Comics
Published June 25, 2020

Best Cameos in ‘Damage Control’

You never know who’s going to show up. Read 'Damage Control' for free today.

READ DAMAGE CONTROL’S FIRST SERIES HERE!

Media and entertainment legend Dwayne McDuffie has left behind a rich legacy in the comic book industry. McDuffie’s numerous Marvel credits include a run on the FANTASTIC FOUR, two volumes of Michael Collins’ DEATHLOK, and BEYOND! (2006), a Battle Royale series on an alien arena. However, McDuffie’s lasting contribution to the Marvel Universe was Damage Control. And to celebrate McDuffie’s work, the very first volume of DAMAGE CONTROL (1989) is FREE to read on Marvel Unlimited.

[RELATEDDwayne McDuffie’s Legacy in Comics]

Have you ever wondered how New York City is repaired so quickly after massive Super Hero battles? It’s because the talented men and women of Damage Control make it their business to rebuild as fast as possible. Most of Damage Control’s employees are simply ordinary humans who are good at their jobs. But their unique personalities and madcap adventures have earned them a place in our hearts.

McDuffie skillfully integrated humor into all four of his DAMAGE CONTROL series, bringing out the humanity in his characters, while taking an irreverent spin on our favorite heroes. In fact, some of Marvel’s biggest names have stopped by the Damage Control offices or worksites!

Trust us when we say that you’ve never seen Marvel icons quite like this.

Cyclops

SPIDER-MAN AND THE AVENGERS: DAMAGE CONTROL (1989) #1

In the very first issue of DAMAGE CONTROL, Spidey and the ‘80s era-Avengers took on a giant robot that could only be stopped after Spider-Man was trapped inside of it. The Damage Control team tried to figure out how to dispose of the robot without harming Spider-Man. At the same time, a new employee named John Porter struck up an unlikely friendship with Thunderball of the Wrecking Crew. John and Thunderball’s connection went on to become a recurring theme in the first three limited series.

Spider-Man

DOCTOR DOOM AND THE THING: DAMAGE CONTROL (1989) #2

Years ago, Doctor Doom infamously stiffed Luke Cage on a payment of $200. But Damage Control Comptroller Albert Cleary wasn’t about to let the same thing happen to his company! Even though he knew that confronting Doom could potentially be fatal, Albert got face-to-face with Latveria’s monarch, exposing one of Doom’s underlings as a thief.

Doom

When the Fantastic Four’s Thing heard about Albert’s visit with Doom, he raced to the rescue. But Ben Grimm needn’t have bothered. Doom was so impressed by Albert that he offered him a job...which Albert politely declined.

IRON MAN: DAMAGE CONTROL (1989) #3

Before Tony Stark was revealed to be one of the original owners of Damage Control, his alter ego, Iron Man, stopped by in the third issue to help out the team during an emergency. Iron Man also endorsed Damage Control during a brief period in which the core employees wore Super Hero costumes of their own!

Damage Control (1989) #3

Damage Control (1989) #3

What is Marvel Unlimited?
Damage Control (1989) #4

Damage Control (1989) #4

What is Marvel Unlimited?

Don’t let the cover fool you. Wolverine’s “Patch” costume doesn’t appear in the issue. Instead, the Damage Control team assisted the X-Men in a flashback story about Shi’ar technology gone wrong. Although Professor Xavier was grateful for the assist, he couldn’t allow Damage Control to remember this humiliating encounter.

Damage Control

CAPTAIN AMERICA: DAMAGE CONTROL (1989B) #1

Kicking off the second volume of DAMAGE CONTROL!

During a breakout at superhuman prison “The Vault,” John’s friendship with Thunderball allowed him and his friends to pass themselves off as Super Villains until the timely arrival of Captain America!

Damage Control (1989) #1

Damage Control (1989) #1

What is Marvel Unlimited?

Thunderball even helped John pretend he had powers in order to fend off the Wrecking Crew. Unfortunately, Thunderball’s heroic streak only went so far, and he knocked out Cap so that the Wrecking Crew could escape.

