If you weren't already convinced that mutants were a big deal at Marvel in the 1980s, perhaps this issue of Marvel Age might convince you. "The Mutant Report," which just made its debut in issue #30, has now expanded to three pages, with the addition of Kyle Baker's cartoon series "It's Genetic." Of course, there's also a Nightcrawler cover by Dave "X-Man" Cockrum. 

With Iron Man about to reach its big 200th issue, the article in this issue includes new armor designs by John Byrne, Al Milgrom, and Bob Layton. And while Denny O'Neil and Mark Gruenwald, the series' writer and editor, respectively, promise big story turns and plot line wrap-ups, let's face it -- this series is all about the armor. 

Two new assistant editors made their Marvel Age debuts this month as well: Rosemary McCormick-Lowy (here portrayed by Bill Sienkiewicz) and Bobbie Chase (as drawn by Ron Zalme). 

Marvel Age #31

Price: $0.35 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: July 9, 1985

Cover date: October, 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

• Terry Bracchi, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Jack Morelli, Miriam Larsson, and Barry Shapiro: Production

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Ken Feduniewicz, Janet Jackson, Adam Philips, George Roussos, and Nelson Yomtov: Colorists

• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager

• Lynn Cohen and Margaret Brockie: Friendly Assistance 

• Dave Cockrum: 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: Sword Sharpener

Front cover 

• Character: Nightcrawler

 Inside front cover

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Editorial by Jim Salicrup 

Marvel's Top Ten — Titles for April 1985

1. Secret Wars II #2
2. X-Men #196
3. New Mutants #30
4. Alpha Flight #25
5. Web of Spider-Man #5
6. Elfquest #1
7. Fantastic Four #281
8. Amazing Spider-Man #267
9. Iron Man #197
10. Thor #358

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale July 23

• The Thing #29
• Daredevil #244
• New Mutants #33
• Web of Spider-Man #8
• Red Sonja - The Movie #1
• West Coast Avengers #2
• Planet Terry #8
• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #4
• Cloak and Dagger #3
• Questprobe #3
• Dreadstar and Company #5
• Rawhide Kid #4
• Squadron Supreme #3
• Conan the King 331
• Moonshadow #4
• The Swords of the Swashbucklers #3
• The Life of Captain Marvel #4

Titles on sale July 30

• The Amazing Spider-Man #270
• Captain America #311
• Power Pack #16
• Micronauts #14
• Alpha Flight #28 -- Secret Wars II tie-in
• Wally the Wizard #8
• The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #32
• Dazzler #40 -- Secret Wars II tie-in
• Ewoks #4
• Groo the Wanderer #9
• Longshot #3
• The Vision and Scarlet Witch #2
• Red Sonja #11
• Avengers Annual #14
• Savage Sword of Conan #117
• Black Dragon #5
• Timespirits #6
• The One #2

Titles on sale August 6

• Marvel Age Magazine #32
• The Incredible Hulk #313
• The Avengers #261 -- Secret Wars II tie-in
• Conan #176
• Marvel Tales #181
• Rom #72 -- Secret Wars II tie-in
• X-Men #199
• Moon Knight #5
• Power Man and Iron Fist #120
• Royal Roy #4
• Muppet Babies #4
• Get Along Gang #4
• The Sword of Solomon Kane #2
• Nightcrawler #1
• Fantastic Four Annual #19
• G.I. Joe #41
• Eternals #2
• Marvel Fanfare #23

Titles on sale August 13

• Marvel Graphic Novel #18: The Savage She-Hulk 
• Fantastic Four #284
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #108
• The New Defenders #149
• Star Wars #101
• Thor #361
• The Transformers #10
• Elfquest #4
• Secret Wars II #5
• Iron Man #200
• The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19
• Doctor Who #14
• Coyote #14
• Savage Tales #1
• Spider-Man Index #8
• Epic Illustrated #32

Pages 6 - 7 

More Coming Attractions

Titles shipping in August (this should be September) 

