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June 17, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #13

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 5:41 am

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!


Marvel Comics Presents #13
Cover Date: Late February 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Gene Colan


Colossus in “God’s Country” part 4
written by Ann Nocenti
art by Rick Leonardi

 
As Colossus is holed up in Bruce’s house with his family, their neighbors come out to start rumors about what’s going on in their home. Inside, Bruce (a Vietnam Vet) and Colossus (a former Soviet) debate the difference in rights offered by Russia and the USA. Come nightfall, the super-powered assailants from earlier in the story have launched an attack on the house.

Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” part 1
written by Don McGregor
art by Gene Colan

 
A rumor has brought the Black Panther to South Africa. A rumor important enough for him to break international laws and sneak into another African country that probably wouldn’t recognize his authority as King of Wakanda. Inside, he meets with Patrick Slade, a seemingly unscrupulous man who’s offering more information for a price. The rumor? The Panther’s mother, Ramonda, (who he hasn’t seen since he was three) is alive!

Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman in
Reed’s on the Roof and We Can’t Get Him Down
written by Chris Henderson
art by Mike Harris

 
Mr. Fantastic has lured a meteor to his home in the suburbs and damaged his roof. Now, he’s got to fill the role of suburban husband and fix the hole but, while he’s up there, he misteps and ends up hanging off the edge of the roof. Now, this would be no problem for Mr. Fantastic but, he’s got a secret identity to maintain. Soooooooooooooo … it’s the Invisible Woman to the rescue!

Shanna the She-Devil in “A Tooth For A Tooth
written by Bruce Jones
art by Bruce Jones

 
Philip Milford has taken his wife on an African Safari to hunt some wild game. Unfortunately for her, her continued annoyance is soon silenced by his rifle. He radios in to Nairobi Station to explain how a lion attacked his wife and in the struggle, she was accidentally shot. So, the station dispatches Shanna to look into the situation. Will her knowledge of Africa uncover the true murderer?

This issue launches MCP’s most ambitious storyline: Panther’s Quest. It’s 25 chapters and I get the feeling that the amount of space it’s given will allow it plenty of time to effectively strike some emotional chords. Continuing in that theme is the Colossus feature, which is successfully reaching for some interesting comparisons of political and governmental systems.

The Fantastic Four story takes place during one of my favorite eras of the team: when the Thing (in his “Pineapple Thing” form) was the leader and Reed & Sue left for the suburbs. What I’d forgotten was that they actually established secret identities (funny concept: the FF being able to hide their faces … considering they’re celebrities in the Marvel Universe, this would really be near-impossible). However, despite the ridiculous concept of them with secret IDs, it provided the basis for this fun story that I’m sure married men and women will appreciate all the more.

Shanna’s story was a little bland, anti-climatic and far-reaching (the “conservation” message wasn’t given enough room to bloom in only eight pages) but it had some nice-looking art.

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Colossus | Black Panther | Fantastic Four | Shanna
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Colossus | Black Panther | Fantastic Four | Shanna

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