The holidays were back for the end of 1989, which meant another Christmas themed cover by Sergio Aragonés featuring Groo the Wanderer. The cover accompanies an article on the state of Groo, including the monthly comic series as well as the two graphic novels, "The Death of Groo" and "The Life of Groo." 

This issue also includes a new Mutant scorecard (not a New Mutants scorecard), a roundup of Marvel graphic novels, another roundup of Marvel holiday gifts, and the final chapter of the Marvel A - Z coverage. 

Marvel Age #85

Price: $0.75 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: December 19, 1989

Cover date: February 1990 

Copyright © 1989 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 

• Tom DeFalco: Editor in Chief

• Mark Gruenwald: Executive Editor

• Ralph Macchio: Senior Editor 

• Jim Salicrup: Supreme Marvel Zombie

• Barry Dutter: Assistant Editor

• Steve Alexandrov: Designer

• Sholly Fisch and Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Contributing Editors

• Fred Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

• Craig Anderson, Gary Barnum, Bob Budiansky, Bobbie Chase, Daniel Chichester, Margaret Clark, Kelly Corvese, Dan Cuddy, Don Daley, Daryl Edelman, Eric Fein, Danny Fingeroth, Bob Harras, Sid Jacobson, Marie Javins, Len Kaminski, Terry Kavanagh, Howard Mackie, Dwayne McDuffie, Marc McLaurin, Al Milgrom, Carl Potts, Mike Rockwitz, Evan Skolnick, Rob Tokar, Lisa Trusiani, Sara Tuchinsky, Renée Witterstaeter, and Gregory Wright: Consulting Editors

• John Romita: Art Director

• Don Perlin: Managing Art Director

• Joe Rosas, Mickey Ritter, and Brad Vancata: The Raiders

• Virginia Romita: Traffic/Production Manager

• Len Kaminski: Assistant Traffic/Production Manager

• Dawn Geiger: Assistant Production Manager 

• Lynda Strunk: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: World's Toughest Proofreader

• Joe Albelo, Paul Becton, Rob Carosella, Chris Eliopoulos, Cindy Emmert, Vince Evans, Jesus Gonzalez, Brad K. Joyce, Ed Lazellari, Ken Lopez, Jade Moede, Edward Murr, Joyce Phus, and George Roberts: Production

• Sergio Aragonés: Cover

• Gregory Wright: Colorist

• Christine Aurilia, Paula Butterworth, Dwight Coye, Dan Cuddy, Suzanne Gaffney, Arthur Parris Jackson, John Lewandowski, George Roussos, Stu Schwartzberg, and Christine Slusarz: Friendly Assistance 

• Carol Kalish: Vice President Direct Sales

• Kurt Busiek: Direct Sales Project Manager

• Lou Bank: Assistant Direct Sales Manager Customer Service

• Sven Larsen: Administrative Assistant 

• Steve Saffel: Promotion Manager 

• Fabian Nicieza: Advertising Manager

• Irving Forbush: Happy to get coal in his stocking this year

Front cover 

• Characters: Groo the Wanderer, Santa's Elves 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Age Subscription Coupon 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 8

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale January 23

• Avengers West Coast #56
• Captain America #368
• Daredevil #278
• Web of Spider-Man #62
• The Uncanny X-Men #259
• The Sensational She-Hulk #13
• The Punisher Magazine #8
• The War #4
• Critical Mass #3
• Marvel Year in Review #1
• The Punisher and Wolverine: African Saga

Titles on sale January 30 

• Alf #27
• The Amazing Spider-Man #330
• Marvel Comics Presents #45
• Alpha Flight 382
• Nth Man #10
• Avengers Spotlight #30
• The New Mutants #87
• Quasar #8
• Heathcliff #45
• Wolverine #22
• Power Pack #54
• Groo the Wanderer #63
• Savage Sword of Conan #171
• Electric Undertow #5

Titles on sale February 6

• The Avengers #315
• Conan the Barbarian #230
• Silver Surfer #35
• The Incredible Hulk #367
• G.I. Joe #98
• Marvel Age Magazine #86
• Marvel Tales #235
• Police Academy #7
• The Punisher #31
• Robocop #1
• What If...? #11
• Excalibur #20
• Shield #9
• The Destroyer #6
• Lieutenant Blueberry Graphic Novel #4: The Ghost Tribe
• Strip #1
• Doctor Who Magazine #157

