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 #82
Cover Date: 1991 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith (front); Erik Larsen (back)
Wolverine in "Weapon X" part 10
written by Barry Windsor-Smith
art by Barry Windsor-Smith
At the Professor's urging, Doctor Abraham Cornelius riddles Weapon X with bullets. While Weapon X fights back, seemingly killing the doctor - the Professor runs off to the reactor with Miss Hines. He intends to lure Weapon X into the exhaust-pit so that it will incinerate him. The villainous Professor grabs Hines and tosses her into the pit as bait. As Weapon X is lured in by her screams, the fission-gate is opened and the purge sequence begun.
Firestar in "Life During War Time" part 1
written by Marie Javins with Marcus McLaurin
art by Dwayne Turner
Firestar's code name, costume and training were all given to her by the White Queen (Emma Frost) but she later rebelled against her teacher. Emma swore that she wouldn't go after Firestar herself ... but that doesn't mean she can't have her revenge in other ways. With the press of a button, Emma releases all of her information on Firestar to Freedom Force (the government's private mutant hunters). Part of the group (Mystique, Spiral and Avalance) breaks into Firestar's house, placing her under arrest.
Iron Man in "Making Real Progress"
written by Bill Mumy
art by Steve Leialoha
Tony Stark has been called to Kuau'i by his friend Carl. Carl's brought all of his Stark equipment to the island in order to get started on building a new resort ... but he just can't get the equipment working. Tony is baffled by the equipment; they appear to function normally until they're actually put to work. Later that night, at Carl's residence, Iron Man discovers an ancient skull that was removed from the construction site as it flies (under its own power) back to where it came from. As Iron Man approaches the skull, his power cuts out! He then experiences a vision (or a head trip?!) as Hawaiian spirits explain how their land was taken from them in 1778. The next day, moved by the experience, Tony Stark the land from Carl and decides to turn it into a cultural museum, instead.
Power Man in "Hero in Hiding"
written by Marcus McLaurin
art by Sal Velluto
After the events of Power Man and Iron Fist #125, Luke Cage was accused of killing Daniel Rand. Now, Power Man is in hiding in Chicago but, this hero can't stay hidden long when wrongs are being done. So, he risks his freedom by stepping out into the spotlight to protect some tenement dwellers from their life-draining super, Victor.
The Professor continues to stoop to all-new depths to protect his own hide. The Firestar story is off to an interesting and action-packed beginning. Iron Man's feature was a change of pace from most of his other stories - I don't really know how well the spirit-world works with Iron Man stories and this doesn't do much to change my mind in favor of them. Power Man's short offered a quick afterword to his long-running series (which was cancelled five years prior). On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Firestar | Iron Man | Power Man On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Firestar | Iron Man | Power Man