Marvel continued its expansion policy of the 1980s with the introduction of The New Universe and its eight new series, with the star of the lead title, Star Brand, hitting the cover of this month's Marvel Age. This was the month that all core Marvel titles featured a celebratory 25th anniversary frame, drawn by John Romita; Marvel Age took it a little further with the reverse shot on the back cover, which added a few diminutive characters like Obnoxio the Clown, Forbush Man, and Howard the Duck. 

The New Universe was Marvel's third large expansion in three years, following the introduction of the Epic Comics line and Star Comics, but the creation of a shared universe outside of Marvel's more familiar universe did not go over well with fans, and the "World Outside Your Window" effectively ended within a couple of years of its launch. 

Meanwhile, the Mutant Report focused on the "Mutant Massacre," an early crossover event that was advertised in this issue with this image featuring new by Walter Simonson. 

Marvel Age #44

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: August 5, 1986

Cover date: November, 1986

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, Eliot Brown, Nancy Brown, Bob Budiansky, Bobbie Chase, Daniel Chichester, Margaret Clark, Don Daley, Tom DeFalco, Jo Duffy, Danny Fingeroth, Archie Goodwin, Mark Gruenwald, Bob Harras, Larry Hama, Mike Higgins, Sid Jacobson, Terry Kavanagh, Ralph Macchio, Howard Mackie, Rosemary McCormick-Lowy, Al Milgrom, Margie Neville, Ann Nocenti, Jim Owsley, Carl Potts, Pat Redding, and Joanne Spaldo: 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

• Alan Kupperberg and Joe Sinnott: Cover art

• Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Dawn Geiger, Veronica Lawlor, Ken Lopez, Michael Maier, Bill Oakley, and Bill Vallely: Production

• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager

• Christine Aurilia and Lynn Cohen: 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: Between Universes

Front cover 

• Characters: Star Brand

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale August 26 

• Dakota North #4
• Daredevil #237
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #2
• Hugga Bunch #2
• Psi-Force #2
• Nightmask #2
• West Coast Avengers #15
• Moonshadow #10
• Strikeforce: Morituri #1
• The New Mutant #46
• Thundercats #7
• Web of Spider-Man #7

Titles on sale September 2

• Merc #2
• Kickers, Inc. #2
• Alpha Flight #41
• Animax #1
• Doctor Strange #80
• Captain America #324
• Groo the Wanderer #22
• Heathcliff #13
• Labyrinth #1 
• The Amazing Spider-Man #283
• The Transformers Movie #1
• Power Pack #27
• Star Comics Digest #1
• Amazing High Adventure #5
• Savage Sword of Conan #130

Titles on sale September 9

• Marvel Age Magazine #45
• The Avengers #274
• Conan the Barbarian #189
• D.P. 7 #2
• Justice #2
• Marvel Saga #13
• G.I. Joe #54
• Howard the Duck #1
• The Official Marvel Comics Handbook to the Transformers Universe #1
• The Incredible Hulk #326
• Marvel Tales #194
• The Nam #1
• Elektra #3
• Solarman #1
• X-Men #272

Titles on sale September 16 

• Droids #5
• Elfquest #17
• Fantastic Four #297
• Classic X-Men #4
• The Official Marvel Handbook to the G.I. Joe Universe #2
• Alien Legion #16
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #121
• Popples #1
• Thor #374
• Top Dog #11
• The Transformers #23
• X-Factor #11
• Spitfire #3
• Star Brand #3
• G.I. Joe Digest #1
• Iron Man #213
• The Official Marvel Comics Handbook to the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #13
• Steelgrip Starkey #4