Titles on sale February 13

• Thor #415
• Count Duck #10 (no number listed) 
• Fantastic Four #338
• Iron Man #254
• Spectacular Spider-Man #162
• Punisher War Journal #15
• X-Factor #52
• Classic X-Men #45
• Transformers #64
• Marvel Comics Presents #46
• Conan Saga #36
• Moon Knight #12
• The 'Nam #42
• Spider-Man Vs. Venom trade paperback
• Dr. Strange #15
• Akira #17

Titles on sale February 20

• Silver Surfer Graphic Novel: The Enslavers

Page 8 

Newswatch

Item: Coverage of the annual Marvel Halloween party - no photos, sadly

Item: Look for the Marvel Year in Review, coming soon

Item: How to order your Solarman VHS tapes

Item: Marvel helps to battle illiteracy with Adventures in Reading Starring the Amazing Spider-Man 

Marvel Top Twenty

1. X-Men #256
2. Wolverine #19
3. Excalibur #17
4. Amazing Spider-Man #327
5. X-Factor #49
6. Punisher War Journal 313
7. Punisher #28
8. Avengers West Coast #53
9. Avengers #312
10. Web of Spider-Man #57
11. Spectacular Spider-Man #159
12. New Mutants #84
13. Iron Man #251
14. Daredevil #275
15. Fantastic Four #235
16. What If...? #8
17. Captain America #365
18. Marvel Universe Handbook Update #8
19. Moon Knight #9
20. Marvel Comics Presents #38

Page 9

Mark's Remarks

Page 11

Article: "Captain America: The  Motion Picture," by Barry Dutter

Pages 12 - 13

Article: "A Sword, Some Cheese Dip, and Thou...the Amazing Legend of Sergio Aragonés' Groo the Wanderer," by Brian Nelson

Page 14

The Mutant Report: "The Mighty Marvel Mutant Scorecard"

Page 15

Stan Lee's Soapbox

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 18 - 21

Article: "Marvel Graphic Novels," by Peter Sanderson 

Pages 22 - 25

Article: "Marvel A-Z Conclusion" 

Includes:

• Steeltown Rockers
• Super Stars (published as Hollywood Superstars)
• Thor
• Tomorrow Knights
• Transformers
• Web of Fortune
• Web of Spider-Man
• West Coast Avengers
• What If...
• What The—?!
• Wild Cards
• Witch
• Wolverine
• X-Factor
• X-Men
• X-Men Cartoon Adaptation

Pages 26 - 27

Article: "Marvel Universe Gifts," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Pages 28 - 29

The Marvel Age of Comics — 1980 Part Five

Pages 30 - 32

Letters Column: "Go Ahead...Make My Lunch!", suggested by Paul Vescera

Inside Back Cover

The Marvel Age Super Shopper Gallery

Back Cover

Ad for Silver Surfer #34 and Fantastic Four #337 

 

This issue of Marvel Age features two of Marvel's funniest series of the 1980s - Groo the Wanderer and Sensational She-Hulk, with a five-page She-Hulk comics preview and what basically adds up to a wraparound Groo cover. 

Fans in the U.S. also got a look at the upcoming Captain Britain trade paperback, which presented stories that were previously available only in England.

Marvel Age #73

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: December 20, 1988

Cover date: April, 1989

Copyright © 1988 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 

• Tom DeFalco: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Supreme Marvel Zombie

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Managing Editor

• Sholly Fisch: Coming Attractions

• Cindy Kruhm: Designer

• Fred Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

• Craig Anderson, Steve Buccellato, Bob Budiansky, Bobbie Chase, Daniel Chichester, Margaret Clark, Don Daley, James DiGiovanna, Daryl Edelman, Sue Flaxman, Archie Goodwin, Mark Gruenwald, Larry Hama, Bob Harras, Glenn Herdling, Sid Jacobson, Terry Kavanagh, Ralph Macchio, Howard Mackie, Dwayne McDuffie, Marc McLaurin, Al Milgrom, A.A. Perry, Carl Potts, Pat Redding, Mike Rockwitz, Marc Siry, Sara Tuchinsky, 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

