Another year, another Marvel Age Annual -- and another chance to do something really fun and different! In this case, it's all about the Hembecks, as the original Sage of Marvel Age provides not only the wraparound cover but also serves as a sort of late night talk show host. Fred Hembeck welcomes guests from across the Marvel Universe and talks with them about their adventures, providing lots of gags along the way.

The talk show portion of the lead story is interspersed with preview pages by the teams from many of Marvel's biggest series, including pages drawn by future superstar artists like Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Arthur Adams and more. 

Marvel Age Annual #3

Price: $0.75 US 

Pages: 52 (48 interior plus four covers)

On sale: June 23, 1987

Cover date: 1987 

Copyright © 1987 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 

• Jim Shooter: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Editor and Design Director

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Assistant Editor

• Dawn Geiger: Designer

• Craig Anderson, Adam Blaustein, 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, Rosemary McCormick-Lowy, Al Milgrom, John Morelli, Ann Nocenti, Carl Potts, Pat Redding, Mike Rockwitz, Marc Siri, Joanne Spaldo, and Greg Wright: Consulting Editors

• John Romita: Art Director

• Don Perlin: Managing Art Director

• Donald C. Hudson and Rodney Ramos: Romita's Raiders

• Jim Novak: Art/Production Coordinator

• Hector Collazo and Doreen Frederick: Production Assistants 

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: Proofreader

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

• Fred Hembeck: Cover art

• Paul Becton, Alan Bensew, Pat Brosseau, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Barbara Johnston, Cindy Kruhn, Veronica Lawlor-Carlin, Ken Lopez, Ed Magalong, Michael Maier, Eddie Marcaro, Susan Marks, Alan Mintz, Bill Oakley, Dumuria Rumph, and Peter Watson: Production

• Lynn Cohen: Administrative Manager

• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager

• Christine Aurilia, Tom Fardy, Sue Flaxman, and Len Kaminsky: 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: Substitute Host

Wraparound cover 

• Characters: Marvel super heroes with Fred Hembeck

Pages 1 - 35

Story: "When Titans Plug!"

Written, penciled and inked by Fred Hembeck except pages on specific comics series as noted below:

• Alpha Flight — writer: Joanne Spaldo, penciler: Jim Lee, inker: Whilce Portacio

• The Avengers — writer: Roger Stern, art: John Buscema and Tom Palmer

• West Coast Avengers — writer: Steve Englehart, penciler: Al Milgrom, inker: Mike Machlan
• Brother Voodoo — writer: Fred Hembeck, penciler: Richard Howell, inker: Jim Mooney 
• Captain America — writer: Mark Gruenwald, penciler: Tom Morgan, inker: Joe Sinnott
• Daredevil — writer: Ann Nocenti, penciler: Rick Leonardi, inker: Danny Bulanadi
• Silver Surfer — writer: Steve Englehart, penciler: Marshall Rogers, inker: Joe Rubinstein
• Fantastic Four — writer: Steve Englehart, penciler: John Buscema, inker: Joe Sinnott

• The Incredible Hulk — writer: Peter David, penciler: Todd McFarlane, inker: Bob Wiacek

• Iron Man — writer: David Michelinie, penciler and inker: Bob Layton

• Marvel Saga — writer: Adam Blaustein, artists: various
• Power Pack — writer: Louise Simonson, penciler and inker: Jon Bogdanove
• Amazing Spider-Man — writer: Jim Owsley, penciler: Steve Geiger, inker: Jack Abel
• Strange Tales / Doctor Strange — writer: Terry Austin, penciller and inker: Bret Blevins
• Strange Tales / Cloak and Dagger - writer: Peter B. Gillis, penciller and inker: Kevin Nowlan
• Strikeforce Morituri — writer: Peter B. Gillis, penciler: Brent Anderson, inker: Scott Williams
• The Mighty Thor — writer: Craig Anderson, penciler: Ron Frenz, inker: Brett Breeding
  
  
  

• X-Factor — writer: Louise Simonson, penciler: Sal Buscema, inker: Bob Wiacek
• X-Men/New Mutants — writer: Chris Claremont, penciler: Marc Silvestri, inker: Terry Austin

Pages 36 - 37 

Marvel Trivia Quiz by Brian Nelson

Pages 38 - 47

Article: "Marvel A to Z," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Includes coverage of:

