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 #39
Cover Date: January 1990 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Jackson Guice
Wolverine in "Black Shadow, White Shadow" part 2
written by Marv Wolfman
art by John Buscema
The police have given chase to Wolverine, after he fled the scene of a crime (an entire city block was destroyed!). A Hong Kong woman named Mai offers him safety but only because she intends to recruit him to her cause. She, Hsiao and Ch'un need help to defeat Black Shadow. Wolverine rushes off to take down the ebon-hued villain only to be dispatched quickly by its icy touch and brute strength. But, before he can be destroyed, a new figure interrupts - a White Shadow.
Wonder Man in "Stardust Miseries" part 2
written by Michael Higgins
art by Javier Saltares
Wonder Man wakes to discover he's in the blonde woman's bed. She reveals she's an actress named Amora Lorelei and she's working on a biography of the Original Human Torch. It's the very same film that Wonder Man just got a callback for. The two travel to the studio and Amora convinces the director to make Simon the leading man. As the filming progresses, Wonder Man and Amora develop a budding romance - meanwhile, a killer stalks the set and has taken his first victim - the director! Due to the nature of the death, it's assumed that a super-powered strong man was the killer. Now, the police are out to get their prime suspect: Wonder Man!
Hercules in "All In The Family" part 1
written by Bob Layton
art by Bob Layton
Hercules and his son, Arimathes, have decided to end the Wilameanian Star Pirates' 45 year reign of terror. The father and son team make short work of the plunderers and Emperor Arimathes of Wilamean sentences them to a rehabilitation camp. Meanwhile, his exiled mother, Layana, has managed to break free of her prison and pull together a band of "patriots" who intend to take back the throne of Wilamean from Arimathes ... over the dead body of Hercules.
Spider-Man in "With Liberty And Justice For All"
written by Bill Mumy
art by Aaron Lopresti
Spider-Man comes across four teens stealing crates from the university's lab. After a little bit of work, he manages to track them all down and web them up. He then discovers that they weren't stealing equipment but, rather, live animals. Animals that were going to be experimented on. The kids intended to steal them and bring them to a farm so they could safely live out their lives. And, while they have the best of intentions, they are still breaking the law ... what's a Spider-Man to do?
I'm really digging Guice's cover version of Hercules - and it's neat to see that Bob Layton followed up his two Hercules mini-series with the tale that has begun in this very issue. As for Wonder Man, it looks like he's in the clutches of Amora Lorelei ... you might know her better as the Enchantress. Although, it is strange that she's using her sister's name as her last name so I'm curious to see if they offer an explanation for that as the story progresses. The Spider-Man story was written by Bill Mumy - the actor who played Will Robinson in the 1960s Lost In Space TV series. It presented Spidey with an interesting ethics choice. And finally, these shadow creatures in the Wolverine feature are really quite bland ... and blobby looking. Not really all that intimidating of a character design. On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Wonder Man | Spider-Man | Hercules On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Spider-Man | Wonder Man | Hercules