BEAST versus CORPORATE SPY

The Beast! (Marvel)
Where: Amazing Adventures #11 When: March 1972
Why: Gerry Conway How: Tom Sutton

The Story So Far...
Of all the mutants who joined Charles Xavier's X-Men -- Henry McCoy was a gifted youngster, indeed. Possessed of both brilliant brain and brawn, he excelled as magnificently in the laboratory as the battlefield. It's perhaps no surprise, then, that he was the first of Xavier's original class to leave the Westchester School.

Recruited by The Brand Corporation to participate in a highly secretive think tank; McCoy sets out to continue his research into genetic mutation with the benefit of state-of-the-art facilities.

Alas, those same cutting edge resources attract a web of espionage, provoking the former X-Man to take drastic measures to disguise his mutant nature while thwarting a late-night break-in. A decision that will forever transform him into his most literal namesake -- The Beast!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Beast 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Beast 6 (Genius)
Speed: Beast 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Beast 3 (Strong Willed)
Agility: Beast 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Beast 2 (Average)
Energy: Beast 1 (None)
Total: Beast 26 (Metahuman)

You may know him as an erudite & mild-mannered mutant scientist, or perhaps the more recent conspiring geneticist whose morality teeters ever more precarious -- but this incarnation of Dr. Henry McCoy is a different Beast all together!

Fangs, fur, and anger define our hero in this outing, as we find him at the beginning of an amazing new chapter! A moment when he chose to consume a serum of his own making that triggers a shocking second stage in his own natural mutation! A decision that would change his life forever...

Originally The Beast merely possessed enlarged hands & feet, enhanced strength, and fantastic agility. Mutations that brought him to the attention of Charles Xavier, who recruited him as one of his first class of costumed X-Men.

In this classic guise, Beast was powerful and nimble, battling Sub-Mariner and The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, going toe to toe with Skurge The Executioner, and wrestling the lethal Lizard in the swamps of Louisiana.

Possessing both brains and brawn, McCoy continued to study in the fields of biology and genetics while adventuring, maintaining a specific interest in human mutation. Recruited by The Brand Corporation, he successfully isolated a hormonal extract that was the chemical cause of so-called "homo-superior" development.

The extract, if consumed, could trigger a mutation in a human subject, reversable if treated by antidote within an hour. A factor that led McCoy to attempt a Jekyll style temporary transformation to obscure his identity while thwarting Bennie: a spy for the Secret Empire masquerading as a Brand security guard!

The transformation further exaggerated McCoy's mutation, reducing him to a dark, silver-grey furred primitive man-Beast. He gained even more pronounced animal-like strength & agility, endurance, and accelerated healing capable of enduring multiple gunshot wounds! It also robbed him of his mental clarity and intelligence, unleashing a wild, instinctive rage in moments of stress.

This is a far cry from the blue-furred Beast that cared enough for his fellows to throw himself at Apocalypse and lock up with Spiral! It's even a very different breed to the cat-like Beast who tore through the Shi'ar Imperial Guard and Magneto-impersonating Xorn with brilliant precision after further mutating.

So how does he handle a Secret Empire spy in his first outing? Let's find out!

The Tape: Beast Ranking: Beast (#55)

What Went Down...

Bennie, he thinks to himself, "Just play this game right -- and you're home free!" A security watchman, dragging a cigarette as he prowls through the gloom, walking the empty midnight paths of The Brand Corporation lot.

He fights the uncanny feeling that someone's watching. He tells himself it's just nerves, but maybe Bennie's more intuitive than he thinks. Maybe on some sub-conscious level he can sense the dark creature walking the powerlines and skipping between rooftops just over his head -- watching his every move.

He casts his flashlight over a massive metal door. The classified entrance to Genetic Research Subdivision 12 -- "home free".

From inside his jacket, he produces a small leather pouch that unfolds to reveal a fantastic device. A small arc welder, unleashing focused heat on the steel door that briefly fills the emptiness with a shriek -- until its seal is at last breached.

The watchman moves to enter the dark of the facility, but on this night the creature that watches him will not allow it! From overhead -- The Beast pounces!

Bennie panics as he's dropkicked to the ground and The Beast -- still adjusting to his newfound strength -- effortlessly hurls him into nearby machinery!

The false guard -- a spy -- desperately draws a handgun.

The Beast orders him not to shoot with a deliberate, growling cadence as he charges towards the gunman. It falls on deaf ears.

The terrified man squeezes the trigger and The Beast's skull is creased as he contorts his massive body in a desperate bid to avoid being hit! His arm -- thrown outstretched -- shunts the spy through the air into more machinery.

Horrified and bewildered by the sight confronting him -- Bennie keeps shooting!

