Something weird is going on in Manhattan. Sure, what else is new, right? Well, an all-new take on the Master of the Mystic Arts by Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo counts as new and delightfully weird!

Launching in the wake of Secret Wars, DOCTOR STRANGE returned our pal Stephen to the Sanctum Sanctorum in Greenwich Village where people needing help with supernatural problems could seek him out. He also tackled problems as they popped up, like harmful creatures attaching themselves to unassuming humans. After a series of weirder-than-usual occurrences, including unforeseen incursions from other dimensions and a variety of spells losing their power, Strange uncovered the truth: a mysterious technology-based force aimed to eradicate magic across multiple dimensions.

Enter, the Empirikul, a group dedicated to tracking down and destroying magical energy wherever they find it. To them, magic represented a sin that needed to be wiped out in every dimension. Lead by The Imperator, the Empirikul—including the supernatural-sniffing Witchfinder Wolves—had already made their way to an unsuspecting Earth right under Stephen’s nose.

Doctor Strange (2015) #1

• Published: October 07, 2015
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: April 04, 2016
• Rating: Rated T+
• Writer: Jason Aaron
• Cover Artist: Chris Bachalo

Read Buy Digital Copy

What is Marvel Unlimited?

To Strange and some of his fellow mages, much of this trouble resulted from the fact that the Sorcerer Supreme had not balanced the scales of magic. An older magician explained that he would drown a rabbit every time he saved a life to keep things even. Strange intended a mysterious ritual in the basement of his home to do exactly that, but Wong instead created the Secret Disciples of Strange to absorb just some of the punishment our hero took on while performing his duties, which take an unimaginable toll.

Aaron and Bachalo also introduced a new character into Strange’s life: a librarian from the Bronx named Zelma Stanton. She entered his life seeking help with an extra mouth growing out of her head, but agreed to return to organize the doctor’s ever-growing collection of mystical tomes.

Right now, the first eight issues of DOCTOR STRANGE can be read on Marvel Unlimited. #1-5, covered here, make up the first arc while the other three really dive into Strange’s battle with the Empirikul, which leaves magic in a much different place than the Sorcerer Supreme would like.

Opening the Book of Vishanti

These first five issues act as a lead-in to a much larger story called “The Last Days of Magic” that wove through DOCTOR STRANGE #6-10 as well as the DOCTOR STRANGE: LAST DAYS OF MAGIC one-shot. The ride continues in the main series by Aaron, Bachalo, and guest artists like Leonardo Romero and Kevin Nowlan. For even more magical adventures, check out the spinoff DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME by Robbie Thompson and Javier Rodriguez featuring a team of mages from throughout time gathered to stop a threat called The Forgotten with secret ties to Merlin.

That’s it for The Spells of Doctor Strange, but keep an eye on Marvel Unlimited for new titles added each month as well as your local comic purveyor for new issues of DOCTOR STRANGE and DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME.

For 50 years, the Black Panther has stood at the forefront on the Marvel Universe. As we count down to a vision of T’Challa on the big screen coming soon, take a look back at five decades’ worth of comic book adventures…

His mind troubled by the Tomorrow Fund and the coup in Wakanda, T’Challa fell under the gaze of the demon Mephisto in BLACK PANTHER #3, which led to a full-blown confrontation between the two in BLACK PANTHER #4. Subsequently, Mephisto sent the hero and U.S. representative Everett Ross to Hell in BLACK PANTHER #5 to cause them even more trouble and turmoil.

Later, at a state dinner in New York, the Panther fended off an attack from Kraven the Hunter in BLACK PANTHER #6, and set up a rematch with him in BLACK PANTHER #7. The Avengers joined their old compatriot in BLACK PANTHER #8, when Michael Achebe, the man behind the Wakandan coup, orchestrated a riot.

The Black Panther stood with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in AVENGERS #19 during an assault on the team by Alkhema, a female version of the robotic Ultron. Afterward, T’Challa and his teammates learned of Ultron’s destruction of the small European country Slorenia in AVENGERS #20, and made plans to lead a multi-nation invasion to stop him.

