Step Forward TPB
• Night Thrasher #15-18, 20, 21
• Open Space #1 (short comics story)
• The Order: Defenders Against The Earth #1-6
• Power Man And Iron Fist #90, 92-100, 102, 105
• Spider-Man:
  • Spectacular Spider-Man #176-177
  • Spider-Man: Legacy Of Evil GN
  • Spider-Man Team-Up #7
  • Spider-Man Unlimited #2-5
  • Spider-Man Visionaries: Kurt Busiek Vol. 1 TPB
  • Spider-Man/X-Factor #1-3
• Squadron Supreme: Death Of A Universe TPB
• Strange Tales GN
• Tales Of The Marvel Universe #1
• Thor: Godstorm #1-3
• Thunderbolts:
  • Thunderbolts #0 (Wizard)
  • Thunderbolts #1-33
  • Thunderbolts: Distant Rumblings
  • Thunderbolts '97
  • Thunderbolts: Justice Like Lightning TPB
• Untold Tales of Spider-Man:
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #1-25
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man '96, '97
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man TPB
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man: Strange Encounter
• Web of Spider-Man #81-83
• What If #13, 23, 26, 44, 46, 47, 60-62
• What The--?! #3, 4, 8, 17 (All Short Comics Stories)
• Wonder Man Annual #1 (Backup Story)
• X-Men: Alterniverse Visions TPB

Wildstorm (Homage, Cliffhanger, Wildstorm Signature)[link]

• Arrowsmith #1-6
• Arrowsmith: So Smart In Their Fine Uniforms TPB
• Astro City:
  • Astro City: A Visitor’s Guide
  • Astro City: Life In The Big City TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Confession TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Family Album TPB, HC
  • Astro City: The Tarnished Angel TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Local Heroes TPB, HC
  • Astro City: The Dark Age Book One: Brothers and Other Strangers TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Local Heroes #1-5
  • Astro City: The Dark Age Book One #1-4
  • Astro City: The Dark Age Book Two #1-4
  • Astro City: The Dark Age Book Three #1-4
  • Astro City Special: Supersonic
  • Astro City Special: Samaritan
  • Astro City Special: Beautie
  • Astro City Special: Astra #1-2
  • Astro City/Arrowsmith Flip Book
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City Volume 1 #1-6
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City Volume 2 #1-22
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 2 #1 3-D Edition
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1/2 (Homage Edition)
• The Wizard's Tale (TPB & HC)

Other[link]

• Darkman vs. Army of Darkness #1-4
• Mickey Mouse #16 (Lead Story)
• The Liberty Project TPB (Collects Eclipse Series)
• Ninjak Vol. 2 #1-7 (Co-Plots On #8-9, Consultation On #10-12)
• Elvira #2, 3, 5, 7 (2 Stories), 9, 10, 11, 25, 50, 100
• Elvira Mistress Of The Dark TPB Vols 1-2
• Phantom Of Fear City #4-11 (Backup Series: Tiberius Fox)
• Liberty Project #1-8
• Merchants Of Death #1-4 (Short Comics Stories)
• Miracleman: Apocrypha #2 (Short Comics Story)
• Total Eclipse Special: The Seraphim Objective #1
• Zot! #7 (Backup Story)
• Shockrockets #1-6
• Superstar: As Seen On TV
• Creepy #2 (Short Comics Story)
• Creepy Fear Book (Short Vampirella Story)
• Vampirella:
  • Vampirella/Cain Flip Book (Reprints Creepy Fear Book Story)
  • Vampirella: The Dracula War TPB (Reprints Material From "Monthly")
  • Vampirella: Morning In America #1-4
  • Vampirella's Summer Nights (3 Short Comics Stories)
  • Vampirella "Monthly" #1, 2
• Metal Hurlant #1 (Short Comics Story)
• Redhand Vols. 1-2 (Graphic Album Series)
• Superstar: As Seen On TV (Ashcan)
• Spirit: The New Adventures #4 (Short Comics Story)
• Ultraverse Premiere #4, 6, 7 (Short Comics Stories)
• Icon #11
• Static #12
• Newer York (Story In Prose SF Anthology Edited By Lawrence Watt-Evans)
• Hotter Blood (Short Story In Prose Horror Anthology Edited By Jeff Gelb)
• Spider-Man: Goblin Moon (Novel; W/Nathan Archer)
• Satan's Six #4 (Backup Story)
• Silver Star #1
• Teenagents #1-4
• Topps Comics Presents #0 (Two Short Stories)
• Victory #1
• Jell-O Man #1 (Short Comics Story)
• Real Ghostbusters Magazine Winter 1991 (Short Comics Story)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Magazine Winter 1992 (Prose Story)
• Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Magazine #1 (Short Comics Story)
• Wizard Presents Astro City #1/2