The Beast lunges once more towards the gunman, absorbing his shots directly to his torso. It ignites a fire across his furry chest -- a chorus for the throbbing percussion of pain that pounds in his head!

Enraged, but enduring -- The Beast vaults himself on one hand to deliver a furious dropkick to the shooter!

Suddenly the night air is filled with the whip of bullets as a swarm of soldiers rushes the gates of Genetic Research Subdivision 12!

The Beast's night of action has been for nothing. He could have left the alarm to alert better suited men to the break-in. His heart fills with rage, but instinct compels him to use his incredible agility to leap into the shadows, remaining hidden from the armed forces coming from outside.

Beast hides among the machines while Bennie foolishly tries to trade shots with no less than eight heavily armed soldiers! His fear seals his fate!

The Hammer...

We're wandering off the beaten path to visit upon a classic I've been enjoying in my reading time, which I might argue is an often-underrated piece of the Marvel horror comics boom. Perfect subject matter for the Halloween season!

Amazing Adventures #11 is a famous issue for fans of the X-Men, and I was very excited to finally get a chance to read my own copy, albeit in a reasonably priced Epic Collection I picked up on sale.

The journey was long. I can't tell you how many times I saw that cover reprinted in places like Wizard Magazine. Often cited for its significance in the development of the Beast character; I'm pretty sure there was a lauded copy hanging over the comic store I used to frequent as a youngster, where I intuitively understood it was the moment the classic 'big foot' Beast became the hairy icon.

Despite all this, no amount of trivia, osmosis, or passing familiarity could prepare me for just how exciting the shift in tone & style of the interior pages really is!

Some of us might be prone to remembering some of the stuffier and more clunky comics produced throughout the 1970s, but I would rank this era of Amazing Adventures somewhere in the company of Jim Starlin on Captain Marvel, and Jim Aparo drawing Aquaman, for revelatory experiences from the decade.

This was the era when X-Men was on life support. A strange and unfathomable period that ran from the end of 1970 to 1975, when the series reprinted issues by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, creating a gap between X-Men #66 and #94 where no original stories were produced. This was basically Classic X-Men -- but the main title itself was taking four years off for reruns less than a decade old!

To the benefit of us all -- somebody clearly saw the potential in the characters and brand. They kept them alive long enough to reach the new era sparked by Giant-Size X-Men #1, utilizing occasional guest spots in those intervening years, with one character chosen for a shot at spinning out into his own adventures!

It's pretty wild to think Beast was the breakout hero, but it's a little less surprising when you see how radically different his spin-off into Amazing Adventures was.

The midnight setting, and deep inks, immediately cast the adventure in a very different light. This is a darker, edgier, more atmospheric outing from the very first page. You can see it in the featured fight recap [above].

Ostensibly a complete rethink; Amazing Adventures #11 repurposes Hank McCoy for a genre-bending horror, sci-fi, espionage, romance book, with trace elements of super-heroics.

The horror element is what stands out most, especially in this first issue, but it almost feels like they're hedging their bets on any genre becoming the hot new fad to carry the character forward. All options are available, even if it quickly begins returning to superhero roots in the next couple of issues.

Hank McCoy isn't exactly James Bond, but the reference is self-evident as his work in genetic research immediately overlaps with the Mata Hari of it all. Hank gets pretty hot & heavy with assistant Linda Donaldson toot suite, adding a whole lot of angst & drama to the series as he attempts to hide his transformation in subsequent issues, while Donaldson pursues a relationship, working for the same Secret Empire behind our hapless featured fighter, Bennie the Corporate Spy.

I can't help but think of our collectively regained familiarity with the story of Oppenheimer to further contextualize the rapid romancing going on with our science hero. Cillian Murphy's portrayal reminded us all of the perils of lusty nerds in possession of state secrets. Not that it's an isolated incident in Marvel Comics.

This type of overlap between frontier science, espionage, and ways of the heart draws very obvious comparisons with the earliest issues of Incredible Hulk, not to mention its notable twist on horror-tinged classic creature features.

Both begin with Jekyll & Hyde transformations, but while Bruce Banner becomes a Frankenstein type, Beast is more like the Wolfman. Unsurprising then that the two characters are drawn together when Beast's solo outing extends beyond the short-lived starring spot in Amazing Adventures. A battle we will surely spotlight.

Hulk will be naturally drawn into a resurgence of horror comics in the seventies, but Beast quickly drifts back to the world of super-heroics, becoming an Avenger, and reconnecting with the X-Men. Which is probably why the character's horror bona fides, and role in the revival, aren't talked about as often as they could be.

1972 is a significant time for horror in comics -- especially at Marvel. They were starting to unravel the restrictions imposed by a Comics Code Authority entrenched in the 1950s, and Frederic Wertham-led book burnings.

