WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Marvels #3 by Kurt Busiek, Yildiray Cinar, Richard Isanove and Simon Bowland, on sale now.
The Marvels is taking an expansive look at a massive story that touches almost every era of Marvel history. In a flashback sequence, a team of unlikely Golden and Silver Age heroes and villains alike has been assembled for an expedition that takes them to some of Marvel's strangest monsters. In addition to future Fantastic Four members Reed Richards and Ben Grimm, the team includes several other more obscure figures who have left an indelible mark on the history of the Marvel Universe.
In the fictional country Sin-Cong, C.I.A. agent Andrew Rendard has gathered together several distinguished guests to investigate with a monster outbreak. As the crowd fills in, Richards and Grimm are introduced to George Tarleton, the Army scientist who will eventually become M.O.D.O.K.
First appearing in 1982's Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1 by Mark Gruenwald, Steven Grant, Bill Mantlo and John Romita Jr., Alain Racine was introduced to the Marvel Universe as one of those chosen by the Grandmaster for the titular tournament of the series. After being defeated in combat by Angel, Peregrine joined Silver Sable's operation as her French lead operative. In the years since then, he's worked alongside the likes of Hawkeye, She-Hulk and Thor. Even though he has always been a career mercenary with a particular set of skills in his high-speed flight suit, the Peregrine is still a surprising addition to the group assembled by Renard.
A less shocking face to see in this room is Georges Batroc, leaper extraordinaire and current member of Wilson Fisk's Thunderbolts. Batroc and Alain aren't the only fearsome fighters to make an appearance in this room full of geniuses.
This group also includes daredevil Craig "Crash" Simpson. When he was first seen in 1972's Marvel Spotlight #5 by Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog, he was still the owner of Crash Simpson's Daredevil Cycle Show starring Barton Blaze, the father of future Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze. When Barton died in an accident, Crash and his wife Mona who took in the young Johnny and unwittingly led him into Mephisto's arms. When Crash was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Johnny found hope in the occult, and a deal with the devil later he had saved his foster father's life only for it to be taken away soon after by another means.
Although the odds were certainly stacked against this team, they managed to accomplish their experimental mission. While they quickly parted ways thereafter, They might not be the best versions of themselves quite yet, though that only compounds the excitement of seeing them working together in the first place.