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 December 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Mark Badger
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Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” conclusion written by Michael Higgins art by Erik Larsen Finally reunited, Excalibur defeats Arcade by siccing the Merry Maladies (heroic versions of the Looney Toons – based on the Avengers) against his Loonies (the villain versions). While the battle rages on, they make for a hasty retreat back home. |
Wonder Man in “Stardust Miseries” part 1 written by Michael Higgins art by Javier Saltares While on monitor duty for the West Coast Avengers, something infects Wonder Man‘s brain and causes him to go a little crazy. After a brief battle with the rest of the team (Hawkeye, Vision, Scarlet Witch), he quits the team. Soon after, he meets a mysterious blonde woman who seems to be luring him toward her. |
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Hulk in “Art For Art’s Sake“ written by Bill Mumy art by Marshall Rogers Mr. Fixit (aka the Hulk) has been sent, by his boss Michael Berengetti, to collect a $109,000 debt owed him by Mr. Gruska. Additionally, there’s a little matter of interest to be collected, as well. And, to settle that debt, Berengetti demands that Gruska gets one of his record talents to put on a private concert. Unfortunately, the musician that he wants (Brian Newman) is a recluse and refuses to take Gruska’s calls. So, Joe Fixit is sent to do some … negotiating. |
Wolverine in “Black Shadow, White Shadow” part 1 written by Marv Wolfman art by John Buscema Wolverine journeys from Madripoor to Hong Kong to discover that an entire city block has been destroyed – wiped totally clean! As he investigates the area further, he gets caught between city scavengers and police. But, he’s in town for other business, so he sneaks off towards his goal. |
Excalibur’s feature concludes this issue and I’m not all that upset about it. Erik Larsen’s art was a pleasure to look at, and the nods to classic TV/Movies were fun but the storyline itself wasn’t very involved or complex. In fact, there’s not even a mention of why Arcade kidnapped them – or who he was attacking them for. Y’see, Arcade is usually a hitman, and assuming he wasn’t doing this as work-for-hire, the story never reveals his purpose for picking on Excalibur. The highlight was this issue’s double-page spread of the Merry Maladies vs the Loonies. It’s got Wiley Coyote (as Thor) smiting the Road Runner with the Acme version of Mjolnir!
After giving some other X-Men the spotlight (first Colossus then Cyclops followed by Havok), Marvel decided that it was time to give Wolverine another lead feature. Hulk’s story wasn’t anything to write home about and the first part of the Wonder Man story isn’t all that engaging, either. On top of that, I wasn’t a big fan of Mark Badger’s cover, either.
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Wonder Man | Excalibur | Hulk
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Excalibur | Wonder Man | Hulk
I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I loves me some Mark Badger art. As for Wonder Man, outside of Bill Mumy writing the story, which is somewhat interesting in a Geeky way, I can’t imagine a more boring, pointless character that has consistently failed to support any sort of book, even as a team member.
Comment by Dara — December 4, 2011 @ 10:14 am
I don’t mind unique art (I like a lot of stuff my Sam Kieth, Sienkiewicz, Ted McKeever, etc) but this cover’s just kind of weak, in my opinion.
As for Wonder Man, he was an important part of the West Coast Avengers (which I really enjoyed as it was being published) and his 1990s series started off as a lot of fun, too!
Comment by Doorman — December 5, 2011 @ 11:03 am