Morbius, The Living Vampire had debuted as an antagonist under the cover of the massive success of Spider-Man in 1971, while Werewolf By Night played it more straight -- introduced just a month prior to this new Beast, in '72.

A new wave of horror was coming for our children and I'm sure they were all incredibly grateful for it! Marvel's Tomb of Dracula, Ghost Rider, and subsequently Blade, Son of Satan, and more followed the trend. A cavalcade of enduring horror-hero icons who've stayed the course for the company, which is something Beast didn't really do within the genre.

Yet, in this foremost issue of the revamp, it's the animalistic quality of Beast that is really apparent. His loss of self is integral to the drama. Evocative narration puts the reader in the mind of the transformed, keeping us intimately aware of his snarling lips, fangs, and uncontrollable urges. It is we, the reader, who is culpable for the chaos and bloodshed of this dark night.

Key to the thrills of the episode are the pencils of Tom Sutton, whose figures and layouts are a perfect fusion of horror comics and superheroes, rendered under heavy inks by Syd Shore. Colours are uncredited, but vital to the episode as well.

Like the Hulk before him, this version of Beast will undergo a colour change, from a grey-ish hue of purple this first outing, to his more iconic blue fur a few issues later. I like the 'dark, silver-grey' that evokes the werewolf, but there's no denying that the blue is more memorable. I don't know if this change was for style, or a similar issue with maintaining grey consistency in printing that turned Hulk green.

In the end, I wonder which force was strongest to push Beast away from the horror flavour of this story. It's interesting, but probably not quintessential or unique enough to keep the character rooted. Morbius is the better monster-scientist, and Werewolf By Night the better man-beast. With John Jameson becoming the Man-Wolf a year after this, there probably just wasn't enough room to warrant a Beast remaining in the darkness.

I think this issue is awesome and I'm very pleased to have finally be able to enjoy it and share the experience with you. I very much hope to return to more of the Beast's solo outings at some point in the future. If that's something you think I should do sooner, you might like to consider supporting the site on Patreon.

Henry McCoy needed corporate backing to do his research into mutant enzymes and with your help we can learn the secrets of superhero smackdown! Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has already documented well over 700 battles and ranked more than 1,000 of your favourite characters! You can find them all by diving into the Secret Archive for an index ordered by publisher, series, and issue number.

Get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by following on X (aka; Twitter)! Don't forget to smash that like, fave, and share -- and keep your eyes peeled for the week's top trending battles every Sunday on X & Discord! The lively Discord chat is one of the bonuses of becoming a Patreon subscriber!

Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#55 (--) Beast
#1033 (new) Bennie

BEAST, CANNONBALL & KARMA versus SPIRAL

Bad Karma (Marvel)
Where: Beast #1 When: May 1997
Why: Keith Giffen How: Cedric Nocon

The Story So Far...
For too long the young mutant Karma has sought her missing brother & sister. Drawn into the seedy underbelly of Madripoor during her search -- she returns to New York City intent on taking matters into her own hands.

Karma telepathically possesses an unsuspecting Beast to launch a frontal assault on the Hellfire Club, but the X-Man returns to his senses just in time to prevent undue bloodshed, instead hacking into Hellfire databases to learn the children were handed over to Viper.

A psychic vision of The Body Shop reveals to Karma her lost siblings -- alive and undergoing genetic experimentation at the hands of Spiral. The six-armed free agent was recruited by Viper in her private war against Karma, and a security alert at the X-Mansion can only signal Spiral's inter-dimensional arrival!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Beast 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Beast 6 (Genius)
Speed: Cannonball 5 (Super-Human)
Stamina: Cannonball 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Beast 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Spiral 4 (Trained)
Energy: Cannonball 3 (Explosives)
Total: Beast 26 (Metahuman)

Two X-Men and two former New Mutants walk into a fight... Okay, those numbers don't quite add up, but that's the set-up when Beast & Cannonball offer assistance to the latter's old New Mutants teammate - Karma.

I guess that makes Spiral the walking, talking punchline. With six arms enhanced with cyborg components, the Mojoverse mutate can go hand-to-hand with her trio of opponents, fist for fist. Assuming that's her chosen method of fighting that is.

Spiral is known to favour swords when she enters battle, swinging multiple blades in a deadly dance that serves a dual purpose of weapons combat, and casting spells with her mastery of magic.

Spiral is best known for teleporting herself and others through time and space, but her versatile dancing spells can also project concussive blasts, conjure objects, interfere with others' abilities, and effect unconsciousness.

She can also resist mental interference -- directly nullifying Karma's mutant gifts of telepathy & mental possession, and has been known to breach the seemingly impenetrable field that forms around Cannonball when he takes flight.

There really is no limit to Spiral's versatility. She even puts Beast's expertise in genetics to shame, running The Body Shop in her spare time, where she experiments with flesh, fusing body and steel to create the likes of Lady Deathstrike and The Reavers. Will that knowhow help her in battle? Let's see!

