Spider-Man introduces what is arguably the first comics publishing imprint, Star Comics, in this issue of Marvel Age, with an article on Fraggle Rock, an interview with editor Tom DeFalco, an article on the origins of the line, and even a Hembeck Page about Wally the Wizard and writer/artist Bob Bolling, better known to fans for his work on Little Archie. The Star Comics line would stick around for four years and include over 30 titles -- many of them miniseries, and most of them licensed rather than original properties. (I'm defining "imprint" as a cohesive  line of titles that bears its own brand that's not the publisher's main name, and is dedicated to publishing a particular kind of comics.) The articles include introductory art and preliminary story pages. 

While the Star Comics coverage is fun, the centerpiece of this issue is a dense, four-page article called "Behind the Lines: Special Report -- The Story Behind the Avengers/JLA Team-Up Controversy." Not surprisingly, the article (which bears no byline) lays the blame at the feet of the DC staff for delays in delivering a plot, not sharing information about how and who needs to approve the plot, and letting artist George Pérez start drawing when the story had not been approved. It's a terse read that provides insights into how tense the situation between Marvel and DC was at the time. 

Also in this issue, "The Marvel Books Checklist" provides a list of books from this arm of the Marvel publishing empire, and is mostly interesting for the books of new material -- activity, puzzle and coloring books, mostly -- with full credits for writers like Jim Salicrup and David Anthony Kraft, as well as artists who didn't do much comics work for modern-day Marvel, like Joe Edwards and Winslow Mortimer, as well as relative newcomer Owen McCarron. 

Last things I'll mention are a couple of ads. The inside front cover features an ad for Void Indigo, an Epic Comics series that started in a Marvel Graphic Novel and is mostly remembered for causing a public outcry due to what was seen as excessive violence. The series would run only two issues before Marvel decided to pull the plug rather than continue to court controversy. And the back cover for Epic Illustrated #26 featuring the start of "The Last Galactus Story" includes the tagline, "How will it end?" As many of us know...it won't. End, that is. 

Marvel Age #19

Price: $0.35 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: July 10, 1984

Cover date: October, 1984

Copyright © 1984 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. 

• Jim Shooter: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Editor and Design Director

• Mark Lerer: Assistant Editor

• Bob Kessel: Designer

• Jim Massara: Coming Attractions

• Dan Crespi: Art/Production Coordinator

• Ron Zalme: Assistant Art/Production Coordinator

• Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Phil Felix, Morrie Kuramoto, Ken Lopez, John Morelli, 

  and Barry Shapiro: Production

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Paul Becton, Ken Feduniewicz, and George Roussos: Colorists

• Craig Anderson and Lynn Cohen: Friendly Assistance 

• Carol Kalish: Direct Sales Manager

• Peter David: Assistant Direct Sales Manager

• Steve Saffel: Assistant Promotions Manager for Direct Sales

• Irving Forbush: Star

Front cover 

• Characters: Spider-Man and the stars of the Star Comics line 

 Inside front cover

• Ad for the Void Indigo graphic novel

 

Page 1

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Editorial: "New Stars in the Marvel Universe," by Jim Salicrup

Pages 2 – 5

Marvel Comics Coming Attractions

Titles on sale July 24

• The Thing #17

• Daredevil #212

• New Mutants #21

• The Muppets Take Manhattan #1, 2 and 3

• Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars #7

• West Coast Avengers #3

• Machine Man #3

• Conan the King #25

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #4

Titles on sale July 31

• Amazing Spider-Man #258

• Captain America #299

• Thor #349

• Indiana Jones #23

• Power Pack #4

• Micronauts #2

• Crystar #10

• Sub-Mariner #3

• Fantastic Four Annual #18

• Savage Sword of Conan #105

Titles on sale August 7

• Incredible Hulk #301

• Avengers #249

• Conan the Barbarian #164

• Marvel Tales #169

• X-Men #187

• Rom #60

• Power Man and Iron Fist #111

• G.I. Joe #29

• Temple of Doom (sic) #3

• The Last Star Fighters (sic) #2

• Marvel Age Magazine #20

• Thor Annual #12

• Marvel Fanfare #17

• Graphic Novel #12 - Void Indigo (sic)

Titles on sale August 14

• Fantastic Four #272

• Marvel Team-Up #147

• Iron Man #188

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #96

• The New Defenders #137

• Star Wars #89

• Alpha Flight #16

• Kitty and Wolverine (sic) #1

• Hulk Annual #13

• Epic Illustrated #26

• Starriors #1

Pages 6 - 7

More Coming Attractions (no specific on sale dates listed)

