What if your greatest ally was secretly your greatest enemy? Beginning May 3, prepare for Marvel Comics’ Secret Empire! Blockbuster creators Nick Spencer, Steve McNiven, Andrea Sorrentino and Leinil Yu are ready to challenge the entire Marvel Universe as they unite the Avengers, X-Men, Defenders, Champions, Inhumans, Spider-Man, and more, as an unwavering front against the Secret Empire!

The Marvel Universe is under siege from within! Due to the manipulations of The Red Skull, Captain America, secretly a true believer in the cause of Hydra, uses the trust and respect he has gained over the years to a position where he can enacts Hydra’s ideals against the Marvel Universe and it’s up to all heroes to unite against one of the greatest challenges they have ever faced.

Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso said: “Secret Empire is the rallying cry for all the heroes–Avengers, Guardians, Defenders, X-Men, Spider-Man, Deadpool–to put aside their differences and unify in the defense of the Marvel Universe.”

That unification is what will be needed to confront Steve Rogers since all the heroes close to Cap have been be influenced by him over the years. SVP and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort said: “Our heroes will be tested both physically and morally against one of the most trusted heroes of all time and that’s the aspect of this story our characters face and what forces them to come together.”

Forged together as one, the Avengers, the Champions, the Defenders, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Inhumans, the X-Men, and more will be tested as Hydra’s grip tightens around the Marvel Universe and Secret Empire unleashes a horde of villains against those who have sworn to protect the innocent. Be here as SECRET EMPIRE launches this May from Nick Spencer, Steve McNiven, and Marvel Comics.

SECRET EMPIRE #1
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by STEVE MCNIVEN
Cover by MARK BROOKS
On Sale in May!

Every Friday we use the powers of Marvel Unlimited to look back at the very first appearance of a major character, place or object that made waves this week.

Wilson Fisk might be trying to go straight in the first issue of his new series KINGPIN, which launched this week from Matthew Rosenberg and Ben Torres, but he certainly didn’t start out that way.

Though mostly associated with Daredevil, Kingpin actually debuted in the book of another New York-based vigilante: Spider-Man! And in a strange way, he actually convinced Peter Parker about his important as a hero. 1969’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 not only marks the Kingpin’s first appearance as a major Marvel villain, but also the landmark story titled “Spider-Man No More!”

Written by Stan Lee and drawn by John Romita, the issue started off like many others with the Web Head taking on four would-be robbers. With the baddies firmly ensconced in a door, Spidey swung off to ruminate about how J. Jonah Jameson has completely ruined his reputation with Daily Bugle editorials.

Upon Pete returning home, his roommate Harry Osborn told him Aunt May has had another attack, so our hero rushed to her side. Once there, he wondered why he spends so much time helping people who fear him, especially when it takes him away from his loved ones. Fed up, Peter threw his Spider-Man costume in the trash, where it’s found by a kid and taken to JJJ who considered the act a victory. As the news went live, we then cut to a shot of Wilson Fisk overlooking the city telling an underling that he, The Kingpin, planned on taking over all crime in NYC!

With Kingpin taking over the mobs, crime ran wild. The man himself explained his plan: “The underworld will now be run like a business—and the chairman of the board will be – the Kingpin!”

Meanwhile, things moved along pretty nicely for Peter Parker. With Spider-Man out of his life he could focus on school, family and even dating his lady, Mary Jane Watson. Still, he heard about the crime wave and even stumbled upon an assault that he stopped. Remembering that his inaction led to the death of Uncle Ben, Peter pledged to continue fighting to help innocents. He then broke into JJJ’s office, got his old costume back and got back in on the super hero action.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #50

• Published: July 10, 1967
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: November 13, 2007
• Penciller: John Romita

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In the following issue, after waging a one-man war on crime against the Kingpin, Spider-Man finally met his new foe leading into a multi-page fight between the two. Not only did Fisk prove faster and stronger than he looked, but also well-equipped with items like a gas-shooting pendant. Kingpin followed that up in issue #52 by tying the unconscious Spider-Man to Jameson and putting them in an air-tight room filling with water. Spidey made a protective bubble out of webbing, knocked out the goons and made his way towards another altercation with Fisk.