The Tape: Beast, Cannonball & Karma Ranking: Beast (#55)

What Went Down...
Cannonball rockets Karma and Beast to the mansion grounds where they find Spiral lingering beneath the trees at the outer perimeter. With swords already drawn, she taunts them: "My, my. All this fuss over little old me?"

Karma demands to know where her twin siblings are, but before she can probe Spiral's mind -- the six-armed mystic mutate has swung her hands in a vogue that block's Karma's attack and forces her into unconsciousness.

Cannonball is the first X-Man to respond -- launching himself at Spiral!

Her swords are bunched overhead, but a rising knee begins the dance around the charging mutant, whose natural forcefield is penetrated by Spiral's otherworldly magic. With a simple gesture she blasts him in the face!

The counter-attack knocks Cannonball out cold, and Spiral mocks his lack of maneuverability as she tosses his limp body aside.

Maneuverability happens to be a skill Beast has in spades. He takes full advantage of Spiral's distraction with his fellow X-Man, bounding in to deliver a swift uppercut!

Beast further demonstrates his spectacular agility, swinging his feet into a low sweeping kick.

Spiral dances clear of the attack, thrusting three swords in the blue-furred X-Man's general direction, but he's already tumbled into a handstand press that keeps his body clear of the blades.

The swordsman lunges at her target, but he effortlessly leaps over her head -- landing behind her to lock in a firm full nelson!

Beast's mighty arms manage to pin three or four of Spiral's many arms behind her, but she isn't immobilized for long.

The mystic manages to slip clear with a simple teleportation that takes her out of the hold and back to the unconscious bodies of Cannonball and Karma.

Content that she has what she came for, Spiral abandons the battle to begin the dance to teleport her prey back to The Body Shop. Something the Beast isn't about to allow uninterrupted!

As the spell nears its completion Beast dives into the energy field -- joining his fellow mutants on their magical mystery tour to a destination unknown.

The Hammer...

Beast makes a valiant effort to save the day, but with both of his allies down, he can't quite turn it around. Spiral takes the win, but Beast will be on hand to keep the team in the fight when they regroup in issue two.

Beast's status as the last man standing is the strongest indicator that this is the first issue of his own mini-series. A surprise release that could've just as easily been sold as a Karma mini -- if something like that would have actually sold.

Somehow I just can't see myself running back & forth between money earned per bucket doing gardening work, and the newsagent that just happened to have this on a stacked stand, without the star power of an A-list X-Man.

It's nice to see Beast participating in the good fight. That's basically the reason I decided to dig this one out. A trip back to the good old days of a Hank McCoy who is erudite, full of good humor, and a magnificent combination of physical strength and gymnastic feats. The smart & funny one of the original X-Men.

Here in 2023 Beast has just been on the lethal end of Wolverine's claws as the latest victim in a decade of Marvel Comics killing their icons, and occasionally turning heroes into their own antagonists. It's slightly different. He was cloned before issue's end, but I still lament the days when comics were a bit more fun.

It's tough to reconcile the bounding hero on the cover of 1997's Beast #1 with the cutthroat, rat bastard that seems to have emerged in recent years. It almost reads like an entirely different character. Maybe it is..?

The Beast mini-series was only about a year removed from that odd little period when the Dark Beast of the Age of Apocalypse reality managed to infiltrate our universe, hold the genuine article captive, and secretly replace him.

It always reminded me of the saga of Roman Brady & John Black from daytime TV's Days of Our Lives. A soap opera moment with inter-dimensional doppelgangers as only superhero comics can provide. Prime X-Men territory, but if you don't know the reference, just ask your mother (or grandmother). Trust me.

The return of Dark Beast would be the kind of easy-way-out that could quickly restore Beast to his iconic, fun-loving self -- if only that wasn't a needlessly complicated rehashing of an old story that wasn't that great to begin with. The last thing I want to be doing right now is advocating for sloppy "multiverse" plots.

I don't want to fault the longform storytelling too much either, but is the entire original line-up of the X-Men really destined to take a turn at being raging jerks?

Jean Grey famously turned against the team during the groundbreaking Dark Phoenix saga, followed by Angel's transgression and periodic hostilities as Archangel. Then there were Professor X's various secret indiscretions culminating with the manifestation of Onslaught, and whatever nonsense reduced Cyclops to an unwaveringly miserable prick. Oy. Iceman better run while he still can!

I don't really love the idea of hastily sweeping away recent stories, but it's felt like Marvel (and DC) are shockingly overdue a restoration of their iconic characters in comics for a long time. The type of reset that used to keep these heroes centered and accessible, no matter how outlandish their adventures were.

