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: 1991 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith (front); Bryan Hitch (back)
|
Wolverine in “Weapon X” part 4 written by Barry Windsor-Smith art by Barry Windsor-Smith Dr. Abraham Cornelius gives the Professor a headset that gives him a direct link to Logan. To say that it allows him control over Mr. Logan would be a stretch – but it certainly allows for … suggestions. Logan regains consciousness and begins thrashing about the lab. The Professor is unable to control the raging beast so a squad comes in armed with tranquilizers. As the sedated Wolverine sleeps, the lab is able to see what is in his head through a complex hookup that projects images on to a screen. And, what does this man-beast dream of? The bloody death of the Professor. |
Shanna in “The Bush of Ghosts” part 9 written by Gerard Jones art by Paul Gulacy In a tribute to the fallen jaguar that came to her aid, Shanna adorns her face with its blood. Back inside the complex, the captive Dubose Wilson attempts to persuade the tribe to unleash themselves from Sir Guy Cross-Wallace‘s control. Meanwhile, Shanna fights her way back to the complex to face Guy. |
|
Death’s Head in “the Deadliest Game“ written by Simon Furman art by Bryan Hitch The bounty-hunter, Death’s Head, has traveled to the planet Yel-Jek to find his target: Thaddeus Soul. But, to defeat this big-game hunter, he’ll need to enlist the aid of someone seeking revenge against Soul. Fighting for revenge? This is a strange concept to our “hero” – who’s only motivated by financial gain. |
Woodgood in “Lonely At The Top“ written by Robert Campanella art by Dave Cockrum Woodgod‘s genetically-engineered kingdom of the Changelings is endangered! The jealous Leoninus has captured all of the females and brought them to Roxxon’s Dr. Malachi Oz. Oz intends to cross-breed the Changeling females with common animals and Leoninus has happily handed them over because they’ve all spurned his advances. Soon after, the Changelings alert their leader, Woodgod, of the missing females. Using their radioactive aura-trails, Woodgod tracks them to the Roxxon lab and frees them all – Leoninus realizes that he will no longer be welcome amongst his people and runs away. After these events, Woodgod asserts that he must remain aloof from his people because of what Leoninus’ jealousy has wrought. |
The Professor’s character continues to develop as we see more and more how much of a compassion-less, control-freak he is. Shanna’s feature leads up to the final stretch with a possible setup of a rebellion of Cross-Wallace’s troops. Death’s Head’s story is quick but the character is just plain fun, engaging and likeable – despite being a bounty-hunter. Woodgod’s self-imposed distance from the rest of his people seems like a forced plot point – in order to make him a “tortured soul”.
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Death’s Head | Shanna | Woodgod
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Shanna | Death’s Head