Year: 1976
Best New Series: Howard the Duck, Nova, and Champions.
Major Events: All six soul gems are introduced and described; in the X world, Jean Grey becomes Phoenix, the Sentinels get rebooted, and John Byrne becomes the series artist; the infinity formula is introduced; Marvel winds down its line of in-continuity magazines; Superman meets Spider-Man for the first time; Steve Englehart leaves the Avengers, George Perez starts drawing them, and Steve Gerber leaves Defenders; Luke Cage joins (and quits) the Fantastic Four; Dracula gets married; and Howard the Duck runs for President.
Top 10 or 20 New Characters:
- Spider-Woman
- Bullseye
- Rocket Raccoon
- Hellcat
- Starlord
- Machine Man
- Bobbi Morse (as Huntress)
- Omega the Unknown
- Nova
- Moira MacTaggert
- Blizzard
- Jigsaw
- Jeanne DeWolff
- Gardner (elder)
- The Eternals
- Captain Britain
- Baron Blood
- Red Guardian
- Jeryn Hogarth
- Union Jack
Top 10 comics:
- Uncanny X-Men #99-101 (1st Phoenix)
- Omega the Unknown (entire series)
- Defenders #36-38
- Hulk #206-207
- Avengers #141-149 (Serpent Crown)
- Tomb of Dracula #50 (vs Silver Surfer)
- Hulk #197-198
- Fantastic Four #176 (feat Marvel bullpen)
- Doctor Strange Annual #1
- Tomb of Dracula #51
Champions #7-10 (1976-1977): 1st Darkstar, Crimson Dynamo IV
Read about the first appearance of Darkstar!
DEFENDERS #41-43: Gerber leaves (1976-1977)
Early Keith Giffen work–read on!