Just a couple of years after wrapping his epic run on Thor, Walter Simonson returned to write and draw another Marvel staple, the Fantastic Four. This run would turn the FF upside down, with issues that added heroes to the team that seemed wildly out of place, like Ghost Rider and Wolverine. 

Speaking of Wolverine (and when was Marvel not speaking about Wolverine in 1989?), this issue of Marvel Age touts a six-issue run of the clawed curmudgeon's own series to be written by one of Simonson's greatest collaborators, Archie Goodwin, with art by John Byrne and Klaus Janson. 

And, just for fun, this issue's Coming Attractions section ran the cover to Hulk #362 by Kevin Nowlan in its original version (left), and with changes -- and I've posted them below with the printed cover (right). 

Marvel Age #80

Price: $0.75 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: July 18, 1989

Cover date: November 1989

Copyright © 1989 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 

• Tom DeFalco: Editor in Chief

• Mark Gruenwald: Executive Editor

• Ralph Macchio: Senior Editor 

• Jim Salicrup: Supreme Marvel Zombie

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Managing Editor

• Dawn Geiger: Designer / Assistant Production Manager

• Sholly Fisch: Contributing Editor

• Fred Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

• Craig Anderson, Steve Buccellato, Bob Budiansky, Bobbie Chase, Daniel Chichester, Margaret Clark, Kelly Corvese, Don Daley, James DiGiovanna, Daryl Edelman, Archie Goodwin, Larry Hama, Bob Harras, Glenn Herdling, Sid Jacobson, Marie Javins, Terry Kavanagh, Howard Mackie, Dwayne McDuffie, Marc McLaurin, Al Milgrom, Carl Potts, Mike Rockwitz, Evan Skolnick, Rob Tokar, Lisa Trusiani, Sara Tuchinsky, Renée Witterstaeter, David Wohl, and Gregory Wright: Consulting Editors

• John Romita: Art Director

• Don Perlin: Managing Art Director

• James Brock Jr., Gavin Curtis, and Vince Mielcarek: The Raiders

• Virginia Romita: Traffic/Production Manager

• Len Kaminsky: Assistant Traffic/Production Manager

• Lynda Strunk: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: World's Toughest Proofreader

• Joe Albelo, Steve Alexander, Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Cindy Emmert, Vince Evans, Dawn Geiger, Jesus Gonzalez, Brad K. Joyce, Ed Lazellari, Ken Lopez, Jade Moede, Joyce Phus, George Roberts, and Rodney S. Timmons: Production

• Walter Simonson: Cover

• Gregory Wright: Colorist

• Adam Blaustein: Manufacturing Coordinator 

• Don Alcindor, Christine Aurilia, Dwight Coye, Dan Cuddy, Suzanne Gaffney, Arthur Parris Jackson, John Lewandowski, George Roussos, Stu Schwartzberg, and Mark Silverman: Friendly Assistance 

• Carol Kalish: Vice President Direct Sales

• Kurt Busiek: Direct Sales Project Manager

• Lou Bank: Assistant Direct Sales Manager Customer Service

• Mike Ruffino: Administrative Assistant

• Steve Saffel: Promotion Manager 

• Fabian Nicieza: Advertising Manager

• Irving Forbush: Who Watches the Watcher 

Front cover 

• Characters: The Fantastic Four 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 7

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale August 22

• Web of Spider-Man #57
• Avengers West Coast #51
• Light and Darkness War #6
• Roger Rabbit graphic novel #2
• The Uncanny X-Men #253
• The Sensational She-Hulk #8
• Nightmare on Elm Street #2
• The Punisher Magazine #3
• Wolverine Saga #3
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #28
• Daredevil #273
• Captain America #363

Titles on sale August 29

• Alf #22
• The Amazing Spider-Man #325
• Avengers Spotlight #25
• Groo the Wanderer #58
• Heathcliff #40
• The New Mutants #82
• Quasar #3
• Marvel Comics Presents #34
• The Nth Man #5
• G.I. Joe European Missions #15
• Sleeze Brothers #2
• Savage Sword of Conan #166
• The Punisher: Intruder graphic novel
• Groo Chronicles #4
• Alpha Flight 377
• The Marvel Universe Update #6
• Wolverine #17

