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 

 

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