Back Issue # 165 March 2026 (magazine review)
In his editorial for this ‘Back Issue’, Roger Ash points out that he missed out the Kree-Skrull War in the previous ‘Alien Invasion’ issue. Previous editor Michael Eury suggested calling it a rivalry issue and take that as its theme.
For those who don’t know, the Kree and Skrulls have rival empires boarding each other and eventually an all-out war instilled with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel and Rick Jones chucked into the middle. Written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Neal Adams, John Buscema and Sal Buscema, it spread over nine issues and if you haven’t read then you’ve certainly heard of it. There’s no excuse, it’s out as a graphic novel and regarded as one of the highlights of the period. Writer Jarrod Buttery goes over the fine details and brings the three Skulls who were hypnotised into becoming cows in Fantastic Four # 2 back to the fore. It also sorts out what happened to the fourth Skrull and one of Stan Lee’s early mistakes. I mean, had the fourth Skrull been sent back with the main fleet after Reed Richards had fooled them, they’d have been back in an instant when told about the rouse. There’s a little other history here about the Celestials and their genetic manipulations. The Skrulls are essentially the deviants of their species for instance. Lots to learn.
Over at DC Comics, in the 1980s, they had a more genuine rivalry between royal siblings, Koriand’r aka Starfire and her elder sister, Komand’r aka Blackfire. Writer Brian Martin goes over their history in ‘The New Titans’. Oh, if you see Starfire’s eyebrows, she isn’t very happy.
Although I was never an Archie fan, writer Mark Arnold goes over his rivalry with Reginald Mantle III aka Reggie. No one seems to spot that Reggie is a ringer for a young Bob Hope. Must be the nose.
I remember reading the first Superman and Flash race around the world because a restriction was made on the Man of Steel that he couldn’t fly so had to swim the oceans. Surely, if he was as fast as the Flash, he would be running on top of the water? What writer Ed Lute points out covers seven races over the decades so far, mostly for charity despite interruptions. Considering how fast both of them are, you would have thought these races would have been over in a matter of seconds. Me in analytic mode, the Flash might be the fastest human but Superman isn’t human, he’s Kryptonian, so unlikely to ever have that title. It would be more of a contest had the Flash raced with other speedy humans.
Writer Doug Zawisza looks at the Marvel Floating Poker Game, based on something the company’s creative people did on a regular basis. Here, though, it’s mostly by the super-heroes. In some respects, I wish Zawisza had shown who won each time but then you probably wouldn’t seek out the individual comics here. There also isn’t anything to show what qualifies any to join in or who wouldn’t be welcome. I mean, would you want a telepath or someone like the Scarlet Witch who could change the odds. Its certainly not the ante. You do have to wonder if any of the super-villains did a similar thing?
Writer Steven Thompson’s look at the comicbook version of Donald Duck, points out that it’s a lot different to the cartoon version. Reading some of the panels here, I don’t use the Clarence Nash voice for Donald, even inside my head. I’ve never heard of lucky Gladstone Gander nor of his rivalry with Donald Duck.
Lastly, writer James Heath Lantz looks at the frequent battles between the Hulk and the Thing. As the Hulk becomes stronger the madder he gets, the Thing has to depend on being smarter. I think I might have added some comparisons to how each of them have done against equally strong people.
I hope this is a subject ‘Back Issue’ goes back to again, even if it is under another byline, because confrontation is a frequent ingredient of super-hero comicbooks.
GF Willmetts
April 2026
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $10.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6904. Direct from them, you can get it for $10.95 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=1838&zenid=f0262d393dc5b00c8a8d36a570e026d5