• 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
• The Incredible Hulk Annual #14
• The Official Handbook fo the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #1
• Starstruck #5
• 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 Scarlet Witch #3
• Rom Annual #4
• Savage Sword of Conan #118
• The Black Dragon #6
• The Sisterhood of Steel #6
• Marvel Age Magazine #33
• The Incredible Hulk #314
• Avengers #262
• Conan #177
• Marvel Tales #182
• Rom #73
• Moon Knight #6
• G.I. Joe #42
• Eternals #3
• X-Men #200
• Thor Annual #13
• X-Men/Alpha Flight #1
• Dreadstar #21
• Fantastic Four #285
• Iron Man #201
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #109
• Nightcrawler #2
• Star Wars #102
• Thor #362
• Transformers #11
• Elfquest #5
• Secret Wars II #6
• The New Defenders #150
• Spider-Man Index #9
• Doctor Who #15
• New Mutants Special #1
• Alien Legion #10
• Marvel Graphic Novel #19: The Witch Queen of Acheron
• Red Sonja - The Movie #2

Titles shipping in September (this should be October) 

• The New Mutants #35
• Web of Spider-Man #10
• West Coast Avengers #4
• Planet Terry #10
• Peter Porker, the Amazing Spider-Ham #5
• Cloak and Dagger #4
• Sectaurs #4
• Squadron Supreme #5
• Conan the King #32
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #2
• Swords of the Swashbucklers #4
• Moonshadow #5
• The Amazing Spider-Man #272
• Captain America #313
• Power Pack #18
• Micronauts #16
• Alpha Flight #30
• Wally the Wizard #10
• Ewoks #5
• The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #33
• Dazzler #41
• Groo the Wanderer #11
• Longshot #5
• The Vision and Scarlet Witch #4
• The Thing #31
• Daredevil #226
• X-Men Annual #9
• Savage Sword of Conan #119 
• The One #3
• Timespirits #7
• Marvel Age Magazine #34
• The Incredible Hulk #315
• Avengers #263
• Conan #178
• Marvel Tales #183
• X-Men #201
• Rom #74
• Moon Knight #7
• Power Man and Iron Fist #121
• Nightcrawler #3
• Royal Roy #5
• Muppet Babies #5
• Get Along Gang #5
• The Sword of Solomon Kane #3
• G.I. Joe #43
• Eternals #4
• X-Men/Alpha Flight #2
• Marvel Fanfare #24
• Fantastic Four #286
• Iron Man #202
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #110
• The New Defenders #151
• Star Wars #103
• Thor #363
• The Transformers #12
• Elfquest #6
• Secret Wars II #7
• Handbook of the Conan Universe #1
• Doctor Who #16
• Coyote #15
• Savage Tales #2
• Epic Illustrated #33
• Marvel Graphic Novel #20: Greenberg the Vampire 

Page 8

Newswatch

Item: 1986 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Fantastic Four, with lots of new projects in the works. To make room for them, Rom #75, The Defenders #152, Power Man and Iron Fist #125, Dazzler #42, Micronauts #20, and The Thing #36 will be the final issues of those series.

Item: Morrie Kuramoto, longtime member of the Marvel bullpen and letterer, has died at age 64. 

Pages 8 - 9 

Behind the Lines, by Carl James Potts Esq III Limited

Page 9

Behind the Lines II, by Bob Budiansky

Pages 10 - 12

Article: "The Marvel Age Interview: John Byrne," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Page 13

Article: "Bill Mantlo Talks about Alpha Flight," by Kurt Busiek

Pages 14 - 15

Article: "It's Finally Here! Amazing High Adventure II," by Sholly Fisch

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 18 - 20

The Mutant Report: "And Now for Something Completely Different...Nightcrawler," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Page 20

It's Genetic, by Kyle Baker

Page 21

Article: "Star Spotlight on Thundercats," by Sandy Hausler

Pages 22 - 23

Article: "The One with the Answers! Iron Man #200," by Len Kaminsky

Pages 24 - 25 

Article: "Savage Tales — Not for Wimps or Geeks," by Bill Slavicsek

Pages 26 - 27 

Article: "The Marvel Bookshelf: A Look at the Upcoming Graphic Novels," by Bill Slavicsek