• Adam Blaustein: Manufacturing Coordinator

• Lynda Strunk: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: World's Toughest Proofreader

• Gregory Wright: Colorist

• Sergio Aragonés: Cover

• Joe Albelo, Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Vince Evans, Dawn Geiger, Brad K. Joyce, Ken Lopez, Ed Magalong, Jade Moede, Joyce Phus and Rodney S. Timmons: Production

• Barbara Arnstein, Christine Aurilia, Robyn Bowman, Mark Chiarello, Kelly Corvese, Dwight Coye, Dan Cuddy, Tom Fardy, Jesus Gonzalez, Marie Javins, John Lewandowski, George Roussos, Stu Schwartzberg, Mark Silverman, and Rodney S. Timmons: Friendly Assistance 

• Steve Sheffler: Rights and Permissions Editor

• Carol Kalish: Vice President Direct Sales

• Dale Kanzler: Assistant Direct Sales Manager Administrative

• Lou Bank: Assistant Direct Sales Manager Customer Service

• Steve Saffel: Promotion Manager 

• Fabian Nicieza: Advertising Manager

• Irving Forbush: Chaving a Chappy Chanukah 

Front cover 

• Character: Groo the Wanderer and friends 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 7

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale January 24

• Daredevil #266
• Semper Fi #6
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #21
• Conan the King #52
• West Coast Avengers #44
• Wolfpack #10
• Excalibur #8
• Strikeforce: Morituri #29
• Web of Spider-Man #50
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #8
• Psi-Force #31
• The Sensational She-Hulk #1

Titles on sale January 31

• Captain America #353
• Solo Avengers #18
• Alf #15
• The Amazing Spider-Man #315
• Groo the Wanderer #51
• Heathcliff #33
• D.P. 7 #31
• Marvel Comics Presents #19
• Wolverine and Havok: Meltdown #3
• Alpha Flight #70
• The New Mutants #75
• Wolverine #7
• The 'Nam Magazine #10 
• The Savage Sword of Conan #159
• Power Line #6
• Blood trade paperback 

Titles on sale February 7

• Marvel Age Magazine #74
• Justice #31
• Marvel Tales #223
• The Avengers #303
• Conan the Barbarian #218
• G.I. Joe #86
• Muppet Babies #25
• The Punisher #19
• The Silver Surfer #23
• The Saga of the Sub-Mariner #7
• The Uncanny X-Men #244
• Dragon's Claws #8
• The Light and Darkness War #6
• The Incredible Hulk #355
• Damage Control #1
• Titles on sale February 14
• The Transformers #52
• X-Factor #40
• Thor #403
• The Starboard #19
• Fantastic Four #326
• Speedball #9
• Dino-Riders #3
• Marvel Comics Presents #20
• Conan Saga #24
• Akira #8
• The Punisher: Return to Big Nothing graphic novel

Titles on sale February 21

• Iron Man #242
• Count Duckula #4
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #150
• Classic X-Men #33
• Doctor Strange #4
• The 'Nam #30
• Power Pack #46

Page 8 

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Page 9 

Newswatch

Item: Editor Pat Redding is leaving staff to go work for United Features Syndicate

Item: Maurice L. Fontenot is the winner of the Marvel Universe poster contest, listing every character on the poster — it's a lot! 

Top Ten

August 1988

• Wolverine #2
• X-Men #239
• Excalibur #3
• X-Factor #35
• Silver Surfer limited series #1
• Punisher War Journal 32
• Marvel Comics Presents #9
• Marvel Comics Presents #10
• The New Mutants #70

Pages 10 - 11

The Mutant Report

Captain Britain Trade Paperback, by Scott Lobdell 

Pages 12 - 14

Article: "The Return of the Sensational She-Hulk," by Peter Sanderson

Pages 15 - 19

Preview of She-Hulk #1 written and pencilled by John Byrne; inked by Bob Wiacek 

Page 20 

Stan's Soapbox

Willie Lumpkin by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Pages 21 - 22