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Kurt Busiek Homepage
• Astro City Homepage
• Mescallado, Ray. "Trimmings: Kurt Busiek [interview]", Comics Journal #216 (Oct. 1999).
• Doane, Alan David . "The Ministry Interviews: Kurt Busiek," Silver Bullet Comics/Comics Bulletin, (June 23, 2000)
• B., Sergio. Interview at Comic Book Gazette (Apr. 15).
• Sampling of Busiek's comic book fan letters, 1977–1981
• Press release announcing Busiek's exclusive contract with DC (Dec. 28, 2005).

Roger Stern
Stern photographed at Ithacon 35, Part II in 2010
Born	(1950-09-17) September 17, 1950 (age 61) Noblesville, Indiana
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer
Notable works	Action Comics The Amazing Spider-Man Avengers Superman

Roger Stern (born September 17, 1950 in Noblesville, Indiana)^[1] is an American comic book author and novelist.

Biography[link]

Early career[link]

In the early 1970s, Stern and Bob Layton published the fanzine CPL (Contemporary Pictorial Literature), one of the first platforms for the work of John Byrne.^[1][2] CPL rapidly became a popular fan publication, and led to the two forming an alliance with Charlton Comics to produce and publish "the now-famous Charlton Bullseye magazine".^[2] During the mid-1970s, both Marvel and DC were publishing in-house "fan" publications (FOOM and The Amazing World of DC Comics respectively), and Charlton wished to make inroads into the superhero market, as well as "establish a fan presence," leading to the alliance with CPL to produce the Charlton Bullseye.^[2] This led to Charlton giving Layton and Stern "access to unpublished material from their vaults by the likes of Steve Ditko, Jeff Jones and a host of others."^[2]

Comics[link]

Stern broke into the industry as a writer in 1975 as part of the Marvel Comics "third wave" of creators, which included artists Byrne and Frank Miller, and writers Jo Duffy, Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio.

Stern worked briefly as an editor (notably on The Uncanny X-Men), but is better known for a brief run with John Byrne on Captain America. The two produced a story wherein Captain America considered running for the office of President of the United States,^[3] an idea originally developed by Roger McKenzie and Don Perlin. Stern, in his capacity as editor of the title, had originally rejected the idea but later changed his mind about the concept.^[4][5] McKenzie and Perlin received credit for the idea on the letters page at Stern's insistence.^[6] Stern is known for his lengthy stints on The Amazing Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and The Avengers.^[7] In 1982, he co-created Marvel's second Captain Marvel and the Hobgoblin, both with artist John Romita Jr.. Stern wrote "The Kid who Collects Spider-Man" in The Amazing Spider-Man #248 (Jan. 1984), a story which ranks among his most popular.^[8] Later that same year, he co-created the Avengers spin-off The West Coast Avengers, with artist Bob Hall.

