Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions Vol. 1 (1982)

The Grandmaster returns and this time Earth's heroes must play as pawns in a desperate bid to return his fellow Elder, the Collector, from the clutches of Death.
If anybody reads this stuff down here I'd just like to add that this ties together numerous plot lines I've been working on for some time. Here we have the Collector, the Grandmaster, Quasar, and Korvak all colliding in one story arc.
Source Material:
Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions Vol. 1 #1-3 (1982)
Music by Shroud courtesy of Alex Mizell
soundcloud.com/alexmizell

[@MrmeleePOV]

That person who disappeared with Hell cat and dazzler was Valkyrie 😹

[@Cosmic.Comics]

Thanks! Good eye!

[@MrmeleePOV]

CosmicComics love your channel though 🙌🏾

[@MarvelBoi44]

Khazar & Šhanna dhe Šhe-Devøl disappeaя∴

[@jmen4ever257]

From what i recall , originally, these three issues were to be a marvel treasury special, that tied into the 1980 olympics.When Carter had America boycott the olympics that year, the book was put on the shelf.It was edited then into these three issues, and Captain Mar-vell was then morphed into "Le Peregrine", because by the time these books hit the stands, They had snuffed Mar-vell.

[@Cosmic.Comics]

Great info on what has to be one of the worst heroes ever. Glad that Mar-vel was saved from the imposition. Also, wonderful info on the series! Thanks!

[@comicswatching4851]

Great new video!! Love the concept of this story but had to laugh at some of the same things you address in this video, still, its a classic, I just finally completed my 1-3 run of this last week! I've collected so many of the issues you've made videos about, thanks as always for the inspiration and great entertainment!

[@Cosmic.Comics]

No problem! Thanks for the support!

[@lancebare9200]

INCREDIBLE video you NAILED IT

[@betaraycomics9072]

Man I love your channel. Every video you’ve got is great.

[@Cosmic.Comics]

Thanks Jackson! Appreciate the positive feedback.

[@blackbolt75]

I still have this comic series. It's still a fun read.

[@vasp99]

I read this series when it came out and remember almost nothing about it. EXCEPT the end where the Collector returns and cries out , " Ho! Death! ". That was so impressive, calling Death herself like they're neighbors or co-workers.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Þhanos'z affektion 4 LADY DEATH might'of inspiяed Čhancellor Suzan'z love-of-FATE (dhe supeя-komputer) yn Ælan Mooяe'z “V 4 Vεndεtta” #AmorFati

[@jimmyjam4ever]

This is awesome!!!

[@jdjjdjd2667]

Well Death & Grandmaster did say & kept their word other than 5 Mutants, they did kept their promise ( at least in this selection) & didn't pick other what they didn't pick

[@markshulusky6680]

The basic idea for this story was lifted from the Avengers/Defenders War storyline from the 70's.

[@alnandlagunday7670]

wow i never knew there was an actual comic about the contest of champions i thought the game was a new concept the comics pretty cool like the game

[@jamesgordon2060]

Not often they remember us Northern Irish in the marvel scheme of things, brilliant.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Yn Nordhern Irelænd æ group've skhoolchildren hab they livez sejved fяom æ teяoяist bαmb rajght befoяe Ken Shamrock disappearz∴ Those niggas from the Noaf sho am crazy∴

[@almightyyt2101]

I love the soul gem-gauntlet thanos mashup that marvels calling a movie but Secret Wars-Contest of Champions would make a really dope movies bloodsport meets comics meets cosmic energies meets wicker&tight

[@MarvelBoi44]

@AlmightyWhitey “Dhe Quest 4 Zion” mēēts “Dhe Quest” (1996)

[@blackphoenix77]

Grandmaster is a damn liar: he recently used Earth in another contest in the Avengers: No Surrender storyline. Just once I'd like to see him use the Skrulls or the Shi'ar or some other alien races.

[@Cosmic.Comics]

I forget the when and why off the top of my head but at some point he was released from that promise. Supposedly he does use other races for contest - I think that Earth has slowly become his favorite. And well, comic authors do like to make us the center of everything. It would be cool to see the Skrulls or somebody else lose a contest to him and have an entire planet somewhere go under his control or such. So I'm definitely game.

[@vasp99]

@@Cosmic.Comics I think his logic was that having returned from the dead he was no longer bound to that old oath.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Grandmassa iz æ liaя∴

[@gregorydixon5191]

Oh yeah this is how comics is supposed to entertain you

[@Fatalstar08]

I have all three issues, having collected them as they were released (I'm 55). I was PISSED.

