Tuesday, July 6, 2021


The popularity of the X-Men and other mutants continued to grow throughout the 1980s, and that reality is reflected in Marvel Age #30 with the debut the feature "The Mutant Report," which focused exclusively on...yes, mutants. This debut column only ran one page, but it would quickly grow to multiple pages, with sub-features like the cartoon "It's Genetic." 

"The Mutant Report" appears over the logo on this issue's cover, which features the heroes of the Marvel Universe enjoying a picnic, with Doctor Doom about to ruin the afternoon, and...wait a minute, is that Conan the Barbarian helping himself to a chicken leg? What's he doing here? 

This issue's "New Talent Department" once again dives into the tricky business of trying to critique written material. In this case, it's a plot submission from a writer named Dave Hudak, who sent in a Captain America story for which editor Mike Carlin provides some broad strokes input on the story, including, "Captain America is out of character throughout. He does things that Captain America just would not do," and, "Basically, there's no conflict here. Cap does not have to make a choice." I wrote this article myself, with illustrations by artists James W. Fry and Phil Lord. 


Another article previews the 1985 slate of annuals, which were all set for summer release. The annuals also showed up on the inside front cover with the 1985 Marvel Age Summer Annuals Report Card, which is a great opportunity to involve readers, and demonstrate that Marvel cares about their opinions. There's also the promise of info on the upcoming Marvel Age Annual

Marvel Age #30

Price: $0.35 US 
Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)
On sale: June 11, 1985
Cover date: September, 1985
Copyright © 1985 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. 

• Jim Shooter: Editor in Chief
• Jim Salicrup: Editor and Design Director
• Kurt Busiek: Assistant Editor
• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Coming Attractions
• Craig Anderson, Pat Blevins, Nancy Brown, Bob Budiansky, Mike Carlin, Bobbie Chase, Margaret Clark, Don Daley, Tom DeFalco, Jo Duffy, Archie Goodwin, Mark Gruenwald, Bob Harras, Larry Hama, Mike Higgins, Sid Jacobson, Ralph Macchio, Howard Mackie, Rosemary McCormick-Lowy, Al Milgrom, Ann Nocenti, Denny O'Neil, Jim Owsley, Carl Potts, Pat Redding, Louise Simonson, Laurie Sutton, and Keith Williams: Consulting Editors
• John Romita: Art Director
• James W. Fry, Mark McKenna, and Tom Morgan: Romita's Raiders
• Dan Crespi: Art/Production Coordinator
• Ron Zalme: Assistant Art/Production Coordinator
• Janet Jackson: Designer
• Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Phil Felix, Lisa Herring, Jack Morelli, Miriam Larsson, and Barry Shapiro: Production
• Brenda Mings: Typesetter
• Adam Philips and George Roussos: Colorists
• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager
• Lynn Cohen and Chantee Foster: Friendly Assistance 
• John Byrne: Cover 
• Sally Pomeroy: Rights and Permissions Editor
• Carol Kalish: Director of Specialty Sales
• Peter David: Direct Sales Manager Administrative
• Steve Saffel: Assistant Promotions Manager for Direct Sales
• Irving Forbush: Sun Worshipper

