In this feature, I will spotlight some of the more interesting examples of shared comic book universes. You know, crossovers that aren't exactly crossovers.
Today we look at Marvel's November 1984 cover-dated books (so August-shipping books), as nearly the entire line of comics tied in with a Thor storyline involving the Cask of Ancient Winters going on that month.
At the end of the previous month's Thor #348, the Cask of Ancient Winters was opened and we saw the effect in the next issue...
This worldwide blizzard effect seeped into a number of other books released that month.
Avengers #249 (by Roger Stern, Al Milgrom and Joe Sinnott) ended up being a direct crossover, so it really doesn't count, but I'll still mention it here...
Now I'll just go alphabetically...
In Amazing Spider-Man #258 (by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz and Joe Rubinstein), Spidey has just gotten rid of his symbiote costume and is using an old FF costume and a bag over his head (this is the same issue Mary Jane revealed she knew his secret identity)...
That story followed into Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #96 (by Al Milgrom and Jim Mooney)...
Rom #60 (by Bill Mantlo, Steve Ditko and Tom Palmer) dealt with the bad weather...
Uncanny X-Men #177 (by Chris Claremont, John Romita Jr. and Dan Green) had a now powerless Storm deal with a blizzard in Dallas...
The next issue has Nightcrawler getting Amanda Sefton during a blizzard...
(Thanks to Inner Circle for the suggestion!)
Finally, West Coast Avengers #3 (a continuity crossover in the middle of a crossover!!) (by Roger Stern, Bob Hall and Brett Breeding) dealt with the weather, as well...
Three months later, Chris Claremont worked it into Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #4 (by Claremont and Al Milgrom)...
(Thanks to Tumomas and Tiamatty for the suggestion!)
That's it for this week! I'm a bit surprised by some of the titles that WEREN'T involved, like Daredevil, Power Man and Iron Fist. The other books had excuses. Power Pack was in the middle of their opening storyline, the FF were traveling through time, Hulk was in another dimension and Alpha Flight was closing out a storyline, as well. New Mutants was the famous slumber party issue.
If you have a suggestion for an interesting example of shared comic book continuity, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com!