[@BruceWayne-ri4wr]

I just ordered these off eBay last week and just got them Friday because I had them when I was a kid actually bought them at as back issues at a place called paperback exchange that sold three comics for a dollar in 1986 lol I loved it but I got rid of a lot of my stuff I had back then I wanted to re-get them I still love this series I was a big Sasquatch fan back then with alpha flight so he was in it so I bought it because he's on the cover

[@marcusbrothers5221]

The art takes me back. So do the BAMFs when they teleport.

[@greggersden]

Issue 3 of this series was my first comic book purchase of all time! ALL TIME!...leading to a lifelong problem. Sigh. Nevertheless, the series sets up the *lack of teamwork* as a problem, a recurring theme even, but it never pays off. Every team has the members break off, someone internally remarks on the lack of teamwork, and yet there's no teamworking group that absolutely kills it offered for contrast. WTF, Gruenwald??

[@lake_cooper]

GREAT CHANNEL! I DIG IT!!I JUST SUBBED!!! Question: Have you done the follow-up to this? I keep hearing about The Grandmaster gaming Death, but I can't find much on it. Have you done anything like that yet? Would'a, could'a?? :) I'll be browsing... KEEP UP THE COOL, UNIQUE STORIES!!!! :)

[@Cosmic.Comics]

Awesome, thanks for the sub and kind words!! I haven't done the follow up. This is where is I'm at for the moment with the Elders. I am looking forward to their evolving saga and games with Lady Death. The issue you are looking for where the Grand Master and Death show down once more is Avengers Annual Vol 1 Issue 16. Moving forward with the next set of vids will be Captain Marvel --> Kree-Skrull War --> Thanos --> Inhumans --> Maelstrom. I might decide to do the Squadron Supreme Limited Series at any point in time as I've been teasing it for over a year. I could also duck down any number of rabbit holes such as the aforementioned Avengers Annual. In the mean time I keep working on the marvel hierarchy series but the next one of those (Cosmic Abstracts) is heavy research and won't be out for awhile. Look for content creation to pick up again in the fall when I have some free time.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Шhatchoo talкin' 'бout Шillis??

[@kar5431]

Sabra faced the Hulk before.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I am also wondering why the Grandmaster chose so weak participants.But the end of the story really has a good twist,so to speak.

[@Cosmic.Comics]

The Grandmaster was playing a greater game? Yep, the end of this one (and the other things that come of this that I'm stoked to do vids on) was fun.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

CosmicComics Even though it was not perfect, I miss this kind of story plotting from Marvel wherein there was a twist at the end of the series.

[@alanguages]

kirby march Barcena I still have the comic of the conclusion. It was brilliant, and made me appreciate the bow and arrows wielding hero. Things can be won by using your smarts, and not always force.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Шhen Aj luk @ dhis pitcher az æ hole I/m toяn betшeen hoш impяessed I M @ yts diveяsity & hoш krindged I M baj yts steяeotypes∴

[@elliottjames671]

I low key want to be collector for Halloween

[@Cosmic.Comics]

That ain't low key!

[@alancarnell2747]

Vision is facing Machine Man. Isaac? Who dat?

[@bishoperebus]

Keep doing a good job

[@robertmoralez-muniz6122]

Do you know what happened to the lesser known heroes like 'The Collective Man' and 'Shamrock'?

[@Cosmic.Comics]

I think I answered in one of the other comments but I dont remember off the top of my head. I think most continue to make occasional appearances. Anything I told you right now would be me checking the wikis.

[@robertmoralez-muniz6122]

@@Cosmic.Comics No worries. It was just a passing, random thought.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Šhamrock & Kaptain Bяitain gεt kaught yn æ web've distяust∴

[@matthewronson5218]

You weren't familiar with Machine Man aka Aaron Stack? Also, the saying is 'the crust of the biscuit' not crux of the biscuit; a play on words credited to Frank Zappa.

[@Cosmic.Comics]

I recognized him once it was pointed out but lots of characters in this one. Good to know on the biscuit line.

[@matthewronson5218]

@@Cosmic.Comics Aaron was prominent in at least one issue of Marvel Zombies. being a machine was quite handy in such a situation :)

[@MarvelBoi44]

U can/t hab yo limp-wristed bizkit & ēāt yt 2

[@Makito-v12turbo]

We need more comics from you

[@Cosmic.Comics]

Got more coming. Been moving instead of making videos. Things should settle down in a few weeks. Thanks for watching!

[@JJbm4233]

Love the video, but it’s Vision and Machine Man is.

[@elliottjames671]

This good game on my phone.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

Better late than never to the Contest! So, who's winning?