SPEEDBALL AND SHE-HULK: DAMAGE CONTROL (1989B) #2-3

In the second issue to their second limited series, She-Hulk answered Edwin Jarvis’ call for help when a vigilante threatened the Damage Control office! That issue also revealed that Speedball had landed an internship at Damage Control in his civilian identity as Robbie Baldwin. Robbie and Damage Control’s Bart Rozum were the office youngsters, hitting it off right away:

Speedball

Unfortunately, things went south in the third issue when Damage Control layoffs caused former team member, Eugene Strausser, to adopt a Super Villain persona! Eugene and a disgruntled fellow employee attacked She-Hulk when she attempted to singlehandedly restore the position of the Daily Bugle’s building.

Speedball arrived shortly thereafter to aid She Hulk, and he inadvertently defeated Eugene (and his friend) despite his own relative lack of experience.

Damage Control (1989) #3

Damage Control (1989) #3

What is Marvel Unlimited?

HULK: DAMAGE CONTROL (1991) #1-2

McDuffie’s third run on the series started off with scandal!

When Damage Control started getting calls to show up to scenes before Super Hero fights had even begun, the team fell under suspicion of the NYPD! That led to an initially tense situation at Yankee Stadium, as the Hulk was just trying to enjoy a baseball game, while 1990’s New Warriors showed up looking for a fight!

Fortunately, the Hulk’s “Professor Hulk” persona was in charge at the time, and he bonded with some of his fellow sci-fi fans over their mutual love of a certain famous TV show. These issues also marked the return of Edifice Rex, a former employee who was granted cosmic powers way back in DAMAGE CONTROL (1989) #1. He’s also an overzealous neat freak.

Edifice Rex
Edifice… wrecks.

SILVER SURFER: DAMAGE CONTROL (1991) #4

When Edifice Rex became a threat to Marvel’s cosmic players (including Galactus), the Damage Control team were personally escorted to an outer space meeting by the Silver Surfer! Edifice Rex wasn’t intimidated by Galactus or Eternity, but it was ultimately Damage Control CEO Robin Chapel who saved the day with some quick thinking.

Robin

GOLIATH: WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH! - DAMAGE CONTROL (2008) #1-3

McDuffie’s fourth and final run on DAMAGE CONTROL!

Black Goliath’s nephew, Tom Foster, was bitter over the death of his uncle, Bill Foster, in CIVIL WAR (2006). That’s why Tom adopted the Goliath identity for himself and sided with the Hulk during WORLD WAR HULK! In the aftermath, Tom volunteered to help Damage Control fix the destruction, a change of heart that led him to stay by their side throughout the series.

Wwh Aftersmash: Damage Control (2008) #1

Wwh Aftersmash: Damage Control (2008) #1

What is Marvel Unlimited?

PENANCE AND THE THUNDERBOLTS: WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH! - DAMAGE CONTROL (2008) #1-2

There was an unofficial amnesty for unregistered heroes in the wake of WORLD WAR HULK. However, the ever-crooked Thunderbolts attempted to use the opportunity to enforce the Superhuman Registration Act by arresting heroes who were weary of another fight.

Because Penance was previously Speedball, he had confided his secret and his guilt to Bart prior to this incident. That came in handy when Bart essentially blackmailed Penance into convincing the Thunderbolts to temporarily back off and let Damage Control do what they do best.

Thunderbolts

To read DAMAGE CONTROL, and handfuls of other free series, visit Marvel Unlimited.

 

For more of Marvel’s greatest comic books in print, please reach out to your local comic book shop to ask about services they may offer, including holding or creating pull lists, curbside pick-ups, special deliveries and other options to accommodate. Find and support your local comic book shop at http://comicshoplocator.com.

Related

Comics

Meet the New Heralds of Galactus from Across the Mutliverse in the Planet-Sized 'What If… Galactus' Preview

This January, witness Rogue, Gambit, Moon Knight, Hulk, and Spider-Gwen transform into Heralds for the Devourer of Worlds in new 'What If… Galactus' one-shots.

Gear

Shop Marvel Must Haves: The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 2024

Find the perfect Marvel gift for everyone this holiday season! Shop toys, collectibles, accessories and more!

Comics

‘Avengers Academy’ Writer Anthony Oliveira Ushers in the Next Generation of Heroes

‘Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices’ writer Anthony Oliveira reflects on the legacy of Avengers Academy, working with young heroes, the arrival of the Maximoff twins, and more.

Culture & Lifestyle

Marvel and Weekly Shonen Jump Exchange Art to Celebrate the Final Volume of 'My Hero Academia'

'My Hero Academia' creator Kohei Horikoshi joins superstar Marvel artists Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado to make worlds collide with an art exchange depicting heroes from both franchises.