Every day in November we will reveal the greatest stories ever told starring a particular character or written/drawn by a particular creator (and throughout the month, you'll get daily chances to vote for NEXT week's lists). These lists are voted on by YOU, the reader!
Here is the list of characters/creators featured so far (along with the rules on how to vote).
Today's list is the Greatest Bill Mantlo Stories Ever Told!
Enjoy!
Sorry for the delay in getting this up!
10. The Incredible Hulk #254 "Waiting for the U-Foes"
In this issue, Mantlo introduced one of the most clever additions to the Hulk's Rogues Gallery in years with a villainous version of the Fantastic Four. The U-Foes have become fixtures in the Marvel Universe since. Sal Buscema did the art.
9. Vision and Scarlet Witch #1-4
In this memorable mini-series, Mantlo finally revealed what fans had been guessing for awhile at the time- that Magneto was the father of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver! Rick Leonardi and inkers Ian Akin and Brian Garvey supplied the art.
8. The Incredible Hulk #312 "Monster"
In this notable issue, Mantlo re-visited Bruce Banner's origins, with this becoming the first time in a published Marvel comic that Bruce's history of domestic abuse became a part of the eventual formation of the Hulk (this is the first published Marvel comic that addressed the idea of the Hulk being Bruce's bottled rage at his treatment by his father). Peter David later did a ton with this concept. Mike Mignola and Gerry Talaoc did the art.
7. ROM #31-32 "Choosing Sides"
This two-parter by Mantlo and Sal Buscema (with Joe Sinnott inks) is surprisingly notable in the history of the character of Rogue. It is in this story, of all places, that Rogue first displayed a strong capacity for good.
6. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #25-31 "Carrion"
The mysterious Carrion was a formidable foe for a number of issues, especially since he knew Spider-Man's secret identity! As it turned out, he was a clone of Miles Warren - the Jackal! These stories contain some of Frank Miller's very first artwork for Marvel and his first Daredevil published work (as DD guest-starred in two issues).
5. The Incredible Hulk #256-259 "World Tour"
Mantlo was one of the guys behind the Contest of Champions, where new Marvel international heroes were featured. As a lead-up to the Contest, Mantlo had the Hulk go on a World Tour where we got to see these international heroes, most notably Sabra and the Arabian Knight, spotlighted (while invented for the Contest, they appeared in the Hulk first). Sal Buscema did the art.
4. Cloak and Dagger #1-4
Mantlo and artist Rick Leonardi and Terry Austin gave this popular duo their first solo series in this interesting series.
3. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #72-79
This sprawling epic began as a fight between the Owl and Doctor Octopus with Spider-Man and the Black Cat stuck in the middle and ended up with a classic battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus (after Doc Ock beat Black Cat nearly to death). Al Milgrom and Jim Mooney did the art.
2. The Incredible Hulk #298-300
A deranged Hulk takes on pretty much all of the superheroes Marvel had in the early 1980s in this classic 300th issue spectacular! In the end, Doctor Strange ended up making a dramatic decision regarding the Hulk's life. Sal Buscema and a variety of inkers did the art.
1. Micronauts #1-11
Mantlo, along with the legendary Michael Golden (and the not-so-shabby himself Joe Rubinstein), introduced the Micronauts into the Marvel Universe with this epic battle of good versus evil as Commander Rann leads his team of rebels against the evil Baron Karza, who has taken over the entire Multiverse!
That's the list! Agree? Disagree? Let me know!