Every day this month will have the five goofiest moment from a five-issue stretch of a particular comic book run. Once a week it will be the ten goofiest moments of a ten-issue stretch. Here is a list of the moments featured so far.
Today we're looking at Avengers Unplugged #1-5, the first five issues of a mid-90s Avengers spin-off that was part of a short-lived line of 99 cent comics designed to tie-in to Marvel's top superhero books. This is where we got the greatness that was Untold Tales of Spider-Man, but it is also where we got Avengers Unplugged. #1-2, 4-5 were written by Glenn Herdling and #3 was written by Mike Lackey. They were drawn by M.C. Wyman/Sandu Florea (#1-3, 5) and John Statema/Scott Koblish (#4).
Before I begin, let me note that I did a bit a few years back on Avengers Unplugged #2 and Dave Campbell did a bit a few years back on Avengers Unplugged #3, so stuff from both of those bits will be repeated here.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Where's Todd Klein when you need him?
I actually don't know if this would be the job of the letterer, but whoever's job it was to make the letters on this sign in #3 not look bizarre dropped the ball...
Is that you, Plastic Man?
In #5, Monica Rambeau is forced to attack Genis-Vell. During the fight, for some reason, his face changes appearance...
There's no in-story reason for it. I think it was just bad artwork.
You have such a way with words, Hank!
In #2, while fighting Graviton, Giant-Man tried to come up with a quip worthy of Spider-Man, instead he came up with...
Johnny? Is that really you?
In #3, Johnny Storm makes a cameo and...well...M.C. Wyman is very kind to Johnny (or perhaps the steroids are kicking in - this WAS the 1990s, after all).
At least Johnny looked good...
In #2, like Johnny above, Hercules also looked different from normal. Unlike Johnny, for Hercules it was not for the better...
Yikes. You also have to love the perspective in that panel. Hercules looks like he is a giant and Deathcry is a little person.
I don't think that's how "control of the elements" works.
In #3, Crystal uses her "control of the elements" to somehow change their evening outfits into their costumes.
Also, you, of course, have to love Black Widow uttering the phrase, "you go girl."
5. Perhaps they didn't want credit?
Besides the goofiness of Graviton's new costume at the beginning of #2...
note that somehow both the writer AND the inker had their names misspelled.
That's a pretty impressive feat!
4. Giant-Stilt-Man?
In #4, either Stilt-Man has suddenly developed the power to grow in size, or John Statema had some issues with perspective...
Either way, goofy stuff.
3. Levers are magical things...
In #3, Black Widow somehow uses a lever to launch a CAR at a bad guy!
2. Who's who?
In #2, Graviton's powers have gone nuts, so a bunch of innocent civilians have been sucked into the sky by his gravitational powers. Deathcry is flying around in the Quinjet trying to get all of the innocents on to the Quinjet (so if Graviton's powers go away, they won't all fall to their deaths).
With that in mind, check out how the right half of this page makes absolutely zero sense....
1. Is that you, Fluffy?
The number one moment has to be this one, which is one of my favorite moments of all-time. Deathcry is asked by a little boy to rescue his cat named Fluffy. The next panel (which is on the SAME PAGE as the previous panel) she delivers a little girl her teddy bear named Fluffy!
How awesome is that?!?