Pages 6 - 7

More Coming Attractions

Titles shipping September 

• Cloak and Dagger #10
• Daredevil #238
• Defenders of the Earth #1
• Masters of the Universe #5
• Strike Force Morituri #2
• The New Mutants #47
• Night Mask #3
• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #13
• Psi-Force #3
• Web of Spider-Man #16
• Conan the King #38
• X-Men Annual #10
• Mephisto #1
• Swords of the Swashbucklers #10
• Alpha Flight #42
• Captain America #325
• Chuck Norris and His Karate Kommandos #1
• Ewoks #11
• G.I. Joe and the Transformers #1
• Groo the Wanderer #23
• Kickers, Inc. #3
• Labyrinth #3
• Merc (sic) #3
• The Amazing Spider-Man #284
• The Transformers Movie (sic) #2
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the X-Men #1
• Bozz Chronicles #6
• The Amazing Spider-Man Digest #1
• Savage Sword of Conan #131
• Dracula graphic novel (sic) 
• Marvel Age Magazine #46
• The Avengers #275
• Conan the Barbarian #190
• D.P. 7 #3
• G.I. Joe #44
• Howard the Duck #2
• The Incredible Hulk #327
• Justice #3
• Marvel Tales #195
• Muppet Babies #11
• The Nam #2
• X-Men #213
• The Marvel Saga #14
• The Official Marvel Comics Handbook to the Transformers Universe #2
• Elektra #4
• Marvel Fanfare #30
• Care Bears #8
• Elfquest #18
• Fantastic Four #298
• The Inhumanoids #1
• Iron Man #214
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #122
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #4
• Star Brand #4
• Thor #375
• The Transformers #24
• X-Factor #12
• Classic X-Men #5
• The Official Marvel Comics Handbook to the G.I. Joe Universe #3
• Savage Tales #8
• Steelgrip Starkey #5
• The Transformers Digest #1
• The Marvel Universe Handbook Trade Paperback #1

Titles shipping October 

• Comet Man #1
• Dakota North #5
• Daredevil #239
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #3
• Hugga Bunch #3
• Strikeforce: Morituri #3
• The New Mutants #48
• Night Mask #4
• Psi-Force #4
• Thundercats #8
• Web of Spider-Man #17
• West Coast Avengers #17
• Conan Annual #10
• Mephisto #2
• Moonshadow #11
• Alpha Flight #43
• Animax #2
• Captain America #326
• Doctor Strange #81
• G.I. Joe and the Transformers #2
• Groo the Wanderer #24
• Heathcliff #14
• Kickers, Inc. #4
• Merc #4
• The Amazing Spider-Man #285
• The Transformers Movie #3
• Power Pack #28
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #1
• The Fantastic Four Vs. the X-Men #1
• Savage Sword of Conan #132
• Star Comics Digest #2
• Marvel Age Magazine #47
• The Avengers #276
• Conan the Barbarian #191
• D.P. 7 #4
• G.I. Joe #56
• Howard the Duck #3
• The Incredible Hulk #328
• Justice #4
• Marvel Tales #196
• The Nam #3
• X-Men #214
• The Marvel Saga #15
• The Official Marvel Comics Handbook to the Transformers Universe #3
• Elektra #5
• Spider-Man vs. Wolverine #1
• Alien Legion graphic novel
• Droids #6
• Elfquest #19
• Fantastic Four #299
• Iron Man #215
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #123
• Popples #2
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters #5
• Star Brand #5
• Top Dog #12
• Thor #376
• The Transformers #25
• X-Factor #13
• Classic X-Men #6
• The Official Marvel Handbook to the G.I. Joe Universe #4
• Alien Legion #17
• G.I. Joe Digest #2
• The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #15
• Steelgrip Starkey #6

Page 8 

Newswatch 

Item: The team-up between Frank Miller and Walter Simonson on Daredevil will now be a stand-alone special issue. (Sadly it never was published.) 

Item: Tell your local comics shop to get in touch with Marvel for the Official Marvel Birthday Party Kit. 

Item: Marvel teams up with the America Booksellers Association, with the slogan "Giving the Gift of Literacy" on Marvel covers. 

Item: Assistant editor Rosemary McCormick-Lowy has joined Bob Budiansky's office; replacing her in Carl Potts' editorial office is newcomer Joanne Spaldo. 