Once again, Kingpin used a trick—this time a secret passageway in his office—to escape from Spider-Man, but the two would cross paths many times. Not one to make friends in the hero community, Kingpin also lists Daredevil and Punisher among of his more regular adversaries.

Flash Forward

Before launching KINGPIN, writer Matthew Rosenberg wrote Fisk in the series CIVIL WAR II: KINGPIN. Upon returning from San Francisco, Kingpin learned that a former minion named Janus Jardeesh exhibited an interesting Inhuman ability: he essentially became invisible to the future-seeing Ulysses at the center of Civil War II. As you might expect, Kingpin used this to commit all kinds of crimes. With all that success, though, he attracted ill will from criminals outside his organization and even dissent from within. Fisk fought tooth and nail to save everything he’d built in a four issue series that displayed Rosenberg’s deep understanding of the character!

Jump through time with a brand new episode of This Week in Marvel, featuring comics and more!

Ryan and Ben provide an overview on all the major comic releases of the week, including INHUMANS VS. X-MEN and KINGPIN. Marc and Christine go through tons of film and TV news from the west coast. We’ve got a special #TWIMURC as Ryan and Ben give us a look back at the 90’s with NEW WARRIORS writer Fabian Nicieza, and then we cap things off with your questions and comments on the book!

Download episode #276 of This Week in Marvel, check out Marvel Podcast Central, grab the TWiM RSS feed and subscribe to This Week in Marvel on iTunes, so you never miss an episode! We are now also on Soundcloud! Head over now to our new hub to listen to the full run of This Week in Marvel including our latest episode!

This Week in Marvel will focus on delivering all the Marvel info on news and new releases–from comics to video games to toys to TV to film and beyond! New episodes will be released every Thursday (or so) and TWiM is co-hosted by Marvel VP & Executive Editor of Digital Media Ryan “Agent M” Penagos and Marvel Editorial Director of Digital Media Ben Morse, along with Marvel.com Editor Marc Strom, Marvel.com Assistant Editor Christine Dinh, and Manager of Video & Content Production Blake Garris. We also want your feedback, as well as questions for us to answer on future episodes!  Tweet your questions, comments and thoughts about TWiM to @AgentM, @BenJMorse, @chrissypedia or @Marvel with the hashtag #ThisWeekinMarvel!

Legendary author R.L. Stine brings his unique brand of horror to Marvel Comics as he makes his mark on one of the most monstrous creatures in the Marvel mythos! That’s right True Believer, the beloved Goosebumps & Fear Street scribe will pen the highly anticipated MAN-THING #1 – in stores on March 8th featuring art from German Peralta (Moon Knight, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and a bevy of comics rising stars!

Attempting to recreate the formula that produced Captain America, biochemist Ted Sallis was transformed into the shambling creature known only as MAN-THING! Now, having recently regained his ability to speak, Man-Thing sets out on a journey to leave the swamp once and for all. But when an ancient and mysterious danger threatens reality, he will have to choose between his new life and the place he once called home!

Plus, it’s terror on the high seas as R.L. Stine and artist Daniel Warren Johnson bring you a special second tale that’s sure to leave you seasick!

Prepare your senses for a spine-tingling journey that will take you, dear reader, from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the muck and grime of the deepest swamps. Run, don’t walk, to your local comic shop on March 8th for the can’t-miss MAN-THING #1!

MAN-THING #1 (of 5) (JAN170932)
Written by R.L. STINE
Art by GERMAN PERALTA & DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON
Cover by TYLER CROOK
Variant Covers by BILLY MARTIN (JAN170934) and FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (JAN170933)
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (JAN170936)
Man-Thing and the Marvel Universe Variant by RON LIM (JAN170935)
Venomized Variant by STEPHANIE HANS (JAN170937)
FOC – 02/13/17, On-Sale – 03/08/17
ISBN: 978-1-302-90200-1