That overdue sensation is likely only going to heighten when Disney+ brings back the much-loved team of the X-Men animated series in the appropriately titled X-Men '97. It's now rumored to be committed to multiple seasons, and as much as I wouldn't usually advocate for multimedia influencing the source -- this is referring back to a time when cartoons were notable for being directly inspired by comics!

Things change, but I hope we'll be able to enjoy Beast again in comics sometime soon, like the old friend he always was. That's kind of the pleasure of these enduring superhero icons. Failing that, we can always go back to the classics!

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 700 battles and ranked more than 1,000 iconic characters! You can find them all by following links throughout this post to find more from your favourites, or by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index in order of publisher, series, and issue number!

Help make that archive grow by becoming a supporter on Patreon. As a thank you for supporting the project and all the work that goes into it you'll find additional updates and multiple tiers to sponsor even more featured content.

Get free daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by subscribing to Twitter and Facebook, or by becoming a freebie follower on Patreon. Don't forget to smash that like, fave, and share -- and keep your eyes peeled for the week's top trending battles every Sunday on Twitter & Patreon!

Winner: Spiral
#355 (new) Spiral
#55 (--) Beast
#153 (-11) Cannonball
#989 (new) Karma

X-FACTOR versus FRENZY

"Trials and Errors" (Marvel)
Where: X-Factor #4 When: May 1986
Why: Bob Layton How: Keith Pollard & Joe Rubinstein

The Story So Far...
The revelation that Jean Grey had survived the death of The Phoenix -- and returned from suspended animation -- brings about a reunion of the original class of X-Men, with a purpose to continue Charles Xavier's dream of peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants.

Operating under the public facade of the mutant hunting X-Factor: the group uses Angel's fortune to investigate public tips into mutant activity, secretly parlaying their knowledge to offer assistance to young mutants in need of training and guidance.

X-Factor aren't the only clandestine organization interested in the fates of their young students. From the shadows, a new threat observes first recruit, Rusty Collins, with intense interest. After the failure of mercenary Tower, this mysterious group sends another powerhouse to capture the boy. A woman named Frenzy!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Frenzy 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Beast 6 (Genius)
Speed: Beast 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Frenzy 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Iceman 7 (Unlimited)
Fighting: Cyclops 4 (Trained)
Energy: Jean Grey 5 (Lasers)
Total: Beast 26 (Metahuman)

X-Factor are: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, and Iceman, with Rusty Collins.

You might recognize X-Factor as the original X-Men, who fought Sub-Mariner and the Brotherhood in X-Men #6, and have a wealth of experience behind them -- if you ignore Marvel Girl's lost years after being cocooned by The Phoenix force.

Frenzy makes her first appearance in this issue, debuting as a mysterious power house with a "steel hard" body and super-human strength. Her true name is Joanna Cargill and at this early stage she's working as field-leader for the Alliance of Evil, answering in secret to Apocalypse!

Against X-Factor she's clearly out-numbered, but Frenzy's tough exterior means she can probably withstand a standard optic blast from Cyclops, and attacks from Iceman.

Her strength is also more than a match for all but Beast -- who's just re-joined the team after experiments reverted him to his earlier furless form, putting considerable strain on his heart, in the process. He's hit the Danger Room, but it remains to be seen if there are any lingering side effects.

Angel is inexplicably our best ranked of the classic X-Men, despite a reputation for not being especially suited to combat. He challenges this notion with aerial stunts against The Executioner, The Lizard, and in a daring solo contest against Peregrine.

Is Angel likely to be a difference-maker, or could this all actually add up to giving Frenzy a fighting chance? Let's get into it to find out what happened!

The Tape: X-Factor Ranking: Angel (#49)

What Went Down...

A presenting savior turns hostile as Frenzy reveals her intentions to take Rusty Collins from the street whether he wants it or not. Her powerful hands suddenly grab at his ribs and begin to squeeze the air from his body. It's all he can do to remain conscious long enough to summon a burst of flame!

The blast startles Frenzy into loosening her grip, but has little effect on her steel-hard exterior. Even her leather clothes are completely unsinged!

Intent on completing her mission she moves upon the startled boy and smacks him through the air with a powerful backhanded slap!

The young mutant manages to roll with the blow and runs for his life!

Alas, it seems no obstacle will stand in Frenzy's way. She smashes through a concrete wall -- cutting off Rusty's frantic path through the lonely streets.

With his back to the wall it seems as if there's no hope of escape, but Frenzy's mysterious benefactor isn't the only one interested in Rusty Collins.

To the rescue comes Beast with a high impact dive kick to Frenzy's back!

X-Factor was alerted to their trainee's peril by the insightful psionic pictograms of Artie Maddicks, but their element of surprise is quickly lost.

Frenzy stands her ground and delivers a haymaker to Beast that launches him into the air!

