Marvel Age made its debut in the spring of 1983 with a cover featuring...Crystar, crystal warrior? Yes, it's true -- and despite being drawn by the always awesome Walter Simsonson, it's a little weird not to have this issue feature, say, Spider-Man or the Avengers. This image is described as preliminary art; the final version that ran on The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior #1 was painted by Bob Larkin.
The other odd thing about this premiere issue? It only runs 16 pages (plus four covers), which makes for a flimsy publication.
Still, this issue has the basics for what would become the Marvel Age template: the Newswatch and Coming Attractions sections, behind the scenes articles, and fun art and interviews you wouldn't see anywhere else.
Marvel Age #1
Price: $0.25 US
Pages: 20 (16 interior plus four covers)
On sale: April 1983
Copyright © 1983 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation.
• Editor: Carol Kalish
• Assistant Editor/Designer: Peter David
• Production: Danny Crespi and Ron Zalme
• Colorists: Paul Becton and George Roussos
• Logo designer: John Morelli
• Photographer: Eliot R. Brown
• Guiding light: Jim Shooter
Front cover
• Pencils/inks: Walter Simonson
• Characters: Crystar (concept art)
Inside front cover
• Ad for Spider-Woman #50
Page 1
• “What Is Marvel Age?” — introduction
• Masthead
• Indicia
Pages 2 – 3:
• Newswatch (no writing credits)
Items on:
• Jim Shooter’s promotion to Vice President
• Marvel Halloween party• Kull the Conqueror #1• Star Slammers• The Mysterions• Red Sonja #1• Thor – Walter Simonson slated to take over writing and pencilling• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi movie adaptation• List of all editorial offices and what books each handles• Jokes about issues being printed sideways and backwards
Pages 4 – 6:
• Marvel Comics Coming Attactions (no writing credits)
Summaries of:
The Thing #1
Dazzler #27
Ka-Zar #27
Daredevil #196
New Mutants #5
King Conan #17
The Mysterions #2
Amazing Spider-Man #242
Captain America #283
Thor #333
Crystar #2
Moon Knight #32
Indiana Jones #7
Kull the Conqueror #2
U.S. 1 #3
Micronauts #53
Incredible Hulk #285
Avengers #233
Conan the Barbarian #148
Marvel Tales #153
X-Men #171
Power Man/Iron Fist #95
G.I. Joe #13
Red Sonja #1
Rom #44
Fantastic Four #256
Marvel Team-Up #131
Iron Man #172
Peter Parker (sic) #80
Defenders #121
Star Wars #73
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #7
Epic Illustrated #18
Dreadstar #4
Fire and Ice: Marvel Super Special #25
B
Bizarre Adventures #35
Savage Sword of Conan #89
Marvel Age #4
Fanfare (sic) #9
Page 6
• One-third page ad for retailers to be listed in the Marvel Comics Super Mart
Pages 7 – 9
• Article: “The Saga of Crystar” by Peter Sanderson
Pages 10 – 12
• Article: “Editorial Notes”
Brief essays by editors on their work, upcoming comics, how to break into the field, etc. Notes by Jim Shooter, Tom DeFalco, Denny O’Neil and Linda Grant, Ralph Macchio and Bob Harras, Louise Jones and Danny Fingeroth, Mark Gruenwald and Mike Carlin, Larry Hama and Jim Owsley, Archie Goodwin and Jo Duffy, Al Milgrom and Ann Nocenti
Page 12:
• Two-thirds page drawing of "Conan the Comedian" by Paul Smith
Pages 13 – 16
• Article: “Guidebook to the Cosmos: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe” by Peter Sanderson
Page 15:
• Sidebar: “Guide Sheet for Marvel Universe”
Guide to what makes the best figure drawing for character entries in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Inside back cover
• Ad for What If #89
Back cover
• Ad for Coyote
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