Pages 28 - 29

Article: "The Marvel Age: 1969 (Part I)," by Adam Philips

Pages 30 - 32

Letter column: "Alphabet Soup," suggested by Matthew Walker

Inside back cover

Bullpen Bulletins

Back cover

The Marvel Age 1985 Calendar -- July

Jim Salicrup, writer

Ron Zalme, artist

Andy Yanchus, colorist 

 

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars may be over -- but Secret Wars II is on the way! So promises the cover to Marvel Age #27, in which Editori-Al Milgrom is surrounded by Marvel's greatest heroes. The cover goes with an interview with writer and editor in chief Jim Shooter, who reveals that Al took the place of the earlier announced artist Sal Buscema -- only because Sal lives in Virginia, while Al was in the New York Area.

Irving Forbush has the month off, as this is a rare Marvel Age cover with no Irv in the corner box. In his place is a mysterious lad called Billy, who appears in this issue's Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age claiming to be the Beyonder. His mom might have something to say about that. 

Legendary artist Kelley Jones is the subject of this month's New Talent Department, back when he was just getting fans' attentions for the first time as a penciller and inker on Micronauts. Kelley started out as an inker over Butch Guice's pencils, among others, but quickly moved on to pencilling. 

Also in this issue, my own contributions to Marvel Age expanded as I started to do some coloring as well as co-writing an article on Planet Terry. 

Marvel Age #27

Price: $0.35 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: March 12, 1985

Cover date: June, 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

• Janet Jackson: Designer

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Coming Attractions

• Dan Crespi: Art/Production Coordinator

• Ron Zalme: Assistant Art/Production Coordinator

• Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Phil Felix, Morrie Kuramoto, John Morelli, Miriam Larsson, and Barry Shapiro: Production

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Adam Philips and George Roussos: Colorists