Marvel Girl catches her teammate in the air with a telekinetic cushion that brings him down safely.

Not about to abandon her objective without a fight -- Frenzy grabs hold of a chunk of the partially demolished dilapidated tenement and brandishes it overhead with malicious intent!

The quick thinking of Cyclops reduces the would-be concrete projectile to a shower of rocks with an optic blast shattering it in Frenzy's hands!

The X-Factor leader calls for a pre-made play, inciting Angel and Marvel Girl to action for "maneuver three". A combination assault that sees Jean Grey telekinetically holding Frenzy in place, while Cyclops blasts her -- and Angel delivers a two-fisted uppercut with the momentum of a dive-bomber!

Iceman takes the opportunity to lock the super-strong villain down -- encasing her in ice and telling Rusty to make a run for it.

The deep freeze doesn't last long. A simple flex of her super-humanly powerful muscles shatters the ice around her and frees Frenzy!

Seeing X-Factor are too powerful for her to face alone, she makes a run for it, pulling down a nearby burnt-out building to cover her escape with dust and debris!

The Hammer...

A pretty good effort from Frenzy, all things considered. She held her own, and escapes to fight another day thanks to a messy, but effective exit strategy.

Next time she'll be able to even the odds with X-Factor by bringing The Alliance of Evil to back her up!

If you don't remember the Alliance of Evil - that's probably fair enough. They all skew a little generic, and are overshadowed soon enough by more enduring Horsemen of Apocalypse, who hadn't even stepped into the light at the time he was relying on the Alliance's services.

So why the sudden interest in Frenzy? Like Tempo a couple of years ago; Frenzy has emerged as one of the more intriguing candidates eligible for Marvel's 2023 X-Men Vote!

Just like Tempo she faces some pretty stiff competition, up against high-profile and seasoned former members already familiar with the team. There's Cannonball, Dazzler, Jubilee, Juggernaut, and Prodigy.

The fan-decided election will select the final member of a refreshed upcoming X-Men team: democratically elected to the Protectors of Krakoa. Former winners were Polaris and Firestar -- proving there's a chance for the second tier.

Jubilee might have the most compelling momentum right now, with a recent nuclear-explosion of her powers in X-Terminators, and an imminent nostalgia-sodden return to animation in Disney+'s X-Men 97.

The bubblegum princess of the X-Men makes sense, but there's just something interesting about a more punk rock option. Not that Frenzy is quite the same character she was when she debuted in X-Factor #4.

Her journey took her through various allegiances, from Superia's Femizons, to Magneto's Acolytes, and perhaps inevitably The Marauders. Along the way she lost a little bit of the flavour that made her original leather design a more interesting style simpatico with the ragtag mutant-killers working for Mister Sinister. She really did always look like a Marauder who strayed from the herd!

Eventually circumstances conspired to bring Frenzy into the fold with the X-Men in the late 2000s, and it feels to me like the character, although gaining greater complexity, has lost some of that tough-as-nails persona that I like about this first appearance. She might throw down with Paibok as SWORD Ambassador, but she's been softened in ways that don't quite feel right to me.

If Frenzy returns to the X-Men with the next Hellfire Gala announcement, I'd kinda like to see a makeover taking her back to this classic look. C'mon. The eighties are so hot right now, and leather and buckles feels perfect for a new Hellfire Gala look -- and maybe a new Frenzy.

Of course, maybe I just need to dig deeper into her appearances to gain greater appreciation for the nuance of her evolution. You can find future entries about Frenzy, or any of the other topics covered in today's feature, by following links throughout this post, or by checking the Secret Index.

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 700 battles and ranked more than 1,000 iconic characters! You can make sure there are many more to come by becoming a supporter on Patreon. As a thank you for your patronage you'll find additional updates and multiple tiers to sponsor your own special selections!

Get free daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by subscribing to Twitter and Facebook, or by becoming a freebie follower on Patreon. Don't forget to smash that like, fave, and share -- and keep your eyes peeled for the week's top trending battles every Sunday on Twitter & Patreon!

Winner(s): Inconclusive (Draw)
#49 (--) Angel
#55 (--) Beast
#89 (+1) Cyclops
#149 (+4) Iceman
#155 (+1) Marvel Girl (Jean Grey)
#488 (new) Frenzy
#489 (new) Firefist (Rusty Collins)

X-MEN versus MAGNETO

Showdown! (Marvel)
Where: X-Men #113 When: September 1978
Why: Chris Claremont How: John Byrne

The Story So Far...
With his nemeses The X-Men held captive deep within his volcanic subterranean base in the Arctic; Magneto is free to stage an unopposed attack on the Royal Australian Aerospace Research Facility in Woomera, South Australia!