Shipping in August

• The Thing #18

• Daredevil #213

• New Mutants #22

• The Muppets (sic) #2

• Marvel Super Heroes: The Secret Wars (sic) #8

• West Coast Avengers #4

• Machine Man #3

• Iceman #1

• Buckeroo Bonzai (sic) #1

• Spider-Man Annual (sic) #18

• Dreadstar #14

• Crash Ryan #1

• Amazing Spider-Man #259

• Indiana Jones #24

• Power Pack #5

• Micronauts #3

• Alpha Flight #17

• Doctor Strange #68

• Kull the Conqueror #7

• The Last Star Fighters (sic) #3

• Sub-Mariner #4

• Black Panther #2

• Captain America #300

• Rom Annual #3

• Savage Sword of Conan #106

• Alien Legion #4

• Marvel Super Special #35: Conan II (sic)

• Incredible Hulk #302

• Conan (sic) #165

• Marvel Tales #170

• X-Men #188

• Rom #61

• Power Man and Iron Fist #112

• G.I. Joe #30

• Sheena of the Jungle (sic) #1

• Avengers #250 

• Marvel Age #21

• Marvel Graphic Novel #13 - Starstruck

• Fantastic Four #273

• Marvel Team-Up #189

• Iron Man #189

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #97

• The New Defenders #138

• Star Wars #90

• Starriors #2

• Kitty and Wolverine (sic) #2

• What If #48

• Conan Annual (sic) #9

• X-Men Annual #8

• Doctor Who #3

• Six from Sirius #4

• Timespirits #1

Shipping in September

• The Thing #19

• Daredevil #214

• New Mutants #23

• Dazzler #35

• Muppets (sic) #3

• Red Sonja #5

• Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars #9

• Machine Man #4

• Iceman #2

• Buckeroo Banzai (sic) #2

• Dazzler / Beast (sic) #2

• Conan the King #26

• Crash Ryan #2

• Amazing Spider-Man #260

• Captain America #301

• Thor #351

• Indiana Jones #25

• Power Pack #6

• Micronauts #4

• Black Panther #3

• Transformers #3

• Conan II (sic) 

• New Mutants Annual #1

• Savage Sword of Conan #107

• Sisterhood of Steel #1

• Incredible Hulk #303

• Avengers #251

• Conan (sic) #166

• Marvel Tales #171

• X-Men #189

• Rom #62

• Power Man (sic) #113

• G.I. Joe #31

• Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (sic) #2

• Marvel Age #22

• Marvel Fanfare #18

• Dreadstar #15

• Void Indigo #1

• Fantastic Four #274

• Marvel Team-Up #274

• Iron Man #190

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #98

• Defenders (sic) #139

• Star Wars #91

• Alpha Flight #18

• Starriors #3

• Kitty & Wolverine (sic) #3

• Dr. Who (sic) #4

• Coyote #9

• Epic Illustrated #27

Page 8

Newswatch

Item: Howard Mackie joins staff as an assistant editor

Item: Watch for a new video presentation coming to comics shops and conventions covering titles including Dreadstar and Frankenstein

Item: Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham, is getting his own series

Item: Rod Whigham is drawing G.I. Joe #31 and the Lightrunner graphic novel; Michael Golden is doing covers for Indiana Jones #2, Kull #6, Peter Porker #1, and Savage Sword of Conan #105; Chris Warner will be the artist on Moon Knight, the Fist on Khonshu; Andy Mushynsky will be the inker on G.I. Joe; and Jerry Acerno will be the inker on Power Man and Iron Fist

Pages 9 - 12

Behind the Lines: Special Report -- The Story Behind the Avengers/JLA Team-Up Controversy

Page 13 

Subscription ad - art by John Byrne 

Pages 14 - 15

Article: "Star Comics Presents: Fraggle Rock," by Andrew Coe

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age -- Discussing the new series Wally the Wizard

Pages 18 - 21

Article: "The Marvel Age Interview: Tom DeFalco," by Jim Massara

Pages 22 - 23 

Article: "The Origin of Star Comics," by Jim Massara

Page 23

Star Comics Coming Attractions

Titles shipping September 11

• Planet Terry #1

• Fraggle Rock #1

• Heathcliff #1

Titles shipping September 25

• Wally the Wizard #1

• Top Dog #1

• Strawberry Shortcake #1

Titles shipping October 9

• The Muppet Babies #1

• The Ewoks #1

Titles shipping October 23

• Royal Roy #1

• Get Along Gang #1

Pages 24 - 26

Article: "The Marvel Age -- 1966 (Part II)" by Warren Reece

Pages 27 - 29

The Marvel Books Checklist, by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

Page 30 

Bullpen Bulletins

Pages 31 - 32

Letters Page: "MARVEL languAGE," suggested by Kenny Everhart 

Inside back cover

Ad for Power Pack

Back cover

Ad for Epic Illustrated #26 featuring "The Last Galactus Story" 

 

There's a lot to unpack on the cover of Marvel Age #18! The image, drawn by Luke McDonnell and Steve Mitchell, shows great coherence considering it features James Rhodes as the new Iron Man (promoting an interview with writer Denny O'Neil) looking at a screen with the Hulk on it (for Questprobe) while another screen highlights Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age, with a drawing that has to be by our Fred. 