Black Panther (1998) #3

• Published: January 10, 1999
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: November 13, 2007
• Writer: Christopher Priest
• Penciller: Joe Quesada, Mark Texeira
• Cover Artist: Mark Texeira

Read

What is Marvel Unlimited?

Once in Slorenia, Captain America instructed the Panther and Firestar to hunt down Ultron’s location in AVENGERS #21, and when they accomplished their task, the Avengers seemingly destroyed their foe…until a multitude of Ultrons arrived to battle them. New team member Justice’s timely arrival with Antarctic Vibranium helped turn the tide in AVENGERS #22.

T’Challa decided to confront Achebe directly in BLACK PANTHER #9, but as the situation in Wakanda grew grimmer, in BLACK PANTHER #10 he accused the U.S. intelligence community of fostering the coup. Back in Wakanda in BLACK PANTHER #11, the king fought valiantly against his enemy, but even though he escaped Achebe’s deathtrap in BLACK PANTHER #12, he faced the threat of The White Wolf, too.

BLACK PANTHER #13 revealed T’Challa’s quest for Monica Lynne, while the mystery of the woman known as Queen Divine Justice expanded in the background.

Back in her own ongoing series, Jen Walters once again reigns as the Queen of Green in HULK #1, out December 28. Her career’s long and storied, but though she’s looking to the future, she can’t deny her past as one of the Marvel Universe’s most fascinating figures…

Savage She-Hulk (1980) #1

• Published: February 10, 1980
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: October 03, 2016
• Writer: Stan Lee
• Penciller: Chic Stone, John Buscema
• Cover Artist: John Buscema

Read

What is Marvel Unlimited?

Sensational
Jen’s law career expanded by leaps and bounds, elevating her to the role of Assistant District Attorney in New York, but after many adventures both in and out of court, She-Hulk’s string of good fortune snapped when a maddened Scarlet Witch manipulated her into kicking off the dissembling of the Avengers. Afterward, Jen withdrew into self-exile.

She-Hulk (2005) #15

• Published: January 17, 2007
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: January 11, 2008
• Rating: A
• Writer: Dan Slott
• Penciller: Rick Burchett
• Cover Artist: Greg Horn

Read Buy Digital Copy

What is Marvel Unlimited?

Secrets
When her cousin The Hulk declared Manhattan as his kingdom, She-Hulk helped to evacuate the island before confronting him. Later, she admitted to a deep-held secret, that she’d become addicted to her gamma-spawned persona. The mystery of the Red Hulk provided some focus for Jen, and she assembled a team to hunt him down.

She-Hulk (2005) #37

• Published: January 28, 2009
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: July 16, 2009
• Rating: A
• Writer: Peter David
• Penciller: Steve Scott

Read Buy Digital Copy

What is Marvel Unlimited?

Mariko Tamaki and Nico Leon chronicle the next chapter for Jennifer Walters in HULK #1 on December 28!

Weapon X has returned with a new leader and a new mission. But they won’t be around much longer if Old Man Logan and Sabretooth have their way. The deadly duo has gathered Lady Deathstrike, Domino, and Warpath and formed a new team to combat the revived Weapon X before they can get too far off the ground.

WEAPON X writer Greg Pak, who will launch the series next year with artist Greg Land, sat down with us to tell how this team comes together and what kind of threats they will face in the battle against this new enemy.

Marvel.com: Weapon X is back; what’s this new reformed program’s goal?

Greg Pak: The Weapon X program is back, and it’s more deadly than ever—but this time its objective isn’t just to use mutants. Now it wants to exterminate them. And the powers and abilities of this new Weapon X threat are so terrifying that you need both heroes and villains teaming up to handle it. So get ready for a blockbuster thriller of a comic book with a brutal group of heroes and anti-heroes stretched to their limits in a battle for the survival of mutantkind. And of course, we’re going to have tons of fun as our heroes drive each other crazy along the way.

Marvel.com: Wolverine and Sabretooth have a history, but this particular Logan hasn’t really seen much of this Sabretooth. What has it been like writing these two together?

