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: Late July 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Erik Larsen with Al Gordon
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Cyclops in “the Retribution Affair” conclusion written by Bob Harras art by Ron Lim As Cyclops attacks Master Mold physically, the Sentinel is doing battle with Conscience, in its programming. But, the final blow is delivered by Banshee (his powers have been restored by the cure for the Retribution Cirus that Moira just developed). Conscience drops our heroes off on Muir Island and brings the Sentinel ship into orbit, destroying himself, Master Mold and the ship with its auto-destruct program. |
Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” part 12 written by Don McGregor art by Gene Colan This issue spotlights Zanti Chikane as he has rejoined his family in their home. As his children play, he explains to his wife, Miriam, that he desires to continue to aid the Black Panther in his quest to find his mother. |
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Shamrock in “I Haven’t Got Time For The Pain“ written by Scott Lobdell art by Dennis Jensen Shamrock returns home when she learns of her brother’s death, and reunites with he estranged father. But, her father blames her for the death of her brother, Paddy, at the hands of terrorists and he drgus her. Now the captive of her father and a glitchy Arnim Zola, Shamrock’s good luck powers are intended to be used against the Irish terrorists. Under his investigation, Zola learns that Shamrock’s powers are driven by the souls of innocents killed in war. Those same powers help her break free and defeat the former Nazi villain. However, she’s still left to face the more threatening foe – her disaproving father. |
Havok in “Pharaoh’s Legacy” part 1 written by Howard Mackie art by Rich Buckler On break from the X-Men in the Australian Outback, Havok stops on the side of the road to help a young woman named Leila O’Toole with her car troubles. The couple quickly find themselves under attack by laser-shooting men in flying ships. Havok’s powers make short work of them but not before they destroy his car, too. He and the girl decide to start the long walk to the nearest town. On their trip, Leila explains how she was indoctrinated into a cult that worshipped the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. But, when she learned that the cult demanded human sacrifices, she ran – and has been running from them ever since. This attack was their latest move against her – they don’t allow anyone to leave. At the end of this chapter, Havok and Leila find themselves ransacked and netted by a strike force. |
The Cyclops story reached its conclusion with this issue and, it was certainly a neat story for the X-Man (actually, he was a member of X-Factor, at the time). Ron Lim’s art was great (as always) and the new character Conscience was a very entertaining villain (with a heart of gold). It played an important part in Banshee‘s history (he was depowered years prior to this in Uncanny X-Men #119) and the plot of a mutant-killing virus that spreads to humans is later echoed with Stryfe‘s Legacy Virus.
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Cyclops | Black Panther | Shamrock | Havok
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Cyclops | Black Panther | Mutant X (aka Havok)