Titles on sale September 5

• What If...? #6
• The Incredible Hulk #362
• The Punisher #26
• Silver Surfer #30
• The Uncanny X-Men #254
• Excalibur #15
• Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD #4
• Marvel Fanfare #47
• The Destroyer #1
• The Shadowmasters #3
• Neuromancer graphic novel
• Marvel Age Magazine #81
• The Avengers #310
• Conan the Barbarian #225
• G.I. Joe #93
• Marvel Tales #230
• Police Academy #2

Titles on sale September 12 

• Fantastic Four #333
• Alien Legion #13
• Cloak and Dagger #8
• Thor #410
• Death's Head #10
• Conan Saga #31
• Akira #12
• The Transformers #59
• X-Factor #47
• Marvel Comics Presents #35

Titles on sale September 15

• Iron Man #249
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #157
• Classic X-Men #40
• Marvel Masterworks #8: The Incredible Hulk
• Doctor Strange #10
• Moon Knight #7
• The 'Nam #37
• The Punisher War Journal #11
• Classic Punisher #1

Page 8 

Newswatch

Item: Don't miss the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update!

Item: Marvel will be releasing a new line of t-shirts, collectible pins, and more. 

Marvel Top Ten

March 1989

1. X-Men #246
2. Punisher War Journal #7
3. X-Factor #42
4. Excalibur #10
5. Wolverine #9
6. Amazing Spider-Man #317
7. She-Hulk #3
8. Avengers West Coast #46
9. Punisher #21
10. New Mutants #77 

Page 9 

Mark's Remarks

Page 10

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Pages 11 - 13

The Mutant Report: "Goodwin, Byrne, and Jason Do Wolverine Epic," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

Pages 14 - 15

Article: "The Destroyer," by Barry Dutter

Pages 16 - 17 

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Page 18 

Stan's Soapbox

Willie Lumpkin, by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Pages 19 - 21

Article: "Walter Simonson: Taking the Fantastic Four into the 1990s," by Peter Sanderson

Pages 22 - 23

Article: "The Punisher: Intruder Graphic Novel," by Barry Dutter

Pages 24 - 25

Article: "Neuromancer," by Renée Witterstaetter

Pages 26 - 27

Article: "Snake-Eyes' Origin Revealed (At Last!) in G.I. Joe," by Barry Dutter

Pages 28 - 29

The Marvel Age of Comics: 1979 (Part V), by Brian Nelson

Pages 30 - 32

Letters column: "Hey, Kids, What Time Is It?", suggested by Tim Roddick

Inside Back cover

Marvel Age Super Shopper Gallery

Back cover

Ad for A Nightmare on Elm Street 

Another mutant-based title got under way as Marvel Age #60 spotlights the new series Excalibur, written by 1980s mutant master Chris Claremont with art by rising star Alan Davis. The British-set series had a light-hearted tone that expanded on the note Claremont introduced with Kitty Pryde's induction into the X-Men. 

Also in this issue, the New Talent Department returned with a look at inker and Raiders member Chris Ivy, which mostly featured his sample work over pencil art by John Buscema. 

Plus, writer Steve Englehart talks about his plans for the World's Greatest Comic, as a more mutated than ever Ben Grimm becomes the team's leader, with Crystal, the Human Torch, and  yet another Ms. Marvel -- this one looking quite a bit like the Thing herself. 

Marvel Age #60

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: November 17, 1987

Cover date: March, 1988 

Copyright © 1987 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 

• Tom DeFalco: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Supreme Marvel Zombie

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Managing Editor

• Dawn Geiger: Designer

• Fred Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

• Craig Anderson, Steve Buccellato, Bob Budiansky, Bobbie Chase, Daniel Chichester, Margaret Clark, Don Daley, Daryl Edelman, Archie Goodwin, Mark Gruenwald, Larry Hama, Bob Harras, Glenn Herdling, Michael Higgins, Laura Hitchcock, Sid Jacobson, Terry Kavanagh, Ralph Macchio, Howard Mackie, Dwayne McDuffie, Marc McLaurin, Al Milgrom, Ann Nocenti, Carl Potts, Pat Redding, Mike Rockwitz, Marc Siry, Joanne Spaldo, David Wohl, and Greg Wright: Consulting Editors

