Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!
Cover Date: Mid September 1988 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Alex Saviuk
|
Wolverine in “Save the Tiger” part 2 written by Chris Claremont art by John Buscema with Klaus Janson The hoodlums who roughed up the Princess Bar in the last issue are now answering to their boss, local crimelord Mr. Roche. Unpleased with their performance, he’s hired a mercenary named Razorfist to complete the job they couldn’t finish – destroy the Tiger. Meanwhile, back at the Princess Bar, Logan explains to O’Donnell and Sapphire that Davis Chapel’s dying request was to have a keepsake returned to the Tiger. As the bar patrons stow their weapons and the place calms down, Logan notices someone watching him from outside the bar. He tracks her down and discovers that the girl is Jessan Hoan! (For those not in the know, Wolverine and the X-Men rescued Jessan from the Reavers in an issue of Uncanny X-Men published a few months earlier). |
Man-Thing in “Elements of Terror” part 2 written by Steve Gerber art by Tom Sutton This issue opens up with General Selbert being questioned by Senator Wycombe as to his involvement in anti-drug initiatives in Colombia, as well as Super Soldier experiments devised by the Freedom Science Studies Institute. The Senator also asks about Project: Glamour – to which the General uneasily denies any knowledge of. Later that night, the inquisitive Senator is murdered! Meanwhile, our muck-monster protagonist continues to get used to its malformation due to contact with an experimental creature (as seen last issue). |
|
Master of Kung Fu in “Crossing Lines” part 2 written by Doug Moench art by Tom Grindberg with Dave Cockrum Shang-Chi dons a new outfit and catches up with his old companions. He learns that Black Jack Tarr has taken over as leader now that Sir Denis Nayland Smith has retired to Scotland. There’s also a new member named Xiao who seems to be romantically linked with Leiko Wu, Shang-Chi’s first love. Later that night, assassins break into their home, murder Xiao and kidnap Leiko! |
the Captain in “the Cold War” by Al Milgrom After his encounter with the Silver Surfer (last issue), the Fear-Eater has journeyed to Earth to find unique fears to feast upon. And, with its alien abilities, the extraterrestrial infiltrates the body of his next victim, the Captain (aka Steve Rogers formerly Captain America). During his latest mission, the Captain has to free people from the icy madness of a mishap at the Cryogenic Center of New York. The frozen employees conjure up memories of the Captain’s own past history – frozen in a block of ice for years and later unfrozen – left to live in a world unknown to him! These memories begin to turn into fear – the very substance that the Fear-Eater thrives upon. To stimulate more of that emotion, the alien uses his powers to animate one of the frozen employees – attacking the Captain. However, the Fear-Eater soon learns that the Captain doesn’t cave under pressure. Instead, the first inklings of fear only cause him to summon up his courage all the more to defeat the icy villain – unknowlingly driving the alien off in search of weaker prey. |
Note: Razorfist, the villain in the Wolverine feature, is traditionally a villain from Master of Kung Fu.
Note from the Format Dept: this issue doesn’t utilize the wrap cover format that the first issue established.
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Man-Thing | Shang-Chi | Captain America
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Man-Thing | Master of Kung Fu | Captain America