This Week in Marvel: Hidden Comic Book Gems of the 1990s

It's a totally gnarly time on the This Week in Marvel podcast! As the year-long celebration of Marvel's 80th anniversary comes to a close, Ryan "Agent M" Penagos and Lorraine Cink unpack their favorite comics from the weird and wild 90s! And, you can read all their decade picks in digital comics mega-library, Marvel Unlimited! We’ve got this week’s episode right here, or, try the full, companion Reading List!

Now, slip on that acid-washed denim and sink into your bean bag chair—we’re throwing back to the 90s…Marvel style!

LORRAINE’S PICKS

Read the first appearance of Squirrel Girl, brought to you by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko, plus Will Murray! How could I not call out my fave character in her crazy debut?

Or, try the introduction of Mayday Parker, the daughter of Peter Parker in the MC2 Universe, in SPIDER-GIRL (1998)! In this universe, Spidey was injured and forced to retire, but in her teenage years May’s powers popped up. She encountered tons of interesting mashup heroes like Darkdevil, Ladyhawk and the Fantastic Five.

Another personal favorite? AVENGERS (1963) #325. The Eternal Sersi offers Captain America a bubble bath and throws a fun party—I love her in this run.

Creators Scott Lobdell, Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham really nail this series. GENERATION X might not be totally hidden, but it may be if you mainly follow the well-known X-Men titles. This one has many awesome X-ladies—Jubilee, Husk, Monet St. Croix and Emma Frost, plus Banshee, Chamber, Skin and Synch rounding out the lads.

IT ALL KICKS OFF WITH M.O.D.O.K.! A secret family of Super Heroes, all children of parents with mystical powers. Try CLANDESTINE (1994) #1 today! Creator Dan Slott loves this one too: “This was the STUFF!”

RYAN’S PICKS

Read through New Warriors (1990) #13 for the full “Forever Yesterday” arc by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley. We got a bunch of tweets in favor of this run, including one from our old friend and co-host Ben Morse, @BenJMorse!

Or, try GHOST RIDER/WOLVERINE/PUNISHER: THE DARK DESIGN (1994) by Howard Mackie, John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson!

Three of Marvel's most hardcore heroes take on Blackheart, demonic son of Mephisto! When Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch, Wolverine and The Punisher are lured to the Midwest town of Christ's Crown, they are offered a devilish deal: kill the king of Hell, and gain the answers to secrets that plague them! But with the life of a local girl in the balance, can Ghost Rider, Logan and Frank Castle resist Blackheart's pact? As the demon's design unfolds, and his deadly Corrupt overrun the town, all hope lies with the vigilante trio. Will they be overcome by the darkness in their hearts, or will it prove to be their greatest source of strength?

Read through THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #358 for the full arc, “Round Robin: The Sidekick’s Revenge”! We had some awesome tweets on this one…

Wally D. Oruam @WallE132: “I WAS WAITING FOR THIS! OK, for me it was the Spider-Man crossover that got me into Marvel comics. It had this awesome, choice 90s lineup of street-level heroes, cyber ninjas, plus amazing art by the legendary Mark Bagley. And the lineup of heroes for this was buck wild. Nova, Spider-Man, The Punisher, Darkhawk, Night Thrasher, Moon Knight. And not a single one was wasted, everyone had a purpose!”

Donnie Lederer @donnielederer: “I loved [this arc’s] twisted take on the Hero/Partner dynamic.”

Tom Brennan Blue Checkmark @Brennanator: “Also I mean, come on, classic 90s shameless story titling! ‘Robin’, ‘Sidekicks’?”

Rounding out Ryan’s favorites? SPIDER-MAN (1990) #17 by Ann Nocenti and Rick Leonardi. After a chemical accident, Spider-Man’s consciousness is separated from his body and he enters an alternate plane where Death herself lies in wait! Not to mention Thanos is there too, in possession of the Infinity Gauntlet!

And, check out a selection from our 90s comic playlist featuring favorites from industry pros, fans, and fellow This Week in Marvel listeners!

TWIM’S AWESOME MIX TAPE SPECIAL: VOL. 2

• WILD THING (1999)
• THE PUNISHER (1987) #69
• DEATHLOK (1990)
• GHOST RIDER/BLAZE: SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE (1992)
• HEROES FOR HIRE (1997)
• THOR (1966) #491
• UNTOLD TALES OF SPIDER-MAN (1995)
• X-FORCE (1991) #19
• MUTANT X (1998)

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