The editorial that opens the issue celebrates new additions to Marvel Age, as well as the one-year anniversary of Jim Salicrup's tenure as editor, as well as teasing Star Comics, and promising an update on the Justice League of America / Avengers crossover soon. We'll see about that... 

This is also the month of a double helping of Marvel Comic Attractions, as the section switches over from a three-month ahead schedule to just one-month. 

The lead article this month covers the Questprobe comics series, tying into the video game of the same name, created by Scott Adams -- no, not the guy who created Dilbert after all. The comics series would go on to run three issues -- #1, starring the Hulk; #2, starring Spider-Man; and #3, starring the Thing and the Human Torch. (The fourth issue, starring the X-Men, was published in Marvel Fanfare #33 when the game didn't come out.) 

That's not the only game on the table in this issue of Marvel Age, though. There's also an article on the TSR Marvel Super Heroes Role Playing Game, with art by Sal Buscema.

The Marvel Age Interview with Denny O'Neil focuses on his acclaimed work as writer of both Iron Man and Daredevil. O'Neil discusses his love of collaboration with artists like David Mazzucchelli and Luke McDonnell, and lays out what it means to be an alcoholic with great sensitivity and understanding. He also talks about the titles he edits, and singles out Jim Owsley for praise as the new writer on Power Man and Iron Fist. 

And the New Talent Department this month focuses on a future comics and animation star, Kyle Baker, who here has submitted his sample pages for the X-Men. John Romita provides commentary, saying that the pages are pretty great, but would benefit from a few closeups to provide variation. 

Marvel Age #18

Price: $0.35 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: June 5, 1984

Cover date: September, 1984

Copyright © 1984 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. 

• Jim Shooter: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Editor and Design Director

• Mark Lerer: Assistant Editor

• Bob Kessel: Designer

• Jim Massara: Coming Attractions

• Dan Crespi: Art/Production Coordinator

• Ron Zalme: Assistant Art/Production Coordinator

• Joe Albelo, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Phil Felix, Morrie Kuramoto, John Morelli, 

  and Barry Shapiro: Production

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Paul Becton and George Roussos: Colorists

• Craig Anderson and Lynn Cohen: Friendly Assistance

• Luke McDonnell and Steve Mitchell: Cover 

• Carol Kalish: Direct Sales Manager

• Steve Saffel: Assistant Promotions Manager for Direct Sales

• Peter David: Assistant Direct Sales Manager

• Marsha Rosenberg: Sales Manager for Special Events

• Irving Forbush: Video Ga-ga

Front cover 

• Characters: The Hulk and Iron Man (James Rhodes) 

 Inside front cover

• Ad for The Official Marvel Comics Try-Out Book 

 

Page 1

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Editorial: "Jumbled Jargon to to Cajole and Confuse You," or, "Salicrup's Soapbox," by Jim Salicrup

Pages 2 – 5

Marvel Comics Coming Attractions (two months ahead)

Titles on sale June 26

• The Thing #16

• Daredevil #211

• New Mutants #20

• Dazzler #34

• The Muppets Takes Manhattan #1, 2 and 3

• Ka-Zar #34

• Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #6

• West Coast Avengers #2

• Machine Man #1

• Marvel Team-Up Annual #7

Titles on sale July 3

• Amazing Spider-Man #257

• Captain America #248

• Thor #348

• Indiana Jones #22

• Power Pack #3

• Micronauts: the New Voyages #1

• Doctor Strange #67

• U.S. 1 #12

• The Last Star Fighters (sic) #1, 2 and 3

• Sub-Mariner #2

• Iron Man Annual #7

• Savage Sword of Conan #103

• Alien Legion #3

• Marvel Super Special #32: The Muppets Take Manhattan 

Titles on sale July 10

• Avenger #248

• Conan the Barbarian #163

• Marvel Tales #168

• Rom #59

• Power Man and Iron Fist #110

• G.I. Joe #28

• Kull the Conqueror #6

• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom #2

• Incredible Hulk #300

• X-Men #186

• Marvel Age Magazine #19

• Marvel Graphic Novel #11: Dazzler

Titles on sale July 17

• Fantastic Four #271

• Marvel Team-Up #146

• Iron Man #187

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #95

• The New Defenders #136

• Star Wars #88

• Alpha Flight #15

• What If #47

• Doctor Who #1

• Dreadstar #13

• Six from Sirius #2

Pages 5 - 8

More Coming Attractions (one month ahead - no specific on sale dates listed)

