Alt 9602, Part 2: Amalgam Age of Comics

Grade: C+

DC and Marvel go a step beyond an epic battle between their respective heroes, the two companies merge their characters into a re-imagined universe. It was a gimmick with flashy new character designs, but I have to admit that it was really fun to figure out who was combined. We looked for Easter Eggs, and we enjoyed the obscure references.

There was not a lot of room in a single, regular sized comic to really get in-depth with these new characters. I don't think we really minded since we understood this to be a one-shot deal. We wanted some mindless entertainment with as many amalgamations that they could pack into 22 pages. John Byrne attempted to do an origin story with Amazon, but it didn't excite readers nearly as much as the action oriented Legends of the Dark Claw.

DC and Marvel each produced six titles for a total of twelve issues. I only picked up those with direct X-Men ties. The seven titles that I did not collect include: Assassins, Bruce Wayne Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Bullets and Bracelets, Doctor StrangeFate, Speed Demon, Spider-Boy, & Super Soldier.  For those that I do have in this post, I list the DC character first for each Amalgam character.

[2 Stars] Amazon #1 - "Family History" [DC] Amazon (Wonder Woman & Storm) battles Poseidon after learning his role in her parent's death.

[3 Stars] JLX #1 - "A League of Their Own!" [DC] JLX leave the Judgement League Avengers (JLA) to follow the mysterious Mister X.

• JLX (JLA & X-Men)
• Apollo (Ray & Cyclops)
• Aqua-Mariner (Aquaman & Sub-Mariner)
• Firebird (Fire & Phoenix (Jean Grey))
• Mercury (Impulse & Quicksilver)
• Mister X (Martian Manhunter & Professor X / Skrull / Bishop)
• Night-Creeper (Creeper & Nightcrawler)
• Runaway (Gypsy & Rogue)
• Wraith (Obsidian & Gambit)
• JLA (JLA & Avengers)
• Angelhawk (Hawkman & Angel)
• Blackbird (Black Canary & Mockingbird)
• Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel & Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell))
• Dark Claw (Batman & Wolverine)
• Goliath (Oliver Queen & Goliath)
• Hawkeye (Green Arrow & Hawkeye)
• Super Soldier (Superman & Captain America)
• Jocasta (Platinum (Metal Men) & Jocasta / Sentinels /  Millie the Model)
• Sentinels (Manhunter robers & Sentinels)
• Will Magnus (Will Magnus & Bolivar Trask)

[4 Stars] Legends of the Dark Claw #1 - "Through a Glass Darkly" [DC] Dark Claw and the Sparrow versus the Hyena!

• Dark Claw (Batman & Wolverine)
• Huntress (Huntress & Carol Danvers)
• Hyena (Joker & Sabertooth)
• Sparrow (Robin & Jubilee)

[3 Stars] Magneto & The Magnetic Men #1 - "Opposites Attract" [Marvel] Magneto's Magnetic Men versus Sinistron.

• Magneto (Will Magnus & Magneto)
• Magnetic Men (Metal Men & Brotherhood of Evil Mutants)
• Antimony (Platinum &  Scarlet Witch / Patsy Walker)
• Bismuth (Tin / Snapper Carr & Toad / Rick Jones)
• Cobalt (Gold / Lucius Fox & Mastermind)
• Iron (Iron / Steel (John Henry Irons) & Unus the Untouchable)
• Nickel (Mercury & Quicksilver)
• Sinistron (Brainiac & Mr. Sinister)
• Kokoro (Katana & Psylocke)

[3 Stars] X-Patrol #1 - "Doomed!" [Marvel] Miles Cable brings together a band of troubles heroes to form a new team to battle Dr. Doomsday.

• X-Patrol (Teen Titans / Doom Patrol & X-Force)
• Beastling (Changeling & Beast)
• Dial H.U.S.K. (Dial H for Hero & Husk)
• Elastigirl (Elasti-Girl & Domino / Wasp)
• Ferro Man (Ferro Lad & Colossus)
• Niles Cable (The Chief & Cable)
• Shatterstarfire (Starfire & Shatterstar)
• Doctor Doomsday (Doomsday & Doctor Doom)