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 August 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Paul Gulacy
Havok in “Pharaoh’s Legacy” part 3 written by Howard Mackie art by Rich Buckler With his new girlfriend captured, Havok journeys to some seedy places in Australia to find a clue as to where she is. Along the way, he finds one of the mercenaries who left him for dead employs some force to get some information out of him. He reveals that the Trackers have taken Leila O’Toole to the Cairo Confectioneers Warehouse in Egypt. |
Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” part 14 written by Don McGregor art by Gene Colan Miyo Moshigo is the man who has been ambushed by his fellow villagers. And, as the mob hurls him out of his home into the street to kill him, the Black Panther leaps into action. Amid the battle, Moshigo reveals that he was not wrongly accused by the men. Revitalized in their anger, the mob overwhelms both the Panther and the traitor. |
Coldblood in “Rise and Shine” part 1 written by Doug Moench art by Paul Gulacy Coldblood-7 patrols the streets of New York – now filled with scavenging animals. His onboard computer reveals that the city has fallen into such a state because the Maker has had his way with it. It also reveals that he is the fifth model of his generation of urban soldier cyborgs. In his quest to discover his identity, the onboard computer grafted to his brain can only refer to him as the Target. And, it seems he’s caught up in a deadly game of tag. His pursuer is an Elite Pursuer-9 assault tank! |
Hulk in “Splashdown” written by Peter David art by Jeff Purves Mr. Fixit (aka the Hulk) has been sent to collect the considerable amount of Las Vegas casino debt that Jonas Marlin owes. Unfortunately for him, he only has half of the cash on hand. In a desperate bid for survival, he offers Mr. Fixit’s employer a percentage interest in his business – the Marlinworld aquarium/theme park. And, while touring the park, Shandu (the killer whale) goes berserk! Naturally, the only one present who can tame the beast is the Hulk but, it’ll cost ya! |
In this issue, Moench & Gulacy debut their cyborg hero, Coldblood-7. It hasn’t been revealed yet but, it seems like this is an alternate future. It may not even be set within the Mainstream Marvel Universe (although, I seem to remember catching a glimpse of him during Marvel’s Civil War. It seems like a slight rip-off of Marvel’s original Deathlok concept from the 1970s but, even still, I’m interested to learn more. And, as silly as the Hulk feature may seem, it’s actually a prelude to the inter-annual-crossover, Atlantis Attacks!
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Havok | Black Panther | Coldblood | Hulk | Atlantis Attacks
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Mutant X (aka Havok) | Hulk