• Air Raiders
• Alien Legion
• Alpha Flight
• Amazing Spider-Man
• Avengers 
• Blood: A Tale
• Bullwinkle and Rocky
• Captain America
• Care Bears
• Classic X-Men
• Conan Saga
• Conan the Barbarian
• Conan the King
• Daredevil
• The Death of Groo graphic novel
• Doctor Zero
• D.P. 7
• Elfquest
• Fantastic Four
• Flintstone Kids
• G.I. Joe
• G.I. Joe Comics Magazine
• G.I. Joe Special Missions
• Heathcliff and Heathcliff Funhouse
• Hellrider
• The Incredible Hulk
• Iron Man
• Crash — the Iron Man graphic novel
• Justice
• The Last America
• Longshot graphic novel
• Madballs
• Marshall Law
• The Marvel Saga
• Marvel Tales
• Masters of the Universe
• Moebius graphic novels
• The 'Nam
• The New Mutants
• The Nth Man
• The Official Handbook to the Transformers Universe
• The Official Marvel Index to the Avengers
• The Official Index to the X-Men
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man
• Power Line
• Power Pachyderms
• Power Pack 
• Psi-Force
• Punisher
• St. George
• Savage Sword of Conan
• The Scorpio Connection graphic novel
• Semper Fi
• Silverhawks
• Silver Surfer
• Solo Avengers
• Someplace Strange graphic novel
• Spider-Man: The Manhattan Project graphic novel
• Star Brand
• Strange Tales
• Strikeforce Morituri
• Thor
• Thundercats
• Transformers
• The Uncanny X-Men
• Video Jack
• Visionaries
• Web of Spider-Man
• West Coast Avengers
• Wolfpack
• X-Factor

Page 48

Marvel Trivia Quiz Answers

Inside back cover

Ad for The Transformers: Head Masters

 

It's New Universe time once again in Marvel Age #50, with one of the new stars slated to die! This issue not only looks at each series and the chances their characters have of dying, but there's also another serving of behind the scenes art, like this character design from Nightmask by Tony Salmons. 

The New Talent Department this month features the winners of the Official Marvel Comics Try-Out Book contest, including future comics pros Mark Bagley, Doug Hazlewood, and Robin Riggs. Here's a page from Bagley's submission. 

This issue also included an extra helping of Hembeck, in the form of this comic strip. 

Marvel Age #50

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: February 10, 1987

Cover date: May, 1987 

Copyright © 1987 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. 

• Jim Shooter: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Editor and Design Director

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Assistant Editor

• Barbara Johnston: Designer

• Fred Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

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

• John Romita: Art Director

• Mark Alexander, Jose Marzan, Rodney Ramos, and Bruce N. Solotoff: Romita's Raiders

• Jim Novak: Art/Production Coordinator

• Doreen Frederick: Production Assistant 

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: Proofreader

• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager

• Paul Becton, George Roussos and Janet Jackson: Colorists

• Rod Whigman and Bob McLeod: Cover art

• Paul Becton, Pat Brosseau, Harry Candelario, Veronica Carlin, Rob Carosella, Hector Collazo, Rich DuFour, Dawn Geiger, Ken Lopez, Susan Marks, Michael Maier, Bill Oakley, and Bill Vallely: Production

• Christine Aurilia, Sue Flaxman, and Glenn Herdling: 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: Calendar Boy

Front cover 

• Characters: Heroes of the New Universe

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale February 24

• Daredevil #243
• Huggabunch #5
• Strikeforce: Morituri #7
• The New Mutants #52
• Nightmask #8
• Psi Force #8
• Web of Spider-Man #27
• West Coast Avengers #21
• Comet Man #5
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #5
• Thundercats #12
• X-Men Vs. the Avengers #3

Titles on sale March 4

• Alpha Flight #47
• Animax #4
• Captain America #330
• Fallen Angels #3
• Heathcliff #16
• The Amazing Spider-Man #289
• Kickers, Inc. #5
• Mark Hazzard: Merc #5
• Groo the Wanderer #28
• Power Pack #30
• Mephisto Vs. the X-Men #3
• Star Comics Magazine #4
• Savage Sword of Conan #136
• Strange Tales #3

Titles on sale March 10

• The Incredible Hulk #332
• The 'Nam #7
• Justice #8
• D.P. 7 #8
• Marvel Tales #200
• Marvel Age Magazine #51
• The Avengers #280
• X-Men #218
• Conan the Barbarian #195
• The Marvel Saga #19 
• G.I. Joe #60

Titles on sale March 17

• Droids #8
• Fantastic Four #303
• Iron Man #219
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #127
• Popples #4
• Thor #380
• Top Dog #14
• X-Factor #17
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #9
• Starbrand #9
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the Avengers #2
• Classic X-Men #10
• G.I. Joe Comics Magazine #4
• The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #15
• Elfquest #23
• The Transformers #29
• Alien Legion #19 

Pages 6 - 7 

More Coming Attractions

Titles shipping March and April 

Page 8

Newswatch 

Item: Jim Novak has been named Art / Production Coordinator

Item: Steve Englehart is the new writer on Fantastic Four and a new Silver Surfer series