The X-Men are reduced to the physical capacity of infants in the nightmarish care of the android called Nanny! That is, until Storm manages to use the lock-picking skills she learned as a thief to free herself and the team from their elaborate shackles!

Awaiting their greatest foe's return, the X-Men scramble to devise a plan to ambush the Master of Magnetism and defeat him once and for all!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Colossus 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Beast 6 (Genius)
Speed: Beast 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Wolverine 6 (Generator)
Agility: Nightcrawler 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Wolverine 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Magneto 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Magneto 28 (Metahuman)

The X-Men are: Cyclops, Phoenix, Storm, Banshee, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Wolverine, with Beast.

Despite occasionally working alongside the team; Magneto arguably represents the X-Men's ultimate arch-nemesis! His mastery of magnetism challenges Charles Xavier's dream on both a physical and philosophical plane, shaking the Earth to its very core with the influence of magnetic fields, and dangerous ideas!

There are obvious issues for some of the X-Men who're facing Magneto at a time when he's firmly positioned as a ruthless villain. Wolverine's adamantium laced skeleton is famously susceptible to magnetic influence, most devastatingly demonstrated when the metal was ripped from his body in X-Men #25!

There are also concerns surrounding the organic steel of Colossus. He can choose to remain in his unaltered human form, but this also negates the asset of his super-human strength, rendering him a vulnerable target for Magneto.

Nightcrawler always offers interesting tactical possibilities with his agility and ability to teleport. We saw him strike a decisive blow against Dracula in X-Men Annual #6. He might be able to get the drop on Magneto, but penetrating his magnetic force field seems unlikely. Coordinating with teammates is best.

Cyclops and Storm are strong tactical leaders who can call shots on a team strategy. Cyclops' optic blasts also offer a strong ranged attack that can help pin Magneto down. Storm's control of weather is less suited to their confined arena deep within a volcano, but a well timed gust could help and hinder tactically.

As unlikely as it seems, Banshee could be an ace in the hole. His sonic scream was potent enough to stun Invisible Woman in X-Men Annual #14, and might be able to penetrate Magneto's defenses! The confined space of the arena may just enhance his offensive potential, but there is the risk of hurting his teammates.

The obvious powerhouse here is Jean Grey, who at this time is entwined with the Phoenix force. Cosmically enhanced telekinesis and telepathy are just the tip of the iceberg. In theory, Phoenix would have no trouble defeating Magneto on her own, but the use of her powers at this time appears in flux.

An uncharacteristic act of psychic violence by Charles Xavier famously reduced Magneto to a mindless state in X-Men #25. He was also matched by a cosmically enhanced Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #327.

Magneto has the benefit of confronting the X-Men within his subterranean Arctic lair, and even though they have some element of surprise, they're also recovering from prior hardships. This is a classic - let's see how it went!

History: X-Men (1-0-1)
The Tape: X-Men Ranking: Wolverine (#4)

What Went Down...
Descending into his darkened lair: Magneto tends to his malfunctioning Nanny robot, fully aware the X-Men have likely escaped their shackles. He plays the fool, inviting a sudden assault from Cyclops, Banshee, and the other X-Men!

The Master of Magnetism is forced to fall humbled to the floor as the concussive force of their ranged attacks overwhelms him! Even braced for impact, the combined power was nearly more than he could handle!

Wolverine is the first to emerge from the dark, with claws at the ready, but Cyclops psychically calls him off. The X-Men have a game plan and Wolverine must wait his turn -- or have none at all!

Wolverine obeys -- while Storm struggles to initiate the next phase of their plan: extract the humidity from the air around Magneto.

Though fatigued from the effort of orchestrating their earlier escape, Storm works at her invisible offensive. Not that he knows it! Magneto rises, gloating that he's had time to recover. He doesn't hear Banshee coming up behind!

Gliding through the darkness, Banshee delivers an intensely focused sonic scream directly to Magneto's back! As soon as the blast hits, Cyclops gives Wolverine the telepathic signal to go for broke!

Striking mercilessly from behind - Wolverine rips through Magneto's cape and rakes unbreakable adamantium claws against his back!

Magneto yells in agony, lashing out with a sudden wave of his hand that sends Wolverine hurtling across the pitch black arena! Even as he dispatches one X-Man - another steps forward, igniting the lair with the light of the Phoenix!

Magnetic shields offer a defensive buffer as Jean Grey blasts Magneto with the Phoenix's flame, but the force of her power pushes him into a nearby console!

The lair's control centre explodes at his back as Magneto begins to feel the dehydrating effects of Storm's efforts -- and perhaps the encroaching heat of the volcanic magma surrounding the underground facility.

There's little time to contemplate temperature as Colossus barrels down upon Magneto! The steel-skinned mutant wasn't part of the plan, but his efforts prove none the less effective as he silences Magneto with a devastating right hand!