• Lynn Cohen and Chantee Foster: Friendly Assistance 

• Al Milgrom: Cover 

• Carol Kalish: Director of Specialty Sales

• Peter David: Direct Sales Manager Administrative

• Steve Saffel: Assistant Promotions Manager for Direct Sales

• Irving Forbush: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Mascot II 

Front cover 

• Characters: Al Milgrom and the heroes of Secret Wars II 

 Inside front cover

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Editorial by Jim Salicrup 

 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Comics Coming Attractions

Titles on sale March 26

• The Thing #25

• New Mutants #29

• Daredevil #220

• Web of Spider-Man #4

• Planet Terry #4

• Cloak and Dagger #1

• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #2

• Dreadstar and Company #1

• The Gargoyle #2

• Conan the King #29

• Swords of the Swashbucklers #1

• Moonshadow #2

Titles on sale April 2

• The Amazing Spider-Man #266

• Captain America #307

• Power Pack #12

• The Micronauts #10

• Wally the Wizard #4

• The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #30

• Dazzler #38

• Ewoks #2

• Groo the Wanderer #5

• Alpha Flight #24

• Savage Sword of Conan #113

• Black Dragon #1

• Time Spirits #4

Titles on sale April 9

• Marvel Age Magazine #28

• The Incredible Hulk #309

• The Avengers #257

• Conan #172

• Marvel Tales #177

• X-Men #195

• Rom #68

• Moon Knight #2

• Power Man and Iron Fist #118

• Royal Roy #2

• Muppet Babies #2

• The Get Along Gang #2

• G.I. Joe #37

• Marvel Fanfare #21

Titles on April 16

• Fantastic Four #280

• Iron Man #196

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #104

• The New Defenders #145

• Star Wars #97

• Thor #357

• Transformers #6

• Secret Wars II #1

• Rocket Raccoon #3

• Spider-Man Index #4

• Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe #1

• Doctor Who #10

• Coyote #12

• Epic Illustrated #30

Pages 6 - 7

More Coming Attractions 

Titles shipping in April

• The Thing #26

• Daredevil #221

• New Mutants #30

• Web of Spider-Man #5

• Planet Terry #5

• Fraggle Rock #3

• Strawberry Shortcake #3

• Red Sonja #10

• Dreadstar and Company #2

• The Gargoyle #3

• Rawhide Kid #1

• Sectaurs #1

• Starstruck #3

• Life of Captain Marvel #1

• The Amazing Spider-Man #267

• Captain America #308

• Power Pack #13

• Micronauts #11

• Alpha Flight #25

• Wally the Wizard #5

• Top Dog #3

• Heathcliff #3

• Doctor Strange #3

• Groo (sic) #6

• Savage Sword of Conan #114

• Black Dragon #2

• Sisterhood of Steel #4

• Marvel Age #29

• The Incredible Hulk #310

• The Avengers #258

• Conan #173

• Marvel Tales #178

• X-Men #196

• Rom #69

• Moon Knight #3

• G.I. Joe #38

• Dreadstar #19

• Fantastic Four #281

• Iron Man #197

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #105

• The New Defenders #146

• Star Wars #96

• Thor #358

• Transformers #7

• Elfquest #1

• Secret Wars II #2

• Rocket Raccoon #4

• The Spider-Man Index #5

• Doctor Who #11

• Alien Legion #8

Titles shipping in May

• The Thing #27

• Daredevil #222

• New Mutants #31

• Web of Spider-Man #6

• Planet Terry #6

• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #3

• Ewoks #3

• Cloak and Dagger #3

• The Gargoyle #4

• Rawhide Kid #2

• The Revenge of the Living Monolith #1

• The Squadron Supreme #1

• Conan the King #30

• Moonshadow #3

• The Life of Captain Marvel #2

• The Amazing Spider-Man #268

• Captain America #309

• Power Pack #14

• Micronauts #12

• Alpha Flight #26

• Wally the Wizard #6

• The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #31

• Dazzler #39

• Groo the Wanderer #7

• Longshot #1

• Savage Sword of Conan #115

• Black Dragon #3

• The One #1

• Timespirits #5

• Marvel Age #30

• The Incredible Hulk #311

• The Avengers #259

• Conan #174

• Marvel Tales #179

• X-Men #197

• Rom #70

• Moon Knight #4

• Power Man and Iron Fist #119

• Royal Roy #3

• Muppet Babies #3

• Get Along Gang #3

• Solomon Kane #1

• G.I. Joe #39

• Web of Spider-Man Annual #1

• Marvel Fanfare #22

• Fantastic Four #282

• Iron Man #196

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #106

• The New Defenders #147

• Star Wars #99

• Thor #359

• Elfquest #2

• Secret Wars II #3

• Transformers #8

• Spider-Man Index #6

• Doctor Who #12

• Swords of the Swashbucklers #2

• Coyote #13

• Epic Illustrated #31

Page 8 

Newswatch

Item: New series Dreadstar and Company will reprint Dreadstar from the beginning but will be available on newsstands as well as in comics shops. 

Item: John Byrne will draw covers for Power Man and Iron Fist #119, Iron Man #197, Captain America #308, and Secret Wars II #1. 

Item: A team of motorcycle stunt riders will appear in The Thing #27. (Spoiler: It's the Thunderriders.) 

Item: Scarlet Witch gets an updated costume in the Vision and Scarlet Witch #1, as does a returning villainess. (Spoiler: It's the Enchantress.)

Item: Assistant editor Bob Harras is moving from editor Ralph Macchio's office to editor Bob Budiansky's office. Former Traffic Department assistant Craig Anderson will become Macchio's new assistant editor. 