Item: Tom DeFalco is the new writer on Thor

Item: Contest winners had lunch with Jim Shooter and Tom DeFalco, plus a tour of Marvel Productions 

The Top Ten 

October 1986

1. X-Men #214
2. Fantastic Four Vs. X-Men #1
3. X-Factor #13
4. Spider-Man Vs. Wolverine #1
5. G.I. Joe Special Missions #3
6. Classic X-Men #6
7. G.I. Joe Vs. Transformers #2
8. G.I. Joe #56
9. Marvel Universe #15
10. G.I. Joe Universe #4

Page 9 

Marvel Trivia Quiz by Brian Nelson 

Page 10

The Mutant Report: "Claremont Leaves New Mutants," by Sholly Fisch

It's Genetic, by Kyle Baker

Pages 11 - 14

Article: "Exploring the New Universe," by Bill Slaviscek

Page 15

Stan's Soapbox

Pages 16 - 17 

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Page 18 

Ad for Strange Tales

Pages 19 - 21

Article: "New Universe Part III"

Pages 22 - 23

Article: "20 Questions," by Len Kaminsky and Kurt Busiek

Pages 24 - 25

New Talent Department 

Pages 26 - 28

The Marvel Age: 1974 Part I, by Sholly Fisch

Pages 29 - 31

Letters column: "Give Me Letters Or Give Me Death," suggested by Patrick Wyett

Page 32 and inside back cover: 

"When Titans Bicker!" by Fred Hembeck 

Back cover

The 1987 Marvel Age Calendar: February 

Mike Carlin - writer

Ron Zalme - artist 

 

Groo does what Groo does best on the cover of Marvel Age #49 -- namely, threaten to wreck things for everyone. It's the first of several Christmas themed covers by Sergio Aragonés as Marvel Age wraps up another year! 

This issue includes an interview with Doug Murray, writer of The 'Nam, who had been featured on TV and in newspaper articles for his unflinching writing on the series. 

Fred Hembeck celebrated the season with everyone's favorite non-team, the Defenders. 

Reporter Sholly Fisch filed a story on his visit to Marvel Productions, where TV series like the Muppet Babies and Inhumanoids were animated. 

And even though this issue went on sale in January, its April cover date meant that there were some shenanigans in the Marvel Age 1974 article, with fake stories like these created for this article only -- although I'd love to read a few stories starring Lectronn! 

Marvel Age #49

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: January 6, 1987

Cover date: April, 1987 

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

• Jim Shooter: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Editor and Design Director

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Assistant Editor

• Barbara Johnston: Designer

• Fred (Bah) Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

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

• John Romita: Art Director

• Mark Alexander, Jose Marzan, and Bruce N. Solotoff: Romita's Raiders

• Anita Duncan: Art/Production Coordinator

• Doreen Frederick: Production Assistant 

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: Proofreader

• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager

• Paul Becton, George Roussos and Janet Jackson: Colorists

• Sergio Aragonés: Cover art

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

• Christine Aurilia 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: Yule Fool 

Front cover 

• Character: Groo the Wanderer

 Inside front cover

• Scrooge Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale January 27

• Daredevil #242
• The Defenders of the Earth #3
• Masters of the Universe #7
• Strikeforce: Morituri #6
• The New Mutants #51
• Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham #15
• Thundercats #11
• Web of Spider-Man #26
• Nightmask #7
• Psi Force #7
• Swords of the Swashbucklers #12
• West Coast Avengers #20
• Comet Man #4
• Conan the King #40
• The X-Men Vs. The Avengers #2

Titles on sale February 3

• Alpha Flight #46
• Captain America #329
• Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos #3
• Ewoks #13
• Fallen Angels #2
• Groo the Wanderer #27
• The Amazing Spider-Man #288
• Kickers, Inc. #7
• Mark Hazzard, Merc #7
• Mephisto Vs. the X-Men #2
• Strange Tales #2
• Fantastic Four Vs. the X-Men #4
• Spider-Man Comics Magazine #3
• Savage Sword of Conan #135
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the X-Men #2

Titles on sale February 10

• Marvel Age Magazine #50
• The Avengers #279
• Conan the Barbarian #194
• G.I. Joe #59
• The Incredible Hulk #331
• D.P. 7 #7
• Justice #7
• Marvel Tales #19
• Muppet Babies #13
• The 'Nam #6
• The Uncanny X-Men #217
• The Marvel Saga #18
• Elektra: Assassin #8
• Marvel Fanfare #32

Titles on sale February 17

• Care Bears #10
• Elfquest #22
• Fantastic Four #302
• The Inhumanoids #3
• Iron Man #218
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #126
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #8
• Starbrand #8
• Thor #379
• The Transformers #28
• X-Factor #16
• Classic X-Men #9
• The Transformers Comics Magazine #3
• The Official Marvel Universe Handbook #3