Front cover 
• Characters: Lots of Marvel heroes

 Inside front cover
• Marvel Agenda (contents) 
• Masthead 
• Indicia 

Editorial: "Summer Fun," by Jim Salicrup 

1985 Marvel Age Summer Annuals Report Card 


Pages 1 - 5
Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale June 25 
  • The Thing #28
  • Daredevil #223 - Secret Wars II tie-in
  • New Mutants #32
  • The Web of Spider-Man #7
  • Planet Terry #7
  • Fraggle Rock #4
  • Strawberry Shortcake #4
  • Dreadstar and Company #4
  • Rawhide Kid #3
  • The Squadron Supreme #2
  • The Sectaurs #3
  • The West Coast Avengers #1 
  • Starstruck #4
  • The Life of Captain Marvel #3
Titles on sale July 2
  • The Amazing Spider-Man #269
  • Captain America #310
  • Power Pack #15
  • Micronauts #13
  • Alpha Flight #27
  • Wally the Wizard #7
  • Top Dog #4
  • Heathcliff #4
  • Doctor Strange #73
  • Groo the Wanderer #8
  • The Fantastic Four Index #1
  • Longshot #2
  • The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1
  • The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #5
  • Savage Sword of Conan #116
  • The Black Dragon #4
  • The Sisterhood of Steel #5
Titles on sale July 9
  • Marvel Age Magazine #31
  • The Incredible Hulk #312 - Secret Wars II tie-in
  • The Avengers #260 - Secret Wars II tie-in
  • Conan #175
  • Marvel Tales #180
  • X-Men #198
  • Rom #71
  • Moon Knight #5
  • G.I. Joe #40
  • Eternals #1
  • Dreadstar #20
Titles on sale July 15 
  • Marvel Graphic Novel #17: Revenge of the Living Monolith
Titles on sale July 16 
  • The Fantastic Four #283
  • Iron Man #199
  • Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107
  • Thor #360
  • The New Defenders #148
  • Elfquest #3
  • Secret Wars II #4
  • Transformers #9
  • Star Wars #100
  • Spider-Man Index #7
  • Doctor Who #13
  • Alien Legion #9 
Pages 6 - 7
More Coming Attractions

Titles shipping in July
  • The Thing #29
  • Daredevil #224
  • The New Mutants #33
  • Web of Spider-Man #8
  • West Coast Avengers #2
  • Planet Terry #8
  • Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #4
  • Cloak and Dagger #3
  • Red Sonja #11
  • Dreadstar and Company #5
  • Rawhide Kid #4
  • Squadron Supreme #3
  • Conan the King #31
  • Moonshadow #4
  • Swords of the Swashbucklers #3
  • Life of Captain Marvel #4
  • Amazing Spider-Man #270
  • Captain America #311
  • Power Pack #16
  • Micronauts #14
  • Alpha Flight #28
  • Wally the Wizard #8
  • The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #32
  • Dazzler #40
  • Ewoks #4
  • Groo the Wanderer #9
  • Longshot #3
  • The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2
  • The Fantastic Four Index #2
  • The Avengers Annual #14
  • The Fantastic Four Annual #19
  • The Savage Sword of Conan #117
  • Black Dragon #5
  • Time Spirits #6
  • The One #2
  • Marvel Age Magazine #32
  • The Incredible Hulk #313 
  • The Avengers #161
  • Conan #176
  • Marvel Tales #181
  • Rom #72
  • X-Men #199
  • Moon Knight #6
  • Power Man and Iron Fist #120
  • Royal Roy #4
  • Muppet Babies #4
  • Get Along Gang #4
  • The Sword of Solomon Kane #2
  • G.I. Joe #41
  • Eternals #2
  • Marvel Fanfare #23
  • Fantastic Four #284
  • Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #108
  • Star Wars #101
  • Thor #361
  • Transformers #10
  • Elfquest #4
  • Secret Wars II #5
  • Iron Man #200
  • Spider-Man Index #8
  • Doctor Who #14
  • Coyote #14
  • Savage Tales #1
  • Epic Illustrated #32
  • Marvel Graphic Novel #18: The She-Hulk 
Titles shipping in August 
  • The Thing #30
  • Daredevil #225
  • The New Mutants #34
  • Web of Spider-Man #9
  • West Coast Avengers #3
  • Planet Terry #9
  • Fraggle Rock #5
  • Strawberry Shortcake #5
  • Thundercats #1
  • Dreadstar and Company #6
  • Squadron Supreme #4
  • Sectaurs #4
  • The Incredible Hulk Annual #14
  • The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #1
  • Starstruck #5
  • The Bozz Chronicles #1
  • The Life of Captain Marvel #5
  • The Amazing Spider-Man #271
  • Captain America #312
  • Power Pack #17
  • Micronauts #15
  • Alpha Flight #29
  • Wally the Wizard #9
  • Top Dog #5
  • Heathcliff #5
  • Doctor Strange #74
  • Groo the Wanderer #10
  • Longshot #4
  • The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3
  • Rom Annual #4
  • The Fantastic Four Index #3
  • The Savage Sword of Conan #118
  • The Black Dragon #6
  • The Sisterhood of Steel #6
  • Marvel Age Magazine #33
  • The Incredible Hulk #314
  • The Avengers #262
  • Conan #177
  • Marvel Tales #182
  • The Avengers #262
  • Rom #73
  • Moon Knight #7
  • G.I. Joe #42
  • Eternals #3
  • X-Men #200
  • Thor Annual #13
  • Dreadstar #21
  • Fantastic Four #201
  • Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #109
  • Star Wars #102
  • Thor #362
  • Transformers #11
  • Elfquest #5
  • Secret Wars II #6
  • The New Defenders #150
  • Spider-Man Index #9
  • Doctor Who #15
  • The New Mutant Special #1
  • Six from Sirius #1
  • Alien Legion #10
  • Marvel Graphic Novel #19: The Witch Queen of Acheron 
Page 8
Newswatch
Item: New graphic novels coming soon include...
The Aladdin Effect, on sale next week
Revenge of the Living Monolith, on sale next month
Shipping in July: 
She-Hulk by John Byrne and Kim DeMulder
The Witch Queen of Acheron, starring Conan, by Don Kraar, Gary Kwapisz and Armando Gill
Shipping in September: 
Greenberg the Vampire, by J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Badger
Shipping in October: 
The Hills Are Alive, starring the New Mutants, by Chris Claremont and Berni Wrightson
Shipping in November:
Elektra, by Frank Miller
Shipping in December:
Mirror Mirror, starring Doctor Strange, by J.M. DeMatteis and Dan Green 
Item: The Amazing Spider-Man Index was so popular that it's being followed by The Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four and The Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up
Item: Newswatch is shorter than usual because some items will now be featured in the new column The Mutant Report. 