Page 9 

Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards for 1984 ballot

Pages 10 - 13

Article: "The Marvel Age Interview: Jim Shooter," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

Pages 14 - 15

Article: "Cynthia Martin, the New Star of Star Wars," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

Page 16 - 17

"Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age"

Page 18 

Article: "Star Spotlight on Planet Terry," by Sandy Hausler and Adam Philips

Pages 19 - 21

Article: "The Black Dragon," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Page 22

Ad for Secret Wars II

Page 23 - 25

Article: "The Marvel Age -- 1967 (Part II)," by Kurt Busiek

Pages 26 - 28

Article: "The New Talent Department: The Kelley Jones Story," by Peter Quinones

Page 29

Bullpen Bulletins

Pages 30 - 32

Letter column: "Does Anybody Really Have a Favorite Letter Column?", suggested by Randy Drexler 

Inside back cover

Ad for The Black Dragon

Back cover

The Marvel Age 1985 Calendar: March

Jim Salicrup, writer

Ron Zalme, artist

George Roussos, colorist 

 

The Wolverine-ing of America continued with Marvel Age #11, promoting the Wolverine and Kitty Pryde miniseries by writer Chris Claremont and artist Al Milgrom. This was just a year and a half after the initial Wolverine mini with art by Frank Miller and Joe Rubinstein. 

Elsewhere in this issue, Marvel Coming Attractions adds text that defines limited series, graphic novel, etc., and also suggests readers fans tell their comics shop owners to order copies for them. Good advice, Marvel Age! And after last month's note about heroes mysteriously disappearing, this month has a note about heroes mysteriously reappearing. Good follow-up, Marvel Age! 

Marvel Age founding editor Carol Kalish spills the tea on the origins of Marvel Press, which sold posters and other items. 

Fans got their first look at the Generic Comic in this issue, featuring art by an artist and a story by a writer, who was revealed many years later to have been Steve Skeates. The art looks a bit like Mark Wheatley drew it, but that has never been confirmed -- I'll have to ask him when I see him next. 

And the letters page this month this month features art by Laurence Kraus portraying that most regal of Marvel heroes: Namor, the Sub-Mariner! Behold the royal presence in all its glory! 

Marvel Age #11

Price: $0.25 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: November 8, 1983

Cover date: February, 1984

Copyright © 1983 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. 

• Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

• Editor and Design Director: Jim Salicrup

• Editorial Assistant: Mark Lerer

• Art/Production Coordinator: Dan Crespi

• Assistant Art/Production Coordinator: Ron Zalme

• Production: Joe Albelo, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Morrie Kuramoto, Ken Lopez, John 

  Morelli, and Barry Shapiro

• Typesetters: Brenda Mings and Jay Zilber

• Colorists: Paul Becton and George Roussos

• Proofreader: Alice Roth

• Friendly Assistance: Lynn Cohen and Craig Anderson

• Cover Artist: Al Milgrom

• Direct Sales Manager: Carol Kalish

• Assistant Direct Sales Managers: Peter David and Lea Sapp

• Artist in Residence: Irving Forbush 

Front cover 

• Characters: Wolverine and Kitty Pryde

 Inside front cover

• Subscription ad for Marvel Age

 

Page 1

• Contents

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Editorial: "Marvel's Top Ten" by Jim Salicrup:

1 - X-Men #166

2 - Fantastic Four #251

3 - Amazing Spider-Man #237

4 - Avengers #228

5 - Daredevil #191

6 - Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #75

7 - Conan #143

8 - Marvel Team-Up #126

9 - Incredible Hulk #280

10 - Iron Man #167

Pages 2 – 5

Marvel Comics Coming Attactions 

Comics on sale January 24

• The Thing #11

• Daredevil #206

• New Mutants #15

• Dazzler #32

• Conan the King #22

• Kitty and Wolverine #1

• Six from Sirius #2

Comics on sale January 31

• Amazing Spider-Man #252

• Captain America #293 (This story was originally slated to run in issue #292) 