Pages 6 - 7

More Coming Attractions

• Titles Shipping February
• Daredevil #243
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #5
• Huggabunch #5
• Strikeforce: Morituri #7
• The New Mutants #52
• Nightmask #8
• Psi Force #8
• Thundercats #12
• Web of Spider-Man #27
• West Coast Avengers #21
• Comet Man #5
• Avengers Vs. the X-Men #3
• Alpha Flight #47
• Animax #47
• Captain America #330
• Fallen Angels #3
• Groo the Wanderer #28
• Heathcliff #16
• Kickers, Inc. #8
• Mark Hazzard, Merc #8
• The Amazing Spider-Man #289
• Strange Tales #3
• Power Pack #30
• Mephisto Vs. The X-Men #3
• Savage Sword of Conan #136
• Star Comics Magazine #51
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the Avengers #2
• Marvel Age Magazine #51
• The Avengers #280
• Conan the Barbarian #195
• D.P. 7 #8
• G.I. Joe #60
• The Incredible Hulk #332
• Justice #8 
• Marvel Tales #200 
• The 'Nam #7
• The Uncanny X-Men #218
• The Marvel Saga #19
• Droids #8
• Elfquest #23
• Fantastic Four #303
• Iron Man #219
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #127
• Popples #4
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #9
• Starbrand #9
• Thor #380
• Top Dog #14
• The Transformers #29
• X-Factor #17
• Classic X-Men #10
• Alien Legion #19
• G.I. Joe Comics Magazine #4
• Titles Shipping March 
• Daredevil #244
• The Defenders of the Earth #4
• Masters of the Universe #8
• Strikeforce: Morituri #8
• The New Mutants #53
• Nightmask #9
• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #16
• Psi Force #9
• Thundercats #13
• Web of Spider-Man #28
• West Coast Avengers #22
• Comet Man #6
• X-Man Vs. the Avengers #4
• Alpha Flight #48
• Captain America #331
• Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos #4
• Ewoks #14
• Fallen Angels #4
• Groo the Wanderer #29
• Kickers, Inc. #9
• Mark Hazzard, Merc #9
• The Amazing Spider-Man #290
• Strange Tales #4
• Mephisto Vs. the Avengers #4
• Spider-Man Comics Magazine #4
• Savage Sword of Conan #137
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the X-Men #3
• Marvel Age Magazine #52
• The Avengers #281
• Conan the Barbarian #196
• D.P. 7 #9
• G.I. Joe #61
• The Incredible Hulk #333
• Justice #9
• Marvel Tales #201
• Muppet Babies #14
• The 'Nam #8
• The Uncanny X-Men #219
• The Marvel Saga #20
• Marvel Fanfare #33
• Care Bears #11
• Elfquest #24
• Fantastic Four #304
• The Inhumanoids #4
• Iron Man #220
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #128
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #10
• Starbrand #10
• Thor #381
• The Transformers #30
• X-Factor #18
• Classic X-Men #11
• The Transformers Comics Magazine #4
• The Official Marvel Universe Handbook #4

Page 8

Newswatch

Item: Jim Shooter came in at #36 in Playgirl's list of the 50 most eligible bachelors. 

Item: Bill Sienkiewicz has done series of illustrations for MTV commercials. 

Item: J. Marc DeMatteis has written an episode of The Twilight Zone. 

Item: Comet Man co-writer Bill Mumy just got married, and honeymooned in Hawaii. 

Bullpen Birthdays

The Top Ten 

1. September, 1986
2. X-Men #213
3. X-Men Annual #10
4. X-Factor #12
5. G.I. Joe and the Transformers #1
6. Classic X-Men #5
7. G.I. Joe #55
8. Marvel Universe #14
9. G.I. Joe Universe #3
10. The New Mutants #47
11. Elektra: Assassin #4

Pages 9 - 13 

Article: "The 'Nam," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

Page 14

Ad for Strange Tales

Page 15

Stan's Soapbox

Pages 16 - 17 

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 18 - 21

Article: "Groo the Wanderer," by Sholly Fisch

Pages 22 - 25

Behind the Lines: "My Trip to Marvel Productions, or What I Did on My Summer Vacation," by Sholly Fisch 

Pages 26 - 27

The Marvel Age: 1974 (Part I)

Pages 28 - 29

New Talent Department

Pages 30 - 32

Letters column: "This Is a Letters Page?", suggested by Jennifer Graham

Inside back cover 

Subscription ad

Back cover

The 1987 Marvel Age Calendar

Mike Carlin - Writer

Ron Zalme - Artist

Paul Becton - 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