Colossus buries his fist in Magneto's mid-section, desperately fighting to keep the Master of Magnetism off-balance enough to avoid becoming a metallic pawn under his powers!

The affront works, but his teammates conspire to lend a helping hand -- much to Nightcrawler's chagrin! Beast swings him by the tail like a human wrecking ball and lets him loose -- to teleport with momentum straight at Magneto's head! The acrobat collects his helmet while Colossus winds up for a kayo!

The punch Colossus delivers would've destroyed any normal man -- but Magneto defiantly clings to consciousness like iron to a magnet!

At that moment Nightcrawler notices lava seeping through the ceiling. The damaged control console has triggered an irreversible sequence that will open the roof and flood the chamber with the volcano above!

Precious seconds tick away as Cyclops searches for a way out. Magneto mocks the X-Men, blaming their dire predicament on the reckless actions of Phoenix. He is fast becoming their only hope for survival -- and with that he seizes his opportunity, throwing Colossus and the others away with a magnetic wave!

The X-Men scramble to avoid the searing touch of pouring lava! Banshee glides along sonic waves to snatch Wolverine clear of harm. Jean Grey narrowly avoids a dice with danger when Beast tackles her clear.

Magneto summons his helmet back to him and takes leave, using magnetic fields to repel the magma and safely forge his way toward the surface! He leaves the X-Men desperately fighting to survive as the facility collapses.

The Hammer...

Things looked pretty dire for a while there, but Magneto's ability to take a licking and keep on ticking gave him the chance to make full use of his home ground advantage. If they hadn't been encased in volcanic lava, the X-Men might not have snatched defeat from the hands of victory! Whoops!

As this issue comes to an end we see Phoenix explode from the ground, carrying Beast to the snowy surface above. The rest of the X-Men are presumed dead, but the next issue will reveal they tunneled their way into the Savage Land.

Magneto escaped, but he lost a valuable base of operations housing a wealth of data collected over many months. Anyone who's lost a hard drive without backups knows how that stings! I presume whatever information was gained by attacking Australia was for, and stored safely, on board Asteroid M.

I've been eager to feature more Magneto and the X-Men on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, so this one's been on the docket for quite some time. It's the earliest in the Chris Claremont/John Byrne run we've looked at so far, but not the earliest meeting between arch-foes. X-Men #6 still holds that distinction.

The creative team doesn't feel quite as sharp as they eventually will, but there's still so much to like about this issue! I was particularly drawn to its depiction of Colossus -- another mutant I've been hoping to spend more time with.

I'm a little leery on Magneto's ability to withstand heavy blows dealt by the Russian hero, but I suppose you can presume he's dampening the hits with his magnetic powers. It's worth it for some great Byrne drawn action!

Their head-on collision is a great moment that obviously looks cool, but also adds dramatic tension as Colossus runs the risk of submitting his metallic body to exploitation by Magneto. He was supposed to hang back, but as in a lot of early Colossus appearances, there's a determination to prove himself as the powerhouse every fan wants him to be. His relentless fighting does the trick!

Of course, it's really a classic case of an X-Men team effort. Their ability to work together is a key element that nearly wins them the fight. Each member gets a moment to shine, including Beast, who only recently reunited with the team after leaving the Avengers to answer a distress call from Polaris, and help his old teammates out of a jam. His team-up with Nightcrawler is a real treat! Two agile, furry blue heroes I love, but don't remember seeing together a whole lot.

The lineup of X-Men featured in the issue is right up there with the best. Magneto is also in fine form as a formidable villain, too. The white knuckle nature of the fighting means there's little time for any of the hokey villainy he sometimes dips into. Byrne's rendering of the classic design, especially when the helmet casts solid shadow over his face, is really thrilling!

I noticed in the time while I was working on this entry Rob Liefeld kicked X-Men #113 back into discussion. He used the opening page as an example of Magneto's days as a definitive Marevl villain. Regardless of how you might feel about contemporary examples, it's definitely a period worth investigating, if you haven't.

You can find this issue and many more collected in the first Uncanny X-Men Omnibus. Use the Amazon links provided to get yourself a good price and help support Secret Wars on Infinite Earths in the process!

You can find more from the characters featured in today's battle by following links throughout this post, or dive into the Secret Index for a complete archive of featured fights in order of publisher, series, and issue number!

Subscribe to Secret Wars on Infinite Earths via Twitter and Facebook to get daily links to superhero smackdown inspired by the topics of the day! Be sure to like and share your faves!

Winner: Magneto
#138 (+270) Magneto
#4 (--) Wolverine
#49 (-1) Beast
#51 (-1) Storm
#81 (-1) Cyclops
#131 (-9) Phoenix (Jean Grey)
#354 (-77) Banshee
#405 (-7) Colossus
#929 (-33) Nightcrawler