MARVELous Fractures Trivia Quiz

Answer: Guardians of the Galaxy

The Guardians of the Galaxy made their first appearance in "Marvel Super-Heroes" #18 (Jan, 1969). In the years that followed, the team made appearances in other comics, until finally receiving their own title. "Guardians of the Galaxy" #1 was released in June of 1990.

The original incarnation of the Guardians was from an alternate Earth timeline (known as Earth-691) with the action taking place in the 31st century. The (first) team consisted of Major Vance Astro, Martinex T'Naga, Captain Charlie-27, and Yondu Udonta.

Answer: Howling Commandos

"Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos" #1 (May, 1963) introduced the Howling Commandos to the Marvel Universe. The team, led by Sergeant Nicholas Fury, was an elite squad of soldiers that fought in World War II and later in the Korean War. At one point they fought alongside Captain America and Bucky (issue #13).

Sgt Fury later came to be known as Colonel Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The squad under Sgt Fury included Corporal 'Dum Dum' Dugan, Private 'Izzy' Cohen, Private Gabriel Jones, Private Dino Manelli, Private 'Rebel' Ralston, and Private 'Junior' Jupiter. Private 'Pinky' Pinkerton would replace Jupiter after his death, and a German defector would also later join the team, Private Eric Koenig.

Answer: The Mighty Avengers

"The Avengers" #1 was released in September of 1963 with a lineup that included Ant-Man, the Wasp, Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk. The Avengers have undergone many changes over the decades since their inception with many superheroes joining and leaving. A West Coast Avengers team was established in September of 1984, as was a Great Lakes Avengers team in July of 1989.

"The Mighty Avengers" #1 (May, 2007), following the events of the 'Civil War' story, Iron Man recruited Ms. Marvel to lead a new Avengers team, which included Ares, Black Widow, Iron Man, Sentry, Wasp, and Wonder Man.

Answer: Alpha Flight

The team of Canadian superheroes known as Alpha Flight premiered in "X-Men" #120 (Apr, 1979) as part of Wolverine's backstory. They earned their own title in August of 1983 with "Alpha Flight" #1.

The original team lineup consisted of Guardian, Northstar, Aurora, Sasquatch, Shaman, and Snowbird.

Answer: The Fantastic Four

"The Fantastic Four" #1 (Nov, 1961) heralded the beginning of Marvel's entry into the Silver Age of Comics. The iconic team of accidental superheroes consisted of team leader Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), the Invisible Girl/Woman (Susan Richards, nee Storm), the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and the Thing (Ben Grimm). They received their powers when their experimental spaceship was bombarded by gamma rays.

Over the years, other superheroes held positions on the team, including Ant-Man, Black Panther, Crystal, Medusa, Ms. Marvel, Namorita, Nova, Power Man, She-Hulk, and Storm. And for a brief time, the entire team was replaced by the foursome of Spider-Man, Wolverine, the Hulk, and Ghost Rider.

Answer: New Warriors

The New Warriors made their first appearance in "The Mighty Thor" #411 (Dec, 1989). The team usually consisted of teenagers and young adults, and was seen as a junior version of the Avengers.

The first incarnation of the team consisted of Firestar, Marvel Boy, Namorita, Nova, Speedball, and leader Night Thrasher. Their first eponymous title, "The New Warriors" #1, came out in July of 1990. Other superheroes to join the team in the years that followed included Bandit, Dagger, Darkhawk, Hindsight Lad, Powerpax, Rage, Scarlet Spider, Silhouette, Timeslip, and Turbo.

Answer: The Defenders

The Defenders first appeared as a team in "Marvel Feature" #1 (Dec, 1971) and consisted of Dr. Strange, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Hulk (with the Silver Surfer joining in shortly thereafter). Following the success of this unlikely team-up, "The Defenders" #1 was released in August of 1972.

Over the years, the Defenders have seen many, many different members, although the core of the group has been Dr. Strange and the Hulk. The team's primary efforts involve defending the Earth from (usually) mystical or supernatural threats.

Answer: Excalibur

First appearing in "Excalibur Special Edition" #1 (1987), Excalibur was a mashup of members of the X-Men together with Captain Britain. Team members included Captain Britain, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Phoenix, Shadowcat, and Lockheed.

With the special edition that introduced the team out of the way, "Excalibur" #1 launched an ongoing series in October of 1998. The team was stationed on Muir Island (off the coast of Scotland), and spent much of their time battling foes in parallel worlds.

Answer: Heroes for Hire

As a team, Heroes for Hire originated with Luke Cage, who was originally styled as 'Luke Cage: Hero for Hire'. Everything began when Iron Fist (Danny Rand) joined forces with Luke Cage (Power Man), and made their team debut in "Power Man and Iron Fist" #54 (Dec, 1978).

"Heroes for Hire" #1 premiered in July of 1997 with a lineup that included the original two members, plus a rotation of others, including Ant-Man, Black Knight, Deadpool, Hercules, the original (android) Human Torch, She-Hulk, and a new White Tiger. This first series would only last 19 issues, but more would follow.

Answer: Inhumans

"Inhumans" was released in October of 1975, but the Inhumans appeared for the first time a full decade before that, in "Fantastic Four" #45 (Dec, 1965).

The origins of the Inhumans dates back to Earth's prehistory, when primitive Homo sapiens were genetically experimented on by the alien species called the Kree. They were trying to develop a warrior race to fight in their war with the Skrulls, while also hoping to find a way to halt the stagnation of their own evolution as a species.

More of a community than a superhero team, the Inhumans are led by their king and queen, Black Bolt and Medusa.