• John Romita: Art Director

• Don Perlin: Managing Art Director

• Donald C. Hudson, Christopher Ivy, and Rodney Ramos: The Raiders

• Virginia Romita: Traffic/Production Manager

• Hector Collazo and Doreen Frederick: Production Assistants 

• Adam Blaustein: Manufacturing Co-ordinator

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: Proofreader

• Paul Becton, Janet Jackson, George Roussos, and Greg Wright: Colorists

• Alan Davis and Paul Neary: Cover art

• Paul Becton, Pat Brosseau, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Vince Evans, Michael Heisler, Cindy Kruhm, Ken Lopez, Ed Magalong, Michael Maier, Eddie Marcaro, and Bill Oakley: Production

• Christine Aurilia, Dwight Coye, Tom Fardy, Sue Flaxman, Len Kaminsky, and Dan Raspler: Friendly Assistance 

• Steve Sheffler: Rights and Permissions Editor

• Carol Kalish: Vice President/Director Sales

• Dale Kanzler: Assistant Direct Sales Manager/Administrative

• Lou Bank: Assistant Direct Sales Manager/Customer Service

• Steve Saffel: Promotion Manager 

• Irving Forbush: Pet Shop Toy

Front cover 

• Characters: Excalibur 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale December 22 

• Daredevil #253
• Psi Force #18
• Web of Spider-Man #37
• West Coast Avengers #31
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #10
• Strikeforce: Morituri #17
• Thundercats 322
• Spellbound #6
• Excalibur #1
• Tales of G.I. Joe #4

Titles on sale December 29

• Captain America #340
• Solo Avengers #5
• The Amazing Spider-Man #299
• The New Mutants #62
• The Pitt #1
• Groo the Wanderer #38
• Power Pack #36
• Star Comics Magazine #9
• Elektra trade paperback
• Iron Man graphic novel 
• Strange Tales #13
• Heathcliff #23
• Alpha Flight #57

Titles on sale January 4

• Savage Sword of Conan #146

Titles on sale January 5

• Marvel Age Magazine #61
• The Avengers #290
• The Incredible Hulk #342
• Marvel Tales #210
• Silver Surfer #10
• The Uncanny X-Men #228
• D.P. 7 #18
• Justice #18
• Air Raiders #4
• Conan the Barbarian #205
• Flintstone Kids #5
• Foofur #5
• G.I. Joe #70
• Silverhawks #5
• Marshal Law #3
• Marvel Fanfare #37
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the Avengers #5

Titles on sale January 12

• Fantastic Four #313
• Iron Man #229
• The 'Nam #17

Titles on sale January 25

• Conan Saga #11
• Spectacular Spider-Man #137
• Thor #390
• X-Factor #27
• Classic X-Men #29
• Madballs #9
• The Transformers #39
• Alien Legion #3
• G.I. Joe Comics Magazine #9
• Blood #4

Pages 6 - 7

More Coming Attractions

Titles shipping in January

Titles shipping in February

Page 8 

Newswatch

Item: Carol Kalish has been promoted to Vice President of Direct Sales.

Item: Dwayne McDuffie has joined staff as assistant editor to Bob Budiansky, filling the spot left open by Rosemary McCormick-Lowy. 

Item: Jim Novak has left staff to return to freelance lettering, and Virginia Romita has taken over as Production Manager. 

Item: Staff member Mindy Fisch has graduated from college and moved into a new position as contracts coordinator. 