Article: "Damage Control," by Sandy Hausler

Page 23

Mark's Remarks -- Caricature by Harry Candelario

Pages 24 - 26

Article: "The Groo Chronicles," by Brian Nelson 

Pages 26 - 27

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Pages 30 - 31 

Letters column: "Luck Be a Mutant Tonight," suggested by Lon Wolf

Page 32

Statement of Ownership

Pages 28 - 29 

The Marvel Age of Comics: 1978 Part IV, by Brian Nelson

Marvel Correspondents

Inside back cover

Ad for Moon Knight 

Back cover

Ad for Groo the Wanderer #50 

The phrase that pays in Marvel Age #61 was "graphic novels," with multiple articles on Marvel's current and future graphic novel lines. By the end of 1987, Marvel had published 26 titles in its graphic novel series, ranging from the sublime — Daredevil: Love and War, the Futurians, or Star Slammers — to the not so sublime — like The Aladdin Effect or the Revenge of the Living Monolith. 

As much fun as it is to have a list of all these titles — gotta get 'em all, fans! — the look ahead to new titles was even better. These included the "computerized" Iron Man graphic novel, Crash; The Death of Groo; and the Shadow graphic novel by Denny O'Neil, Michael Wm. Kaluta, and Russ Heath. 

The issue also includes coverage of the X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, the Moebius series of graphic novel reprints, and the then-new Marvel Masterworks, including a rare look at the embossed cover frame as line art, which I believe was drawn by Sandy Plunkett. 

Marvel Age #61

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: December 15, 1987

Cover date: April, 1988 

Copyright © 1987 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 

• Tom DeFalco: Editor in Chief

• Jim Salicrup: Supreme Marvel Zombie

• Dwight Jon Zimmerman: Managing Editor

• Sholly Fisch: Coming Attractions

• 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

• Sergio Aragonés: Cover art

• Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Michael Heisler, Brad Joyce, Cindy Kruhm, Ken Lopez, Ed Magalong, Michael Maier, and Eddie Marcaro: Production

• Barbara Arnstein, Christine Aurilia, Kelly Corvese, Dwight Coye, Tom Fardy, Sue Flaxman, Jesus Gonzalez, Len Kaminsky, John Lewandowski, Stu Schwartzberg, Mark Silverman, and Rodney S. Timmons: 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: Boy Toy

Front cover 

• Character: Groo the Wanderer 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 5

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale January 26

• Daredevil #254
• Psi-Force #19
• The Punisher #8
• Web of Spider-Man #38
• West Coast Avengers #32
• Masters of the Universe #13
• Heathcliff's Funhouse #7
• Strikeforce: Morituri #18
• Tales of G.I. Joe #5
• Conan the King #46
• Thundercats #23

Titles on sale February 2

• The New Mutants #63
• Captain America #341
• Solo Avengers #6
• Strange Tales #14
• Alf #2
• Alpha Flight #58
• Groo the Wanderer #39
• The Amazing Spider-Man #300
• Spider-Man Comics Magazine #9
• Savage Sword of Conan #147
• Savage Land trade paperback
• Moebius graphic novel #5

Titles on sale February 9

• The Avengers #291
• Marvel Age Magazine #62
• D.P. 7 #19
• Justice #19
• The Incredible Hulk #343
• Marvel Tales #211
• Silver Surfer #11
• The Uncanny X-Men #229
• Conan the Barbarian #206
• G.I. Joe #71
• Muppet Babies #19
• Visionaries #3
• Bullwinkle and Rocky #4

Titles on sale February 16

• The Fantastic Four #314
• Iron Man #230
• The 'Nam #18
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #138
• The Star Brand #13
• Thor #391
• X-Factor #28
• Care Bears #16
• Classic X-Men #21
• Transformers #40
• Transformers Comics Magazine #9
• Conan Saga #12
• The Official Marvel Comics Index to the X-Men #6
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #9
• The Shadow: Hitler's Astrologer graphic novel

Pages 6 - 7 

More Coming Attractions

Titles Shipping February

Titles Shipping March 

Pages 8 - 9  

Newswatch

Item: Chris Claremont has written a science fiction novel called Firstflight. 

Item: Prices on nine titles — Amazing Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, X-Men, X-Factor, New Mutants, The Avengers, The Punisher, and The Silver Surfer — will go up to $1.00. The 'Nam, Psi Force, Justice, The Star Brand, D.P. 7, Alien Legion, and Video Jack will all move to Mandotone paper and get an increased cover price of $1.25. A 'Nam Magazine will be distributed to newsstands with a cover price of $1.95, which is also the new cover price of Savage Sword of Conan.