In 1987, after a dispute with editor Mark Gruenwald over upcoming storylines, Stern was fired from The Avengers.^[9] He began freelancing for DC Comics, where he was one of the core Superman writers for almost a decade, working on Superman (vol. 2), Action Comics, and Superman: The Man of Tomorrow. He contributed to such storylines as "Panic in the Sky"^[10] and "The Death of Superman" which revived interest in the character in the early 1990s. He created the Eradicator in Action Comics Annual #2^[11][12] and later incorporated the character into the "Reign of the Supermen" story arc beginning in The Adventures of Superman #500.^[13] Stern wrote the 1991 story wherein Clark Kent finally revealed his identity as Superman to Lois Lane^[14][15] In Summer 1995, Stern and artist Tom Grummett created a new quarterly series, Superman: The Man of Tomorrow.^[16] Additionally, Stern was one of the many creators who worked on the Superman: The Wedding Album one-shot in 1996 which featured the title character's marriage to Lois Lane.^[17] Other work for DC included a relaunched Atom series drawn by Dwayne Turner^[7] and the co-creation of the Will Payton version of Starman with artist Tom Lyle.^[18]

In 1996, Stern returned to Marvel to write the miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives, and contributed to three issues of Spectacular Spider-Man in 1998 which featured the first confrontation between Norman Osborn and Roderick Kingsley. Over the next four years, he wrote the short-lived Marvel Universe series, as well as such miniseries as Avengers Two, Avengers Infinity, and Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin. Stern collaborated with Avengers writer Kurt Busiek on Iron Man and the miniseries Avengers Forever, and with Byrne on Marvel: The Lost Generation.^[7]

After a major editorial shuffle at Marvel in 2000 left him without assignments, Stern began writing for European publishers Egmont, for whom he produced scripts for Fantomen (The Phantom), and Panini UK, for whose Marvel Rampage magazine he wrote Spider-Man and Hulk stories.^[7]

Stern and Busiek co-wrote the Darkman vs. Army of Darkness limited series which was drawn by artist James Fry and published by Dynamite Entertainment.

In 2007, Stern wrote an issue of The All-New Atom and reunited with Byrne to produce a five-issue story arc for JLA Classified for DC.

In 2008, Stern returned to Marvel, where he wrote new stories for Giant-Size Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Young Allies, Amazing Spider-Man Family, Captain America, and Web of Spider-Man. He collaborated again with Busiek, co-writing several issues of Marvels: Eye of the Camera, the sequel to the acclaimed Marvels miniseries.^[7]

Stern has continued to freelance for Marvel, writing the 2010 miniseries Captain America: Forever Allies, and the one-issue special Doctor Strange: From the Marvel Vault.^[7]

Graphic Novels[link]

Stern has also written a number of graphic novels, including Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment; Superman for Earth; The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman; Superman: A Nation Divided; and Untold Tales of Spider-Man: Strange Encounters.

Prose[link]

In addition to his comics work, Stern has written three novels: The Death and Life of Superman (Bantam Books, 1993), Smallville: Strange Visitors (Warner Books, 2002), and Superman: The Never-Ending Battle (Pocket Books, 2005). The Death and Life of Superman was a New York Times bestseller in hardcover and was released as a mass market paperback in 1994; a new trade paperback edition was released by Barnes & Noble Books in 2004.

Personal life[link]

Stern married Cornell University chemistry teacher Carmela Merlo in Ithaca, New York, in June 1982, at a ceremony attended by many Marvel staffers, including editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.^[19]

Selected bibliography[link]

DC[link]