The Top Ten 

May 1986

• Classic X-Men #1
• X-Men #209
• X-Factor #8
• Marvel Universe #10
• Web of Spider-Man Annual #2
• Alpha Flight Annual #1
• Alpha Flight #38
• New Mutant #43
• G.I. Joe #51
• Fantastic Four #294

Bullpen Birthdays 

Pages 9 - 11

The Mutant Report

Article: "Spider-Man vs. Wolverine" 

Article: "Mutant Massacre Mayhem" 

Article: "More Mutant News" 

Pages 12 - 14

Article: "The Expanding Transformers Universe," by Bill Slavicsek

Page 15

Stan's Soapbox

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age 

Pages 18 - 26

Article: "Behold...the New Universe," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Pages 27 - 29

Article: "The Marvel Age - 1972 (part IV)," by Sholly Fisch

Pages 30 - 32

Letters page: "Letters Column of the Month Club," suggested by Nathan Strum

Inside back cover

Ad: "The Marvel Mutant Massacre Map" 

Back cover

Reverse shot of the front cover, including Obnoxio the Clown, Forbush Man, and Howard the Duck 

 

Mutant madness kept on rolling as Marvel unveiled the top-secret new series X-Factor in this issue of Marvel Age. The series was introduced in "The Mutant Report," in a series of heavily redacted interviews with editor Mike Carlin, writer/inker Bob Layton, penciller Jackson Guice, another writer Roger Stern, writer penciller John Byrne, and editor in chief Jim Shooter. The launch of X-Factor included story points from Avengers and Fantastic Four, which made it a debut to be remembered. 

In honor of X-Factor's debut, Fred Hembeck talked to Cyclops, a man of few words. 

Also in this issue, editor Jim Salicrup bids a fond farewell to assistant editor Kurt Busiek, who was moving on to bigger and better endeavors. 

This issue's New Talent Department looks at a penciling contest that took place at Comix Fair, where artists Steve Leialoha, John Romita Jr., and Ron Wilson judged entries based on The Official Marvel Comics Try-Out Book...and the winner is...Steve Erwin! Tied for second place were George Turney and Ben Dunn. 

And, for anyone wondering why Marvel Age and other titles had been looking so weird lately, there's an article on the new printing process known as flexography that gave us brighter, blotchier colors. 

Marvel Age #33

Price: $0.35 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: September 10, 1985

Cover date: December, 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, Adam Blaustein, 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, Terry Kavanagh, Ralph Macchio, Howard Mackie, Rosemary McCormick-Lowy, Al Milgrom, Margie Neville, Ann Nocenti, Denny O'Neil, Jim Owsley, Carl Potts, Pat Redding, Louise Simonson, and Keith Williams: Consulting Editors

• John Romita: Art Director

• James W. Fry, Mark McKenna, and Tom Morgan: Romita's Raiders

• Ron Zalme: Art/Production Coordinator

• Janet Jackson: Designer

• Phil Felix, Aggie Kelley, Kenny Lopez, Joe Macal, Bill Oakley, Bruce N. Solomon, and Bill Vallely: Production

• Brenda Mings: Typesetter

• Adam Philips and George Roussos: Colorists

• Virginia Romita: Traffic Manager

• Lynn Cohen: Friendly Assistance 

• Bob Layton and Jackson Guice: 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: X-pendable

Front cover 

• Characters: X-Factor

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale September 24

• The Thing #31
• Daredevil #226
• The New Mutants #35
• Web of Spider-Man #10
• West Coast Avengers #4
• Planet Terry #10
• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #5
• Cloak and Dagger #4 -- Secret Wars II tie-in 
• Squadron Supreme #5
• Conan the King #32
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #2
• Swords of the Swashbucklers #4
• Moonshadow #5
• Starstruck #5

Titles on sale October 1

• The Amazing Spider-Man #272
• Power Pack #18 -- Secret Wars II tie-in 
• The Micronauts #18 -- Secret Wars II tie-in 
• Captain America #313
• 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
• X-Men Annual #9
• The Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #2
• Savage Sword of Conan #119
• The One #3

Titles on sale October 6

• Marvel Age Magazine #34
• The Incredible Hulk #315
• The Avengers #263
• Conan #178
• Marvel Tales #183
• X-Men #201
• Rom #74
• Power Man and Iron Fist #121 -- Secret Wars II tie-in 
• Royal Roy #5
• Muppet Babies #5
• Get Along Gang #5
• Solomon Kane #3
• G.I. Joe #43
• Nightcrawler #3
• The Eternals #4
• Balder the Brave #2
• The Marvel Saga #2
• The Punisher #1
• The X-Men and Alpha Flight #2
• Marvel Fanfare #24