Item: Marvel is releasing all the covers to the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe as a Poster. 

Item: Bob Budiansky will be teaching a course in "Comic Book Illustration" at the Parsons School of Design. 

Item: Marvel is adapting the movie Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night in a comic by Side Jacobson, Ben Brown, and Jacqueline Roettcher

Item: Submissions Editor Adam Blaustein has moved into a new spot as Manufacturing Coordinator. David Wohl will be the new Submissions Editor. 

Sidebar on Doctor Who Magazine

The Top Ten

September 1987

1. X-Men #225
2. X-Factor #24
3. The Punisher #5
4. The New Mutants #59
5. Silver Surfer #7
6. The Amazing Spider-Man #296
7. The 'Nam #14
8. Classic X-Men #17
9. Solo Avengers #2
10. G.I. Joe #67

Pages 10 - 11

The Mutant Report

Article: "X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills," by Dan Raspler

Pages 12 - 13

Article: "Marvel Masterworks, or How I Got Back to the Future without Even Trying," by Scott Lobdell

Pages 14 - 15

Stan's Soapbox

Willie Lumpkin, by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Page 18 

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Pages 19 - 25

Article: "The Marvel Graphic Novel Collection," by Brian Nelson

Covering:

• The Death of Captain Marvel, by Jim Starlin
• Elric: The Dreaming City, by Roy Thomas and P. Craig Russell
• Dreadstar, by Jim Starlin
• Star Slammers, by Walter Simonson
• Killraven: Warrior of the Worlds, by Don McGregor and P. Craig Russell
• Void Indigo, by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik
• The Futurians, by Dave Cockrum
• Heartburst, by Rick Veitch
• Super Boxers, by Ron Wilson, John Byrne, and Armando Gil
• Starstruck, by Elaine Lee and Michael Wm. Kaluta
• Swords of the Swashbucklers, by Bill Mantlo and Jackson Guice
• The Raven Banner, by Alan Zelenetz and Charles Vess
• The Aladdin Effect, by James Shooter, David Michelinie, Greg LaRocuqe, and Vince Colletta
• Revenge of the Living Monolith, by David Michelinie, Marc Silvestri, and Geoff Isherwood
• The Sensational She-Hulk, by John Byrne and Kim DeMulder
• Conan the Barbarian: The Witch Queen of Acheron, by Don Kraar, Gary Kwapisz, and Art Nichols
• Greenberg the Vampire, by J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Badger
• Marada the She-Wolf, by Christopher Claremont and John Bolton
• The Amazing Spider-Man: Hooky, by Susan K. Putney and Berni Wrightson
• Daredevil: Love and War, by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz
• Dracula: A Symphony in Moonlight and Nightmares, by Jon J Muth
• Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa, by J.M. DeMatteis and Dan Green
• The Alien Legion, by Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz, Frank Cirocco, Terry Austin, and Steve Oliff
• Emperor Doom, by David Michelinie and Bob Hall
• Conan the Reaver, by Don Kraar and John Severin
• The Incredible Hulk and the Thing in The Big Change, by Jim Starlin and Berni Wrightson

Pages 26 - 27

Article: "Moebius: The Coming Years at Marvel," by Steve Ringgenberg

Pages 28 - 29

Article: "An Open Letter from Santa Claus on the New Marvel Graphic Novels" (No credit listed)

Covering: 

A Sailor's Story, by Sam Glanzman

I, Whom the Gods Would Destroy, by Jim Shooter, Jim Owsley, Paul Ryan, and Vince Colletta

Iron Man, by Mike Saenz

Wolfpack, by Larry Hama, Ron Wilson, and Kyle Baker

Cloak and Dagger, by Bill Mantlo, Larry Stroman, and Al Williamson

The Death of Groo by Sergio Aragonés with Mark Evanier

The Shadow: Hitler's Astrologer, by Denny O'Neil, Michael Kaluta, and Russ Heath

Pages 30 - 32

Letters column: "I Took a Shower for This?", suggested by Jason Denzer

Inside back cover

Ad for Excalibur

Back cover

Ad for Alf

 

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