Item: Look for a set of four mini comics starring Spider-Man, Captain America, Heathcliff, and Care Bears for Halloween, 

The Top Ten

August 1987

1. The Uncanny X-Men #224
2. X-Factor 323
3. Silver Surfer #6
4. The New Mutants #58
5. Solo Avengers #1
6. The Amazing Spider-Man #295
7. The 'Nam #13
8. Classic X-Men #16
9. G.I. Joe #66
10. Web of Spider-Man #33

Page 9 

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Pages 10 - 13

The Mutant Report

Article: "The Debut of Excalibur"

Interview: "Alan Davis on Excalibur," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

"It's Genetic," by Kyle Baker 

Pages 14 - 15

Stan's Soapbox

Willie Lumpkin, by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 18 - 19

Article: "Sledge Hammer," by Sandy Hausler

Pages 20 - 22

Article: "The New Fantastic Four," by Bill Slavicsek

Pages 23 - 24

Star Comics Spotlight: "Alf -- It Hurts, But It's Worth It," by Scott Lobdell

Pages 25 - 27

New Talent Department by Glenn Herdling

Pages 28 - 29

The Marvel Age 1976 Pt. II, by Brian Nelson

Pages 30 - 32

Letters column: "A Whiter Shade of Mail," suggested by Larry Gibson

Inside back cover

Ad for The Pitt

Back cover

The 1987 Marvel Age Calendar for December

Mike Carlin - Writer

Ron Zalme - Artist

Paul Becton - Colorist

 

The age of teams battling each other roared on as the Fantastic Four faced the X-Men. Not only did the art team of Jon Bogdanove and Terry Austin draw the swell cover seen above, but they also provided these neat self-portraits. (That's Ziggy Pig on the right.) 

Marvel editor in chief Jim Shooter takes over the editorial spot at the start of this issue for a special "Shooter's Section" in which he addresses a question he says has been coming up a lot -- namely, that the New Universe would not be replacing the Marvel Universe. (Did anyone really think this?) 

Fans got to meet some of the folks working in the Marvel trenches in the article "Production People Par Excellence," which turned a spotlight on the production department from the boss, Anita Duncan, on down. Caricatures of the staff members (aside from the boss) were drawn by Harry Candelario and Steve Buccellato, and hey, I'm still in touch with a few of these folks! Here are the caricatures, minus the article itself. 

Over in the New Talent Department, newcomer Terry Tidwell won praise for his sample pages that led to work with Marvel and other comics publishers. 

This issue's back cover features a treat -- a trademark protecting comic strip starring Star-Lord (and Forbush-Man). As I recall, the assignment was "do something quick to get Star-Lord's name on the cover of a comic." Hey, you never know when that character could have some serious value in the marketplace!

Marvel Age #46

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: October 7, 1986

Cover date: January, 1987 

Copyright © 1986 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. 

• Jim Shooter: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Editor and Design Director

• Adam Philips: Assistant Editor

• Barbara Johnston: Designer

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Coming Attractions

• Bill Slaviscek: Mutant Reporter

• Fred Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

• Craig Anderson, Adam Blaustein, Bob Budiansky, Bobbie Chase, Daniel Chichester, Margaret Clark, Don Daley, Tom DeFalco, Jo Duffy, Danny Fingeroth, Archie Goodwin, Mark Gruenwald, Bob Harras, Larry Hama, Laura Hitchcock, Sid Jacobson, Terry Kavanagh, Ralph Macchio, Howard Mackie, Rosemary McCormick-Lowy, Al Milgrom, Ann Nocenti, Jim Owsley, Carl Potts, Pat Redding, Joanne Spaldo, and David Wohl: Consulting Editors

• John Romita: Art Director

• Tom Morgan: Assistant Art Director

• Mark Alexander, Jose Marzan, and Mark McKenna: Romita's Raiders

• Anita Duncan: Art/Production Coordinator

• Doreen Frederick: Assistant Production Coordinator 

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: Proofreader

• George Roussos and Adam Philips: Colorists

• Jon Bogdanove and Terry Austin: Cover art

• Paul Becton, Pat Brosseau, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Hector Collazo, Rich Dufour, Dawn Geiger, Veronica Lawlor, Ken Lopez, Michael Maier, Rick Parker, Bill Oakley, and Bill Vallely: Production

• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager

• Christine Aurilia, Lynn Cohen, and Sue Flaxman: Friendly Assistance 

• Steve Sheffler: 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: Referee

Front cover 

• Characters: Fantastic Four and the X-Men

 Inside front cover

• Shooter's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale October 28

• Dakota North #5
• Daredevil #239
• Comet Man #1
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #3
• Hugga Bunch #3
• Strikeforce: Morituri #3
• The New Mutants #48
• Nightmask #4
• Thundercats #8
• The Transformers Movie #3
• Moonshadow #12
• Psi-Force #4

Titles on sale November 4

• Alpha Flight #43
• Animax #2
• Captain America #326
• Doctor Strange #81
• G.I. Joe Vs. The Transformers #2
• Groo the Wanderer #24
• Kickers, Inc. #4
• Heathcliff #14
• The Amazing Spider-Man #285
• Power Pack #28
• Mark Hazzard: Merc #4
• The Fantastic Four Vs. the X-Men #1
• Savage Sword of Conan #132
• Star Comics Magazine #2

Titles on sale November 11

• Justice #4
• The Incredible Hulk #328
• D.P. 7 #4
• Marvel Age Magazine #47
• The Avengers #276
• Conan the Barbarian #191
• Howard the Duck #3
• Marvel Tales #196
• The Nam #3
• X-Men #214
• The Marvel Saga #15
• G.I. Joe #56
• The Transformers Universe #3
• Elektra: Assassin #5
• Spider-Man Vs. Wolverine #1

Titles on sale November 18

• The Transformers #25
• Droids #6
• Elfquest #19
• Fantastic Four #299
• Iron Man #215
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #123
• Popples #2
• Star Brand #5
• Thor #376
• Top Dog #12
• Spitfire #5
• X-Factor #13
• Classic X-Men #6
• The G.I. Joe Order of Battle #4
• Alien Legion #17
• G.I. Joe Comics Magazine #2
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #15
• Steelgrip Starkey #6

Pages 6 - 7 

More Coming Attractions 

Titles shipping November 

• Daredevil #240
• Defenders of the Universe #2
• Masters of the Universe #6
• Strikeforce: Morituri #4
• The New Mutants #49
• Nightmask #5
• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #14
• Psi-Force #5
• Web of Spider-Man #24
• West Coast Avengers #18
• Comet Man #2 
• Cloak and Dagger #11
• Conan the King #39
• G.I. Joe Yearbook #3
• Swords of the Swashbucklers #11
• Alpha Flight #44
• Captain America #327
• Chuck Norris and His Karate Kommandos #2
• Ewoks #12
• G.I. Joe Vs. the Transformers #3
• Groo the Wanderer #25
• Kickers, Inc. #5
• Marc Hazzard: Merc #5
• The Amazing Spider-Man #286
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the X-Men #2
• The Fantastic Four Vs. the X-Men #2
• Spider-Man Comics Magazine #2
• Savage Sword of Conan #133
• Marvel Age Magazine #48
• The Avengers #277
• Conan the Barbarian #192
• D.P. 7 #5
• G.I. Joe #57
• The Incredible Hulk #329
• Justice #5
• Marvel Tales #197
• Muppet Babies #12
• The Nam #4
• X-Men #215
• The Marvel Saga #16
• The Transformers #4
• Elektra: Assassin #6
• Marvel Fanfare #31
• The Silver Surfer graphic novel
• Care Bears #9
• Elfquest #20
• The Inhumanoids #2
• Iron Man #216
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #124
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #5
• Star Brand #5
• Thor #377
• The Transformers #26
• X-Factor #14
• Classic X-Men #7
• Fantastic Four #300
• Savage Tales #9
• The Transformers Comics Magazine #2
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #2 