Titles on sale October 14

• Marvel Graphic Novel #20: Hooky 

Titles on sale October 15

• Fantastic Four #286
• Iron Man #202
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #110
• Care Bears #2
• The New Defenders #151
• Star Wars #103
• Thor #363  -- Secret Wars II tie-in 
• The Transformers #12
• Elfquest #6
• Secret Wars II #7
• The Sectaurs #4
• The Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #1
• The Handbook of the Conan Universe #1
• Doctor Who #16
• Coyote #15
• Savage Tales #2
• Timespirits #7
• Epic Illustrated #33

Pages 6 - 7

More Coming Attractions

Titles shipping in November

• The Thing #32
• Daredevil #227
• The New Mutants #36
• Web of Spider-Man #11
• West Coast Avengers #5
• Planet Terry #11
• Fraggle Rock #6
• Strawberry Shortcake #6
• Thundercats #2
• Misty #2
• Red Sonja #12
• Squadron Supreme #6
• Conan Annual #10
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #3
• Starstruck #6
• The Amazing Spider-Man #273
• Captain America #314
• Micronauts #17
• Alpha Flight #31
• Wally the Wizard #11
• Top Dog #6
• Heathcliff #6
• Doctor Strange #75
• Groo the Wanderer #12
• The Vision and Scarlet Witch #5
• The Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #3
• Longshot #6
• Power Pack #20
• Savage Sword of Conan #120
• The Sisterhood of Steel #7
• Bozz Chronicles #1
• Marvel Age Magazine #35
• The Incredible Hulk #316
• The Avengers #264
• Conan #179
• Marvel Tales #184
• X-Men #202
• Rom #75
• G.I. Joe #44
• Nightcrawler #4
• The Eternals #5
• The Punisher #2
• Marvel Saga #3
• Dreadstar #22
• Fantastic Four #287
• Iron Man #203
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111
• Thor #364
• Transformers #13
• Elfquest #7
• Secret Wars II #8
• The Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #2
• X-Factor #1
• The New Defenders #152
• Doctor Who #17
• Marvel Graphic Novel #21: Greenberg the Vampire
• Six from Sirius II #1

Titles shipping in December 

• The Thing #33
• Daredevil #228
• The New Mutants #37
• Web of Spider-Man #12
• West Coast Avengers #6
• Planet Terry #12
• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #6
• Cloak and Dagger #5
• Squadron Supreme #7
• Conan the King #33
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #4
• Swords of the Swashbucklers #5
• Moonshadow #6
• The Amazing Spider-Man #274
• Captain America #315
• Power Pack #20
• Micronauts #18
• Alpha Flight #32
• Wally the Wizard #12
• Ewoks #6
• The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #34
• Dazzler #42
• Groo the Wanderer #13
• The Vision and Scarlet Witch #6
• Firestar #1
• The Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #4
• The Savage Sword of Conan #121
• The One #4
• Marvel Age Magazine #36
• The Incredible Hulk #317
• The Avengers #265
• Conan #180
• Marvel Tales #185
• X-Men #203
• Power Man and Iron Fist #122
• Care Bears #3
• Transformers #14
• Elfquest #8
• Secret Wars II #9
• The Sectaurs #5
• The Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #3
• Doctor Who #18
• Six from Sirius II #2
• Coyote #16
• Savage Tales #3
• Timespirits #8
• Epic Illustrated #34
• Royal Roy #6
• Muppet Babies #6
• Get Along Gang #6
• Solomon Kane #4
• G.I. Joe #45
• The Eternals #6
• The Punisher #3
• Balder the Brave #3
• Marvel Saga #4
• Marvel Fanfare #25
• Marvel Graphic Novel #22: Shamballa
• Fantastic Four #288
• Iron Man #204
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #112
• Star Wars #104
• Thor #365
• X-Factor #2

Page 8 

Newswatch 

Mini Mutant Report

The Top Ten

Page 9 

Newswatch Extra

Pages 10 - 13

Behind the Lines

Pages 14 - 15

Article: "The Punisher," by Sholly Fisch

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age 

Pages 18 - 25

The Mutant Report

Page 23

"It's Genetic," by Kyle Baker

Pages 26 - 27

New Talent Department, by Sholly Fisch 

Pages 28 - 29

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

Pages 30 - 32

Letter column: "What Does Mark Evanier Do on Groo?", suggested by Ted "Crazyman" Condi

Inside back cover

Ad for Misty by Trina Robbins 

Back cover

The Marvel Age 1985 Calendar -- September 

 

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