Greg Pak: It’s a blast. You’ve got an older Logan, who’s been through a whole different set of experiences teaming up with this Sabretooth he doesn’t really know. It’s always fun to have these two characters tangle with each other, particularly when they have to team up for any amount of time. But this time, you have the added dynamic of an older, wiser—well, potentially wiser, anyway—Wolverine teaming up with a younger Sabretooth. They’re a blast to write together; you can put those two characters together and fun things will just happen. They’re so similar, and yet have different ways for dealing with the world and totally different sets of morals and ethics. So for them to find common ground and fight alongside each other instead of against each other, it’s a fun challenge. And, of course, you get the chance for hugely fun conflicts of all kinds. As a writer, one of the most fun things to write is characters who behave badly. And seeing characters who hate each other be forced to work together, it’s classic!

Marvel.com: How do Logan and Sabretooth end up pulling this team together to take on Weapon X?

Greg Pak: The question is whether these heroes and anti-heroes can come together at all and work together, and whether they can handle what’s coming. This new Weapon X is bigger and badder than it’s ever been and will unleash its attacks in ways we’ve never seen before. Logan’s pulling this particular team together is because he needs a team that’s the best at what they do, and are willing to go the distance. And yet you create huge problems for yourself when you get people this dangerous in the same room together. So the stakes and potential for disaster are pretty sky high.

Marvel.com: Logan and Sabretooth have clear stakes in this as products of the previous Weapon X program, but what motivations do Domino, Warpath, and Lady Deathstrike have to join the battle?

Greg Pak: Some of these characters are more strictly heroic than others, they’re always going to stick their necks out when someone’s in danger, that’s just who they are and what they do. But Lady Deathstrike, for instance, she’s not been like that, traditionally. But Weapon X is out to exterminate everyone, so there are certain points where you set aside your qualms about the people you’re working with to fight the thing that has to be fought. These folks are going to be at that stage, but as the story goes on, you’ll see who’s willing to do what when it needs to happen, and who’s not. There will be points where the job at hand requires genuine heroism, and there may be points where the job requires something else altogether. This is a story that will test how villainous our villains are, and how heroic our heroes are. And on the flip side, it will show us how heroic these villains can be, and how villainous our heroes could become. It will push both sides to their breaking points. Our characters are going to find things out about themselves that they may not like, and that may be good or that may be terrible.

And I’ll also say, I’m thinking of this book as a series of big, blockbuster action-thrillers. It’s going to be a big satisfying series of huge emotional and physical explosions. It’s the kind of thing that I love to do, which is combine big genre action with genuine emotional story. And we’ve got great, smart, terrifying villains, so it’s going to be very satisfying to see our team take them on.

Weapon X by Greg Land

Marvel.com: Will the team come up against any familiar foes or team up with any friendly faces?

Greg Pak: I’m not quite at liberty to disclose anything beyond our team just yet, but I can say for sure there will be some familiar faces and some totally new surprises. That’s always the most fun way for me to tackle: drawing some fun stuff from classic continuity while creating new threats from new angles. But who exactly is the figure behind this new Weapon X program? That’s a big part of the ongoing mystery of the book. Dontcha dare miss a single issue!

Marvel.com: What has it been like to work with Greg Land on art again?

Greg Pak: It’s great to get to work together again; this is the first time we’ve worked together since X-MEN: PHOENIX – ENDSONG almost 11 years ago now. Greg did a tremendous job on that, and we’ve talked over the years about trying to work together again, so I’m excited to be back with him again on another X-book. He’s been working on character designs and covers, and you can just look at Old Man Logan snarling on that cover and see we’re in for some fun action already. I think he’ll bring his great energy to this project, what I loved about working together on ENDSONG was that we had a lot of quiet, intimate moments between characters, and we had a lot of big, crazy action moments, and Greg’s good at delivering on all that. I’ve promised to give him lots of nice splash pages where he can go nuts. He’s capable of all kinds of stuff, and I’m hoping we can work all his artistic muscles on this book.

Marvel.com: What about this new project that has you most excited?