Marvel Top Ten 
Titles on sale March 1985
  1. Secret Wars II #1
  2. X-Men #195
  3. Cloak and Dagger #1
  4. Web of Spider-Man #4
  5. Alpha Flight #24
  6. New Mutants #29
  7. Fantastic Four #280
  8. Amazing Spider-Man #266
  9. Thor #357
  10. Avengers #257
Page 9
The Mutant Report
• New 'Factor' in Mutant Teams -- announces the new series X-Factor
• Mutants for Africa -- announces The X-Men Benefit Special for Ethiopia
• New Art for New Mutants -- Bill Sienkiewicz will be leaving the New Mutants. New artists on the series include Steve Leialoha and Mary Wilshire

Pages 10 - 12
Article: "An Epic of Love and War...Balder and Karnilla," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

Pages 13 - 15
The New Talent Department, by Adam Philips 

Pages 16 - 17
Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 18 - 21
Article: "Marvel Super Heroes Summer Fun: A Preview of 1985's Annuals," by Ken Hart

Pages 22 - 24
Article: "The Eternals," by Bill Slavicsek 

Pages 25 - 
Article: "The Marvel Age -- 1968 (Part III)," by Adam Philips

Page 27
Ad for Longshot

Page 28
Article: "Revenge of the Living Monolith," by Bill Slavicsek

Page 29
Ad for The One

Pages 30 - 32
Letters column: "The Write Stuff," suggested by Greg Bowers 

Inside back cover 
Ad for The Sword of Solomon Kane

Back cover
The Marvel Age 1985 Calendar -- June 
Jim Salicrup: Writer
Ron Zalme: Artist
Andy Yanchus: Colorist 




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