Shipping in July

• The Thing #17

• Daredevil #212

• New Mutants #21

• Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #7

• West Coast Avengers #3

• Machine Man #2

• Conan the King #25

• Peter Parker Annual (sic) #4

• Amazing Spider-Man #258

• Captain America #299

• Thor #349

• Indiana Jones #23

• Power Pack #4

• Micronauts #2

• Crystar #10

• Sub-Mariner #3

• Black Panther #1

• Transformers #2

• Fantastic Four Annual #18

• Savage Sword of Conan #105

• Marvel Super Special #33: Buckeroo Banzai (sic) 

• Incredible Hulk #301

• Avengers #249

• Conan the Barbarian #164

• Marvel Tales #169

• X-Men #187

• Rom #60

• Power Man and Iron Fist #111

• G.I. Joe #29

• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom #3

• The Last Star Fighters (sic) #2

• Marvel Age Magazine #20

• Thor Annual #12

• Avengers Annual #13

• Marvel Fanfare #17

• Fantastic Four #272

• Iron Man #188

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #96

• Marvel Team-Up #147

• The New Defenders #137

• Star Wars #89

• Alpha Flight #16

• Starriors #1

• Kitty & Wolverine (sic) #1

• Hulk Annual #13

• Doctor Who #2

• Coyote #8

• Marvel Super Special #34: Sheena of the Jungle (sic) 

• Six from Sirius #3

• Epic Illustrated #26

• Marvel Graphic Novel: Void Indigo

Shipping in August 

• The Thing #18

• Daredevil #23

• New Mutants #22

• Dazzler #35

• The Muppets (sic) #2

• Marvel Super Heroes: The Secret Wars (sic) #8

• West Coast Avengers #4

• Machine Man #3

• Iceman #1 

• Buckeroo Bonzai (sic) #1

• Spider-Man Annual #18

• Dreadstar #14

• Amazing Spider-Man #259

• Indiana Jones #24

• Power Pack #5

• Micronauts #3

• Doctor Strange #68

• Kull the Conqueror #7

• The Last Star Fighters (sic) #3

• Sub-Mariner #4

• Black Panther #2

• Captain America #300

• Thor #350

• Rom Annual #3

• Savage Sword of Conan #106

• Alien Legion #4

• Marvel Super Special #35: Conan II (sic)

• Incredible Hulk #302

• Conan #165

• Marvel Tales #170

• X-Men #188

• Rom #61

• Power Man and Iron Fist #112

• G.I. Joe #30

• Sheena of the Jungle (sic) #1

• Avengers #250

• Marvel Age #21

• Fantastic Four #273

• Marvel Team-Up #148

• Iron Man #189

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #97

• The New Defenders #138

• Star Wars #90

• Alpha Flight #17

• Starriors #2

• Kitty and Wolverine (sic) #2

• What If #48

• Conan Annual #9

• X-Men Annual #8

• Doctor Who #3

• Six from Sirius #4

Page 9 

Newswatch

• Item: Stan Lee will script Spider-Man Annual #18, and What If #50 will be based on the story from Fantastic Four #60.

• Item: Spider-Man and Power Pack will appear in an educational comic about child abuse.

• Item: Coyote will add a backup feature starring the Djinn starting with issue #7. Alien Legion will feature the art of newcomer Chris Warner. Changes are coming for Dreadstar this summer, along with the debuts of Six from Sirius, Void Indigo, Crash Ryan, and Starstruck. 

• Item: Jim Salicrup takes over as the writer on The Transformers with issue #2. Crystar has been cancelled. Linda Grant will be the new writer and Ricardo Villamonte the new artist on The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. John Byrne takes over as writer of The Thing with #19. Steve Ditko is the new artist on Rom. Bill Mantlo has written and Pat Broderick has pencilled Red Sonja #5-7. 

Pages 10 - 12

Article: "Computers and Comics: Introducing Questprobe," by Robert J. Sodaro

Pages 13 - 15

Article: "The Marvel Age -- 1966 (Part I)

Pages 16 - 17 

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 18 - 20

Article: "Introducing the Marvel Super Heroes Role Playing Game," by Steve Saffel

Page 19

Sidebar: "The TSR Story..." 

Pages 21 - 25

Article: "The Marvel Age Interview: Denny O'Neil," by Mark Lerer

Pages 26 - 28

The New Talent Department 

Page 29

Behind the Lines

Pages 29

Marvel Personal Appearances Calendar, compiled by Lynn Cohen

Pages 30 - 32

Letters page: "The Marvel Age Agglomeration Page," suggested by Lance Wright, header art by Rick Parker 

Inside back cover

Bullpen Bulletins

Back cover

Ad for Marvel Age