[@MarvelBoi44]

Бetter l8 dhan soяy

[@bryanharoldfuller2657]

It free's Sunfire from the grasp of Dark-Star, that was all it ment.

[@benjaminkellog7311]

I suspect there's a cynical reason six of the twenty-four slots were filled with new international heroes. I remember reading "Contest of Champions" tied in to a toy line Mattel was putting out; the toy company likely requested more diversity among the available characters, and Marvel invented six new characters to compensate. Also, this isn't exactly without precedent in Marvel history. The expansion of the X-Men in 1975 was intended to introduce a bunch of new heroes who hailed from places where Marvel wanted to expand into new markets, like Germany (Nightcrawler), the African subcontinent (Storm), and a stronger foothold in Canada (Wolverine). Part of me feels this might also be a bit of a dig at DC, whose TV show "Superfriends" introduced a few new characters for diversity's sake (Black Vulcan, Samurai, El Diablo, etc.).

[@Cosmic.Comics]

I wish I could remember the details but did run across the reasoning behind the international characters in an interview or an old letters page. I am wanting to say you are pretty close - diversity / marketing / throwing stuff out there and hoping it might stick. Ah, the heroes whose tales were never finished. If I could get ahead on the stuff I want to do for the channel episodes like that would fun. Solar Man comes to mind.

[@MarvelBoi44]

African SUBcontinent?? Whaťčhoo бeen smokiŋg djunior??

[@MarvelBoi44]

@@Cosmic.Comics Stremf Thru Diversity Diversity Thru Quota

[@justinconn1301]

Black panther has white skin in this comic....I would pick spiderman, wolverine, captain America, human torch, night crawler, thing, daredevil. After all u need muscles, hulk don't play well with other. Need a flight guy and a teleported can't hurt either

[@MarvelBoi44]

Maяvel Supeя-Heяo Kontest ov Čhampionz Vol∴ 1 (1982)

[@elliottjames671]

I thought lady death has never talked

[@Cosmic.Comics]

Death rarely speaks

[@43Aquaman]

If you say "Grand Master" like that again, I'll scream. He's not a master that is grand, he's The Grandmaster. It's his name.

[@Cosmic.Comics]

fair point

[@bryanharoldfuller2657]

LePerregrine looks like a Voltron knockoff

[@bryanharoldfuller2657]

Vision and Machine-Man were talking

[@kashsmith6181]

Great concept but, kinda shoddy in the execution.

[@alancarnell2747]

That's Valkyrie with Hellcat at the Dazzler show. Kinda weird you didn't get that. Are you a newbie Skrull or something?

[@Cosmic.Comics]

No, but I am getting old. Sometimes names or faces dont jive while writing a script. Rather admit to what i dont know than start making stuff up. It can be a hard adjustment for some as it's an underused personality trait.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Saбra iz repelliŋg æ rajdiŋg paяty шhen æ яed gloш tejkes heя awaj∴

[@jdjjdjd2667]

1. I forgot Death can hold & complete whole conversations & sentence like ANY OTHER FEMALE IN WHOLE MULTIVERSE ( Thanos U poor guy😞, can your 💔 take the pain of your girl having more words with "lesser beings " than she EVER HAD in a lifetime with U? If She Really Had A 🖤)

[@alnandlagunday7670]

i think the somebody else in 2:32 is Valkyrie

[@marcusbrothers5221]

Did anybody give a damn when the Eternals dissappeared

[@Cosmic.Comics]

No

[@MarvelBoi44]

Yn sow mani wayz dhis sēriez fēelz lajke dhe prekursor 2 “Бatman/Djudge Dgredd 3: Dhe Ûltimate Яiddle” (1995) lajke æ test-tube αn dhe konsept∴

[@marcusbrothers5221]

The new characters are what you call jobbers. Using pro wrestling logic, you can't have a major marvel character get a victory over another character of equal stature. That's why the Thing was riding Black Panther. Wolverine beat Panthers ass in front of everybody

[@jdjjdjd2667]

"Oops 😮!" Fella U called The Collector, The Creator you're Not 🍺drinking🍻 & narratorating🤤 at the same 🕜 R U?? Think of the example Ur setting Children watch your videos also!!

[@PoffinFresh]

Is this an early example of Marvel forcing diversity & representation? 🤣🤣 They pick D-list heroes over top tier.

[@Cosmic.Comics]

Can't have the top tier talent beating each other up. Got to market the new kids on the block

[@realamericannegro977]

So this is basically Dragon Ball Super's Tournament of Power arcs but written correctly and 1000x better