Titles shipping December 

• Dakota North #6
• Daredevil #241
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #4
• Hugga Bunch #4
• Strikeforce: Morituri #5
• Nightmask #6
• Thundercats #9
• Web of Spider-Man #25
• West Coast Avengers #19
• Comet Man #3
• The New Mutants #50
• The Avengers Vs. the X-Men #1
• Moonshadow #12
• Alpha Flight #45
• Animax #3
• Captain America #328
• G.I. Joe Vs. the Transformers #4
• Groo the Wanderer #26
• Heathcliff #15
• Kickers, Inc. #6
• Mark Hazzard: Merc #5
• Fallen Angels #1
• The Amazing Spider-Man #287
• Strange Tales #1
• Power Pack #29
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the Avengers #2
• The Fantastic Four Vs. the X-Man #3
• Savage Sword of Conan #134
• Star Comics Magazine #3
• Marvel Age Magazine #49
• The Avengers #278
• Conan the Barbarian #193
• D.P. 7 #6
• G.I. Joe #58
• The Incredible Hulk #330
• Justice #6
• Marvel Tales #198
• The Nam #5
• X-Men #216
• The Marvel Saga #17
• Elektra: Assassin #7
• Groo the Wanderer graphic novel
• Droids #7
• Elfquest #21
• Fantastic Four #301
• Iron Man #217
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #125
• Popples #3
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #7
• Star Brand #7
• Thor #378
• Top Dog #13
• The Transformers #27
• X-Factor #15
• Classic X-Men #8
• Alien Legion #18
• G.I. Joe Comics Magazine #3

Page 8 

Newswatch

Item: Ann Nocenti takes over as the new writer on Daredevil with issue #236, joined by artists Louis Williams and Al Williamson. Steve Englehart will take over writing Justice with issue #2. 

Item: Jim Shooter will be appearing at comic conventions across the country to talk about the New Universe, accompanied by Stan Lee and others

Item: Howard Mackie has been promoted to editor, as well as getting married. John Morelli will take Howard's place as Mark Gruenwald's assistant editor. 

Bullpen Birthdays 

Pages 9 - 11

Article: "Behind the Lines: Production People Par Excellence," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Pages 12 - 14

The Mutant Report: "The X-Men Versus the Fantastic Four," by Bill Slavicsek 

Pages 15

Stan's Soapbox 

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age 

Pages 18 - 21

Article: "The Comet Man Cometh," by Bill Slavicsek

Pages 22 - 23

"Star Spotlight: Animax," by Sandy Hausler

Pages 24 - 26

New Talent Department, by Sholly Fisch

Pages 27 - 29

The Marvel Age: 1973 (Part II), by Sholly Fisch 

Pages 30 - 32

Letters Page: "Bippity Boppity Boo," suggested by Paul Giacomin

Inside back cover

Ad for Strikeforce Morituri

Back cover

"A Special Marvel Team-Up Starring Star-Lord and Forbush-Man"

Jim Salicrup -- script

Ron Zalme -- art 

 

When Marvel Age #14 hit comic shop shelves in 1984, the idea of a cover based on an earlier, classic cover was still new -- and yet, artist John Byrne did it several times over the years with the classic cover to Fantastic Four #1, starting with this cover. (I'd call the cover to Fantastic Four #264 a semi-homage, as there's no Reed or Sue on it.) 

The cover accompanies an interview with Byrne that covers the start of his career, his training, and what he believes makes a good comic, as well as what's coming up in Fantastic Four and Alpha Flight, which he was then writing, penciling and inking every month. 

The issue kicks off with an editorial that explains how, with the upcoming move to better paper stock, the cover price of Marvel Age would be increasing by a dime to $0.35 -- still cheap! And this month's "Behind the Lines" column recounts the sad story of a fan artist who had sent in his art, caught Jim Shooter's eye, but then died from an incurable illness. 

The big development in this issue is the debut of "Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age," the first of the monthly comic strip written and illustrated by fan artist Fred Hembeck. Hembeck was a familiar name to fans who had seen his work in The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom/The Comics Buyer's Guide, and then in DC Comics' "Daily Planet" pages. In this inaugural page, Fred meets the Fantastic Four and gets assaulted by John Byrne for daring to ask him his least favorite question: why did he leave the X-Men? Hembeck would remain a Marvel Age fixture through the rest of the series run. 

This month's letters page is titled "Who Cares?" While it was suggested by reader Jeff Plackemeier, the header art (lettering by Rick Parker) depicts Bullpen production artist Morrie Kuramoto -- possibly a self-portrait, based on some input from Kurt Busiek), who was known to yell whenever a discussion was dragging on too long. 