• 9-11 – The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember Volume 2 (2002)
• Action Comics #601–642, 644–657, 659–665, 667–693, 696–700, 737, Annual #2–3
• The All-New Atom No. 16
• Adventures of Superman #453–454, 457, 462, 500
• Doomsday Annual No. 1
• Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #1–4
• JLA Classified #50–54
• Legion of Super-Heroes #91, 100, 105
• Legionnaires #35–53, 55–74, 76–77, Annual No. 3
• Power of the Atom #1–11, 14–15
• Secret Origins No. 29
• Showcase ’95 #4–5
• Starman #1–28
• Supergirl vol. 3 #1–4
• Supergirl and Team Luthor No. 1
• Superman (vol. 2) #23–28, 30–34. Annual #2, 7
• Superman: A Nation Divided
• Superman: For Earth
• Superman: Newstime
• Superman Secret Files No. 1
• Superman: The Legacy of Superman No. 1
• Superman: The Man of Steel #1, 57
• Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #1–10
• Superman: The Sunday Classics 1939–1943
• Superman: The Wedding Album
• Superman Villains Secret Files No. 1
• Underworld Unleashed: Patterns of Fear No. 1
• Who's Who in the DC Universe #3–7, 10–14, 16
• Who’s Who in the DC Universe Update 1993 #1–2

Marvel[link]

• Amazing Spider-Man #206, 224–227, 229–252, 580, 627–629, Annual #15–17, 22, Annual '97
• Amazing Spider-Man Family No. 7
• Avengers 1½
• Avengers #189–191, 201, 227–279, 281–288, Annual #13–14
• Avengers Forever #3–12
• Avengers Infinity #1–4
• Avengers: The Ultron Imperative
• Avengers Two: Wonder Man and Beast #1–3
• Captain America #230, 247–255, 600
• Captain America: Forever Allies #1–4
• Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #6–7
• Crazy #63, 65 (incorrectly marked as No. 66 on cover)
• Dr. Strange (Vol. 2) #27–30, 32–33, 35–37, 46–62, 65–73, 75
• Dr. Strange/Dr. Doom: Triumph and Torment
• Epic Illustrated No. 20
• Fantastic Four #183, 294–295, 297–302
• FOOM #7, 14, 21–22
• Ghost Rider #68–70, 72–73
• Giant-Size Incredible Hulk No. 1
• Heroes for Hire No. 1
• Incredible Hulk (Vol. 2) #218–221, 223–229, 231–243, Annual #7–8
• Iron Man (Vol. 3) #14–25
• Iron Man Annual No. 4
• Iron Man/Captain America Annual '98
• The Many Loves of Spider-Man No. 1
• Marvel Age #3, 33
• Marvel Age Annual #3–4
• Marvel Fanfare #6, 12, 18, 57
• Marvel No-Prize Book No. 1 (research)
• Marvel Premiere No. 50
• Marvel Presents #8, 10–12
• Marvel Preview #20–21, 23
• Marvel Super-Heroes #103–104
• Marvel Team-Up Annual No. 3
• Marvel: The Lost Generation #1–12 (12–1)
• Marvel Treasury Edition No. 13
• Marvel Universe #1–7
• Marvels: Eye of the Camera #3–6
• Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe No. 5
• Omega the Unknown No. 8
• Peter Parker: Spider-Man (Vol. 2) No. 11
• Power Pachyderms No. 1
• Rampaging Hulk No. 23
• Shadows and Light (Vol. 2) No. 3
• Solo Avengers #2–4
• Spectacular Spider-Man #43, 45–52, 54–61, 85, 259–261, Annual No. 3
• Speedball #1–8
• Spider-Man: Dead Man’s Hand
• Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #1–3
• Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin #1–3
• Spider-Man Team-Up No. 2
• Thor #394–397, Annual No. 6
• Thunderbolts #7–9
• Untold Tales of Spider-Man # –1, 25
• Untold Tales of Spider-Man: Strange Encounter
• Web of Spider-Man No. 12
• Web of Spider-Man Annual No. 3
• West Coast Avengers (mini-series) #1–4
• What If? #26, 31, 34–35
• X-Men: Odd Men Out No. 1
• X-Men vs. The Avengers #1–4
• Young Allies No. 1

DC/Marvel[link]

• Incredible Hulk vs. Superman
• Spider-Boy Team-Up (Amalgam) No. 1

Other[link]