• Thor #343

• Indiana Jones #17

• Savage Sword of Conan #99

• Moon Knight #37

• Micronauts #58

• Crystar #7 

• Tarzan of the Apes #2

Comics on sale February 7

• Incredible Hulk #295

• Avengers #243

• Conan the Barbarian #158

• Marvel Tales #163

• X-Men #181

• Rom #54

• Power Man and Iron Fist #105

• G.I. Joe #23

• Marvel Age Magazine #14

• Marvel Fanfare #14

• Epic Illustrated #23

Comics on sale February 14

• Fantastic Four #266

• Marvel Team-Up #141

• Iron Man #182

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #90

• The New Defenders #131

• Star Wars #83

• Alpha Flight #10

• Dreadstar #9

• Hercules #3

• Beauty and the Beast #1

• Marvel Graphic Novel #11 - Heartburst

Page 5

Special Note: Newswatch will include an explanation for the disappearing heroes

Page 6

Newswatch 

Item on Cosmic Champions, which would be published in 1984 as Marvel Contest of Champions. 

Item on the radio show "Comic Book Quiz" on WNYE

Item on G.I. Joe commercials

Page 7 

Ad for Alien Legion

Pages 8 - 10

Article: "Wolverine and Kitty Pryde," by Bill Slavicsek

Pages 11 - 13

Article: "Hercules, Prince of Power," by Mark Lerer

Pages 14 - 15

Article: "The Origins of Marvel Press," by Carol Kalish, as told to Mark Lerer

Pages 16 - 18

Article: "Steve Englehart's Coyote Changes," by Robert J. Sodaro

Pages 19 - 21

Article: "The Generic Comic," by a writer

Pages 22 - 24

Article: "The New Defenders," by Mark Lerer

Pages 25 - 27

Article: "Tarzan of the Apes - A Super Special Saga," by D. Jon Zimmerman 

Pages 28 - 29

Article: "What Is the Official marvel Comics Try-Out Book," by Mark Lerer

Page 30 

Ad for Conan the King #21

Pages 31 - 32

Letters page: "Marvel Gauge," with header art by Laurence Kraus

Includes a letter from future letterer Bob Pinaha

Inside back cover

Ad for the A-Team comic 

Back cover

Subscription ad for Epic Illustrated 

The two names fans most wanted to hear from in 1983 -- Stan Lee and Jim Shooter -- are featured in a lengthy interview in Marvel Age #8, under a cover illustrated by Ron Zalme. This is one of those covers that doesn't promote anything in particular other than Marvel itself, but that didn't make it any less appealing. (Love that magenta shirt and yellow/black pants combo!) 

This cover also features the first appearance of Irving Forbush, the Marvel Age mascot who would go on to symbolize the spirit of fun the magazine stood for. 

The 11-page interview covers what Stan was up to at the time -- developing movie projects, mostly -- and how Jim got started in comics and made his way to Marvel. Along the way, they discuss two stories I'd heard about for years but never saw in print: How Iron Man got his nose (Stan saw a very flat looking Iron Man mask and said "Doesn't he have a nose?"), and why Stan hates green on covers (he doesn't, but the one time he said something seems to have had a big impact). 

As for those movies...here's the list:

    • An original super-hero project created by Shooter and George Romero

    • A Human Torch movie from Columbia pictures

    • A live action X-Men movie from Nelvana 

    • A Dazzler movie

    • A Spider-Man movie produced by Roger Corman

    • A Black Widow movie -- probably not this one

    • A Daredevil movie

    • A Captain America...Broadway show

Also in this issue, Marvel Age explains why The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe was expanding by two issues (answer: because you demanded it!), and an article explaining who the Golden Age characters that appear in the then-current reprint of the Avengers Kree/Skrull War epic were, with what appears to be a new piece of art by John Byrne and Jack Abel. 

Paul Smith and John Romita Jr., then rising star artists, are also profiled this issue. And the New Talent Department spotlights future G.I. Joe artist Rod Whigham, who Marvel editor Bob Budiansky had met at a comic book convention. 

More Conan comedy courtesy of Paul Smith

Marvel Age #8

Price: $0.25 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: August 9, 1983

Cover date: November 1983 

Copyright © 1983 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. 

• Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

• Editor and Design Director: Jim Salicrup

• Editorial Assistant: Mark Lerer

• Art/Production Coordinator: Danny Crespi

• Assistant Art/Production Coordinator: Ron Zalme

• Production: Joe Albelo, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Ken Lopez, Morrie Kuramoto, John 

  Morelli, and Barry Shapiro

• Typesetters: Nancy Dodaro and Carl Gafford

• Colorist: George Roussos

• Friendly Assistance: Lynn Cohen and Margaret Clark

• Cover: Ron Zalme 

• Direct Sales Manager: Carol Kalish

• Assistant Direct Sales Managers: Peter David and Lea Sapp

• Corner Symbol: Irving Forbush

Front cover 

• Characters: Stan Lee, Jim Shooter and friends 

 Inside front cover

• Ad for The New Defenders

 

Page 1

• Contents

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Editorial: "Get Well, Stan" (Stan Lee had recently undergone minor surgery) 

Pages 2 – 5

• Marvel Comics Coming Attactions 

Red Sonja art by Howard Chaykin -- not sure what it's from

Comics on sale October 25, 1983 

    • The Thing #8

    • Daredevil #203

    • New Mutants #12

    • Ka-Zar #30

    • Red Sonja #4

    • The Falcon #4

    • Kull the Conqueror #4

    • Hercules #1

    • Conan Annual #8

    • The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #13

Comics on sale November 1, 1983

    • Amazing Spider-Man #249

    • Captain America #290

    • Thor #340

    • The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #134

    • Savage Sword of Conan #96

    • Doctor Strange #63

    • U.S. 1 #8

    • X-Men/Micronauts #2

    • Illyana and Storm #3

Comics on sale November 8, 1983

    • Incredible Hulk #292

    • Avengers #240

    • Conan #155

    • Marvel Tales #160

    • X-Men #178

    • Rom #51

    • Power Man and Iron Fist #102

    • G.I. Joe #20

    • Marvel Age Magazine #11

    • The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #14 

Comics on sale November 15, 1983

    • Fantastic Four #263

    • Marvel Team-Up #138

    • Iron Man #179

    • Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #87

    • Defenders #128

    • Star Wars #80

    • Alpha Flight #7

    • Coyote #5

    • What If #43

    • Jack of Hearts #2

Page 5

    Last Minute Additions...

        • Tales of Asgard #1, on sale October 25

        • Marvel Fanfare Special Edition #1, on sale November 1 (doesn't look like this published) 

        • The Super Boxers Graphic Novel #9 (sic), on sale November 8

        • Micronauts Special Edition #3, on sale November 15

        • Captain America Special Edition #1, on sale November 15

Page 6

    Newswatch

    Items on:

    • Jack of Hearts miniseries with art by George Freeman

    • Marvel Team-Up Thrillers trade paperback 

Pages 7 - 8

    Behind the Lines

    • "Short story" by Larry Hama about the Abomination 

    • Al Milgrom on the job of an editor

    • "In Your Future," by Carl Potts, about Alien Legin

Pages 9 - 19

    Article: "The Marvel Age Magazine Interview: Stan Lee and Jim Shooter"

Not sure why this was stuck in the middle of the Stan Lee and Jim Shooter interview, but it's probably the best cover of the month, hands down... 

Pages 20 - 21

    Article: "The Marvel Universe Expanded," by Mark Lerer 

    Covers three extra issues of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

Pages 22 - 24

    Article: "Golden Age Greats, Revisited," by Warren Reece

    Covers Golden Age heroes

Pages 25 - 27

    Article: "A Tale of Two Artists," by Robert Sodaro and Mark Lerer 

    Article on artists Paul Smith and John Romita Jr. 

Pages 28 - 30

    The New Talent Department

    Spotlight on artist Rod Whigham

Pages 31 - 32

    Letters: "Mark Duncan's Page" (because a guy named Mark Duncan wrote in and said, "Why not call it 'Mark Duncan's Page'?" Why not indeed.) 

Inside back cover

    Ad for the Cloak and Dagger miniseries

Back cover

    Ad for King Conan #20