Marvel Age #14

Price: $0.25 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: February 7, 1984

Cover date: May, 1984

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

• Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

• Editor and Design Director: Jim Salicrup

• Editorial Assistant: Mark Lerer

• Designer: Bob Kessel

• Art/Production Coordinator: Dan Crespi

• Assistant Art/Production Coordinator: Ron Zalme

• Production: Joe Albelo, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Donald Hudson, Morrie Kuramoto, 

    Ken Lopez, John Morelli, and Barry Shapiro

• Typesetters: Brenda Mings

• Colorists: Paul Becton and George Roussos

• Friendly Assistance: Craig Anderson and Lynn Cohen

• Cover Artist: John Byrne

• Direct Sales Manager: Carol Kalish

• Assistant Direct Sales Managers: Peter David, Marsha Rosenberg, and Steve Saffel

• Corner Symbol in Exile: Irving Forbush 

Front cover 

• Characters: The Fantastic Four and John Byrne (Fantastic Four #1 homage) 

 Inside front cover

• Subscription ad for Epic Illustrated

 

Page 1

• Contents

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Editorial: "What Price Marvel Age?" by Jim Salicrup

Pages 2 – 5

Marvel Comics Coming Attractions 

Comics on sale April 24:

• The Thing #14

• Daredevil #209

• New Mutants #18

• Ka-Zar #33

• Alien Legion #2

• Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #3

• Marvel Super Heroes: The Secret Wars (sic) #4

• Dreadstar #11

Comics on sale May 1: 

• Amazing Spider-Man #255

• Captain America #296

• Thor #346

• Indiana Jones #20

• Savage Sword of Conan #102

• Doctor Strange #66

• U.S. 1 #11

• Power Pack #1

• Kull the Conqueror #5

Comics on sale May 8: 

• Incredible Hulk #298

• Avengers #246

• Conan #161

• Marvel Tales #166

• X-Men #184

• Rom #56

• Power Man and Iron Fist #108

• G.I. Joe #26

• Marvel Age Magazine #17

Comics on sale May 15: 

• Fantastic Four #269

• Marvel Team-Up #144

• Iron Man #185

• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #93

• The New Defenders #134

• Star Wars #86

• Alpha Flight #13

• What If #46

• High Adventure #1

Page 6

Newswatch

Item on Steve Saffel joining staff

Item on Jim Shooter being roasted by various Marvel staffers and freelancers

Item on David Mazzucchelli taking over as penciler on Daredevil, with a new writer coming on board to be named later

Item on Jo Duffy and Laurie Sutton both getting promoted, and Arlene Puentes joining staff

Page 7 

"Editorial Directions," by Jim Shooter

Article on a young fan named Ritchie Bakner who wanted to be a comics artist; he sent in some samplers at Shooter's request, which were inked by Terry Austin. Shooter commemorates this artist, who died soon after of an incurable disease. 

Page 8

"Marvel's Top Ten"

Top selling titles from May 1983:

1 - The Life of John Paul II

2 - X-Men #169 

3 - New Mutants #3

4 - Dark Crystal #1

5 - Fantastic Four #254

6 - Amazing Spider-Man #240

7 - Avengers #231

8 - Obnoxious the Clown vs. the X-Men #1

9 - X-Men Classics #1

10 - Daredevil #194 

"Marvel Coming Retractions" 

Correction on the pronunciation of Bob Budiansky's name

Page 9 

Subscription ad with art by Marie Severin

Pages 10 - 15

Article: "Marvel Age Talks to John Byrne," by Mark Lerer

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 18 - 20 

Article: "Six from Sirius," by D. Jon Zimmerman and Mark Lerer

Pages 21 - 23

Article: "New Directions for Spider-Man," by Bob Sodaro and Mark Lerer

Pages 24 - 26

Article: "Power Pack: The Origin," by D. Jon Zimmerman

Pages 27 - 29

Article: "Marvel Age: 1962," by Warren Reece 

Pages 30 - 32

Letters column: "Who Cares?," suggested by Jeff Plackemeier

Inside back cover

Ad for "The Official Marvel comics Try-Out Book" 

Back cover 

Ad for Alpha Flight #12