Greg Pak: I’ve done a ton of X-Men books over the years, but mostly limited series and short runs on some ongoing titles. So this is a chance to really dig into an ongoing series, and I’m really excited for that. It also harkens back to the themes of my favorite X-Men books growing up, and, in a way, this might be the most classic X-Men book that I’ve had the opportunity to work on; what’s more classic X-Men than heroes and anti-heroes teaming up to battle against genocidal monsters? And even just doing a book called “Weapon X” is pretty tremendous. Back in the day, that original Weapon X series [in MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS] was huge for me. It was up there with “Daredevil: Born Again” for me as this modern classic. So I’m happy to play in all these different sandboxes, and I really love this particular group of heroes and villains we’re working with.

I’ve inherited a lot of teams on different books over the years, and the best thing is when you can get to the point where you put any two members of a team in a room together and the scene practically writes itself, just by the virtue of the dynamics of those characters, little points of sympathy and conflict just present themselves naturally. I feel like we’ve got a really fun, focused group with these five characters. Each one of them makes total sense in the team, given the mission, but they all have their own distinct ethical codes and backgrounds, even speech patterns, that are all different in very fun ways. Jeff Lemire did great stuff with Lady Deathstrike in OLD MAN LOGAN that’s going to be incredibly fun to build on. We’ve already talked about Logan and Sabretooth, but then you think about Sabretooth and Domino, or Sabretooth and Warpath, or Warpath and Domino, and the different kinds of relationships these heroes are going to have. Warpath and Sabretooth are going to have a very different dynamic than Warpath and Old Man Logan. It’s figuring out who’s going to be friends, who’s going to even feel comfortable around each other, who’s going to be watching whose back, and who might be secretly sharpening the knives. It’s going to be a blast playing with all those dynamics.

Follow Marvel.com and our social channels for the latest on WEAPON X and the rest of ResurrXion!

Earth’s population of sentient talking animals increases by one with the conclusion of the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY story “Grounded.” As the team goes their separate ways, everyone’s favorite gun-toting raccoon-like creature sticks around on a planet he’s none too fond of.

Matthew Rosenberg and Jorge Coelho will usher the former Guardian around Earth in the pages of his solo series ROCKET RACCOON launching at the end of December. We talked with Coelho about seeing the world through Rocket’s eyes, the balance of Earthly and sci-fi elements, and working with Rosenberg.

Marvel.com: Rocket’s not exactly the biggest fan of Earth or its inhabitants. Does that come into play when you’re drawing him on the page?

Jorge Coelho: Right. I would add that Rocket is not a fan of much. He’s got that Groucho vibe going on, which is fun to draw with a cute little face. I try to walk that line between a rusty Clint Eastwood and cute Puss ‘n Boots look in the pages.

Marvel.com: Do you feel like you’ve been able to put your stamp on some characters either with tweaks or full-on re-designs?

Jorge Coelho: Small tweaks that come down to just me trying to do it right, really. Marvel supplied me with pretty good designs as a foundation so everything is coming easy. Personally, I dig this Rocket design above all I’ve seen before. Props to [GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY artist Valerio Schiti].

Marvel.com: Does integrating a character like Rocket who’s so different from everyone around him physically offer up any unique challenges when composing your layouts or poses?

Jorge Coelho: Yes! Early on I’ve noticed his size affects our camera angle right away and allows us sometimes to see the world as if we were kids. The world seems bigger in some shots. Characters also don’t look in each other’s’ eyes as much and he’s more cartoony, more physically expressive as opposed to a human character.

Marvel.com: Do you enjoy mixing the more real world elements of New York City with the sci-fi elements inherent in Rocket?

Jorge Coelho: Love it! It’s super fun to mix it in, to be able to enjoy both elements without marrying to a perfectly realistic or sci-fi vision.

Marvel.com: How has it been working with Matthew so far?

Jorge Coelho: Matt has been super warm and supportive since the beginning, just like all of the ROCKET RACCOON team, now complete with Antonio Fabela on colors. I think we got that groove going on.

Look for ROCKET RACCOON #1 from Matthew Rosenberg, Jorge Coelho, and Antonio Fabela later this month!