• Charlton Bullseye #1–2, 4–5
• The Complete Rog 2000
• Contemporary Pictorial Literature #9/10 (Double), 11–12
• Don Rosa's Comics and Stories No. 1
• Fantaco Chronicles No. 5
• Images of Omaha No. 2
• Magnus Robot Fighter #15–17
• The Phantom (Egmont) #13/2004 (#1334) – published as “Fantomen” in Sweden, “Fantomet” in Norway, and “Mustanaamio” in Finland
• Stray Bullets #2A
• The Spirit No. 30
• Writer's Block 2003 No. 1

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Roger Stern at the Comic Book DB

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Interview with Roger Stern on ScifiChick.com
• KryptonSite Interview with Roger Stern
• The Spider's Web Interview with Roger Stern
• Comic Book Legends: Roger Stern
• Marvel Hotline: Roger Stern

Carlos Pacheco
Carlos Pacheco
Born	(1961-11-14) November 14, 1961 (age 50) San Roque, Cádiz
Nationality	Spanish
Area(s)	Penciller, Inker, Writer
Notable works	Avengers Forever Fantastic Four, vol. 3 Superman

Carlos Pacheco is a Spanish comic book artist and penciller. He is best known in the United States for his work on titles such as Avengers Forever, X-Men and Green Lantern. He usually works with inker Jesus Merino.

Career[link]

In his early career, Carlos Pacheco did some work for Planeta-DeAgostini Comics, an imprint of pan-European publisher Planeta De Agostini, mainly covers and pin-ups for Spanish translated editions of Marvel Comics, published at the time by Planeta. He later teamed up with writer Rafael Marin to create the characters Iberia Inc and Tríada Vértice, two groups of Spanish superheroes, that starred in two miniseries also published by Planeta-DeAgostini Comics, with plots by Pacheco and Marin, script by Marin an art by Rafa Fonteriz (in Iberia Inc) and Jesus Merino (in Tríada Vértice).

Pacheco first got attention in the United States for his work as penciller on Dark Guard, a 4-issue Marvel UK title where he worked with writer Dan Abnett and inker Oscar Jimenez. This led to him being offered work by American comic editors leading to Marvel Comics' 1994 Bishop four issue limited series where he worked with writer John Ostrander and inker Cam Smith. Later that year Pacheco did his first work for DC Comics on The Flash #93, 94 and 99, with writer Mark Waid and inker Jose Marzan Jr..

After that Pacheco's next stateside work came in 1995's X-Universe two part limited series (a part of the Age of Apocalypse event), published by Marvel. Pacheco was joined by writer Terry Kavanagh and was again inked by Cam Smith. At the end of 1995 and the beginning of 1996 Pacheco and Smith collaborated with writer Warren Ellis on a Starjammers limited series. This series was successful enough that the creative team was reunited on Marvel's Excalibur ongoing series for a brief run in 1996. Shortly after this Pacheco became penciller on Marvel's Fantastic Four for two issues (#415-416), where he worked with writer Tom DeFalco as the title wrapped up in preparation for "Heroes Reborn".

By that point Pacheco's art had become a fan favorite, with his work regularly getting coverage in magazines such as Wizard. In early 1997 Marvel acknowledged this by assigning Pacheco to one of its flagship titles, X-Men, with #62 (March, 1997). On that title he worked with writers Scott Lobdell and Joe Kelly and inker Art Thibert. He left the title at #75 in May 1998.

After X-Men, Pacheco began work on Avengers Forever, a 12-issue limited series, where Pacheco worked with writer Kurt Busiek and (for the first time in the U.S.) inker Jesus Merino, who from that point on became Pacheco's regular inker.

Pacheco's next regular assignment was in 2000, a return to the Fantastic Four, with Vol. 3 #35. This time he took on the co-writing chores (initially with Rafael Marin, later joined by Jeph Loeb) as well as pencilling duties. However Pacheco's pencilling contributions were shorter than expected, with his last art contribution coming in #50, and him leaving the book entirely by #54. While working on Fantastic Four Pacheco also wrote, again with co-writer Rafael Marin, a 4-issue Inhumans limited series, with pencils by José Ladrönn and Jorge Lucas.

