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 #74
Cover Date: 1991 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith (front); Sam Kieth (back)
Wolverine in "Weapon X" part 2
written by Barry Windsor-Smith
art by Barry Windsor-Smith
As the adamantium-infusing process continues, the Professor finds out that Logan is a mutant - armed with a healing factor. They also discover an excess drain of adamantium at his hands and wrists (we know it's because of his claws - he's got more bones there than average humans). Logan pops his claws and begins writhing in pain. The Professor sends the status-tech worker from lab two in to try to help Logan but the boy is quickly murdered by Logan. Doctor Abraham Cornelius is horrified by the death but the Professor seems oddly ... impressed.
Shanna in "The Bush of Ghosts" part 7
written by Gerard Jones
art by Paul Gulacy
Sir Guy Cross-Wallace is alerted to Shanna and her friends' attack on his citadel. He orders his troops to take them all alive - and, soon after they do, Shanna is prepared for a ceremony to be made Cross-Wallace's bride. Cross-Wallace summons forth the wedding meal - which is revealed to be the body of Shanna's friend, Eric Heller! At this disturbing sight, Mchele goes berserk, grabs a gun from a nearby guard and starts slaughtering Cross-Wallace's soldiers.
Constrictor in "the Freebie"
written by Scott Lobdell
art by Scott McDaniel
Years ago, when Frank Schlichting was a young boy, his mother and sister were killed by his mom's boyfriend, McAvey. The man frightened the young boy into not testifying - so he went free. In the present, Schlichting is the villain known as the Constrictor. And, when he finds out that McAvey has returned, the Constrictor decides to make the murderer as frightened of living each day as young Frank was.
Iceman/Human Torch in "Absolute Zero"
written by Dan Mishkin
art by Joe Staton
The villain, Firebomb, kidnaps the Humans Torch's wife, Alicia, and straps her to a time bomb. It's a race against time as the Human Torch and Iceman have to free her before she's blown to bits.
It's important to remember that, at this point in Wolverine's history, we didn't know whether his claws were created by Weapon X or just enhanced by them. This issue doesn't make the distinction, but you could make the case for either proposal. What was done to Shanna's friend Eric Heller was truly gruesome! Constrictor's tale of revenge was a successful way of building some empathy towards this adamantium-enhanced villain (just how many people have access to this rare metal?!). The Torch/Iceman team up offers nothing in the way of character development and it doesn't even show the villain mentioned throughout the story - totally skippable. It's very cool to see a Sam Kieth cover on this issue. And, while his Human Torch is kind of funky looking, the other three came out really well. On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Iceman | Shanna | Constrictor | Human Torch On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Iceman | Shanna | Human Torch