His next substantial work after Fantastic Four was for DC Comics: JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice, with writers David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns. This 100-page graphic novel united the Justice League and Justice Society against common foes in the style of what once had been an annual tradition.

In 2003 Pacheco reunited with his Avengers Forever collaborator Kurt Busiek for the creator-owned fantasy war series Arrowsmith, published by WildStorm. This series envisioned a world where magic is real and the First World War was fought with dragons, spells, vampires and others used as weapons by both sides. The series ran for six issues and there are plans for future series set in that world which would again by written by Busiek and drawn by Pacheco.

In 2004 Pacheco returned to super-heroes and DC Comics to pencil a five issue stint on the Superman/Batman title ("Absolute Power", in #14-18), where he was again joined by writer Jeph Loeb. The two told a tale in which, due to the time-traveling machinations of the Legion of Super-Villains, Batman and Superman took over the world and a group of Freedom Fighters has to rise up against them. Later that year at DC, Pacheco went on to share alternate monthly pencilling duties with Ethan Van Sciver on the new Green Lantern series written by Geoff Johns.

From 2006 - 2007, Pacheco worked with Kurt Busiek on DC comics' Superman, illustrating issues #654-658, 662-664, 667. Due to the difficulty to do twelve issues a year, the final chapter of the "Camelot Falls" story arc they collaborated on appeared in Superman Annual #13 (January 2008).

In 2008, Pacheco produced covers for DC's weekly book Trinity, featuring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, and assisted artist J. G. Jones in illustrating the 2008-9 miniseries Final Crisis, on issues 4 to 6.

In February 2009, Comic Shop News announced that Pacheco signed an exclusive contract with Marvel.^[1] Pacheco's 2009 work included Ultimate Comics: Avengers.

Bibliography[link]

Comics work (interior pencil art) includes:

DC[link]

• Arrowsmith, miniseries, #1-6 (2003–04)
• Astro City/Arrowsmith (2004)
• Final Crisis, miniseries, #4-6 (among other artists) (2008–09)
• Flash, vol. 2, #93-94, 99 (1994)
• Green Lantern, vol. 4, #1-3, 7-8 (2005–06)
• JLA: Virtue and Vice (2002)
• Justice League of America, vol. 4, #21 (2008)
• Superman #654-658, 662-664, 667, Annual #13 (2006–07)
• Superman/Batman #14-18 (2005)

Marvel[link]

• Avengers, vol. 3, Annual 1998
• Avengers Forever, limited series, #1-12 (1998–99)
• Bishop, miniseries, #1-4 (1994–95)
• Dark Guard, miniseries, #1-4 (Marvel UK, 1993)
• Excalibur #90 (among other artists); #95-96, 98, 103 (full art) (1995–96)
• Fantastic Four #415-416 (1996)
• Fantastic Four, vol. 3, #35-41, 44, 47-49 (2000–02)
• Starjammers, miniseries, #1-4 (1995–96)
• Thor, vol. 2, #57 (among other artists) (2003)
• Ultimate Comics: Avengers, miniseries, #1-6 (2009–10)
• Ultimate Thor #1-3 (2010–11)
• Uncanny X-Men, vol. 1, #534.1 (2011)
• Uncanny X-Men, vol. 2, #1-3, 9-10 (2011-12)
• Wolverine #127 (among other artists) (1998)
• X-Men, vol. 2, #62-67, 69-72, 74 (1997–98)
• X-Men: Schism, miniseries, #1- (2011-)
• X-Universe, miniseries, #1-2 (1995)

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Carlos Pacheco

• Carlos Pacheco at the Comic Book Database
• Carlos Pacheco in 'Guia del comic' profile/bibliography about the artist (Spanish)