Another season, another big crossover event — and this one, "Acts of Vengeance," was the brainchild of writer/artist John Byrne, still one of the busiest men in comics as writer/penciller on Avengers West Coast, penciller on Wolverine, and writer on the Avengers. The key to the story? Lots of villains, lots of heroes, and lots of mayhem! 

Also this made me think there should have been a big bad in this event who wielded the deadly Axe of Vengeance! 

This issue of also spotlights Damage Control, the fondly remembered miniseries written by Dwayne McDuffie starring the crew that cleans up after Marvel's biggest messes, as well as Open Space, the science fiction anthology co-edited by Kurt Busiek and Carol Kalish. In its four issues, Open Space featured art and stories by Frank Kelly Freas, F. Paul Wilson, Lawrence Watt-Evans, John Ridgway, Will Shetterly, Don Simpson, Charles DeLint, and many others. 

Marvel Age #81

Price: $0.75 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: August 15, 1989

Cover date: Mid 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

• Cindy Emmert: Designer / Assistant Production Manager

• Sholly Fisch: Contributing Editor

• Fred Hembeck: Sage of Marvel Age

• Craig Anderson, Bob Budiansky, Bobbie Chase, Daniel Chichester, Margaret Clark, Kelly Corvese, Don Daley, James DiGiovanna, Daryl Edelman, Danny Fingeroth, 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 Kaminski: Assistant Traffic/Production Manager

• Dawn Geiger: Assistant Production Manager 

• Lynda Strunk: Typesetter

• Jack Abel: World's Toughest Proofreader

• Joe Albelo, Steve Alexandrov, Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Vince Evans, Jesus Gonzalez, Brad K. Joyce, Ed Lazellari, Ken Lopez, Jade Moede, Edward Murr, Joyce Phus, and George Roberts: Production

• John Byrne: 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: Willing to take on all the Marvel super-villains with one hand tied behind his back

Front cover 

• Characters: Marvel villains 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 7

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale September 26

• Avengers West Coast #52
• Captain America #364
• Daredevil #274
• Web of Spider-Man #58
• The Uncanny X-Men #255
• Marvel Comics Presents #36
• Power Pack #51
• The Sensational She-Hulk #9
• The Punisher Magazine #4
• Nightmare on Elm Street #3
• Wolverine Saga #4
• Conan graphic novel: The Skull of Set

Titles on sale October 3

• Alf #23
• Avengers Spotlight #26
• Groo the Wanderer #59
• Heathcliff #41
• The New Mutants #83
• Day of Future Past
• Wolverine #18
• Alpha Flight #78
• Marvel Universe Update #7
• The Nth Man #6
• Quasar #4
• Sleeze Brothers #3
• Savage Sword of Conan #167
• Electric Undertow #1
• The Amazing Spider-Man #326
• Groo Chronicles #5
• Longshot trade paperback

Titles on sale October 10

• Marvel Age Magazine #82
• What If--? #7
• Excalibur #16
• Nick Fury Agent of Shield #5
• The Punisher #27
• Silver Surfer #31
• Avengers #311
• Conan the Barbarian #226
• G.I. Joe #94
• The Incredible Hulk #363
• Marvel Tales #231
• Police Academy #3
• Marvel Comics Presents #37
• Shadowmasters #3
• Roger Rabbit graphic novel #2
• Blueberry: Ballad for a Coffin graphic novel

Titles on sale October 17

• The Punisher War Journal #12
• Count Duckula #8
• Damage Control II #1
• Doctor Strange #11
• The 'Nam #38
• Fantastic Four #334
• Iron Man #250
• Marvel Masterworks #9: The Avengers
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #158
• Thor #411
• The Transformers #60
• X-Factor #48
• Moon Knight #8
• Conan Saga #32
• Akira #19
• Classic X-Men #41

Page 8

Newswatch 

Item: Executive Editor Archie Goodwin has moved to DC Comics; Carl Potts will take over as Epic Editor 

Item: Don McGregor's son, Rob Roy McGregor, won the Artistic Merit Award in New York's 35th Annual All-City Student Art Expo. 

Item: Marvel letters columns have the results of the favorite assistant editor contest, which are: 

1. Sara Tuchinsky
2. James DiGiovanna
3. Glenn Herdling 
4. Marc Siry
5. Daryl Edelman
6. Dwayne McDuffie
7. Marc McLaurin
8. Dave Wohl
9. Irving Forbush
10. Mike Rockwitz
11. Lisa Trusiani
12. Gregory Wright
13. Renée Witterstaetter
14. Steve Buccellato
15. Kelly Corvese
16. Dan Raspler
17. Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Item: Jean-Michel Charlier, writer of the Lt. Blueberry graphic novels, has passed away. 

Marvel Top Ten 

April 1988

1. The Uncanny X-Men #247
2. The Uncanny X-Men Annual #13
3. Excalibur #11
4. X-Factor #43
5. Wolverine #10
6. Amazing Spider-Man #318
7. The Sensational She-Hulk #4
8. The Punisher #22
9. Silver Surfer Annual #2
10. Iron Man Annual #10 

Page 9

Mark's Remarks 

Pages 10 - 11

The Mutant Report: "Rob Liefeld's New Mutants Sketchbook," by Dwight Jon Zimmerman 

Pages 12 - 14

Article: "Acts of Vengeance," by Peter Sanderson

Page 15

Article: "Damage Control," by Sandy Hausler 

Pages 16 - 17 

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Page 18 

Stan's Soapbox

Willie Lumpkin by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Pages 19 - 20

Article: "Open Space," by Renée Witterstkaetter

Pages 21 - 25

Open Space preview

Page 26

Article: "Conan the Barbarian: The Skull of Set," by John Anthony Wilcox

Page 27

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Pages 28 - 29

The Marvel Age of Comics: 1980 (Part I), by Brian Nelson

Pages 30 - 32

Letters column: "The Non-Mutant Letter Column," suggested by Steve Sawyer

Inside back cover

Marvel Age Super Shopper Gallery 

Back cover

Ad for "Acts of Vengeance" 

 

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 

The big price hike arrived at last in Marvel Age #79, with the price increasing from $0.50 to $0.75 -- still far cheaper than a standard comic book at the time. Salicrup's Section explained that they managed to offset the original promised price increase, which would have made Marvel Age cost a whole buck, by adding the Marvel Age Super Shopper Gallery, seen in the back cover.

This would imply that retailers had to pay for the privilege of being listed on the inside back cover.

Plus, cigar smokers united in the new graphic novel Wolverine & Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection. At this point, Marvel could have paired off Wolverine with, well, Millie the Model, and it probably would have sold. But this epic was by two comics legends: writer Archie Goodwin and artist Howard Chaykin -- which meant fans were in for a treat. 

And Marvel followed up its run of Moebius reprints, including tales of Arzach and other science fiction / fantasy fare, with reprints of Lieutenant Blueberry, now credited to Moebius rather than the artist's real name, Jean Giraud. 

Marvel Age #79

Price: $0.75 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: June 20, 1989

Cover date: October 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

• Cindy Emmert Kruhm: Designer

• 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, Marc Siry, 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, Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Chris "Spike" Eliopoulos, Vince Evans, Dawn Geiger, Jesus Gonzalez, Brad K. Joyce, Ed Lazellari, Ken Lopez, Jade Moede, Joyce Phus and George Roberts: Production

• Howard Chaykin: 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, Mark Silverman, and Evan Skolnick: 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: Cutup 

Front cover 

• Characters: Wolverine and Nick Fury 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

Pages 1 - 7

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale July 25 

• Daredevil #272
• Avengers West Coast #50
• Amazing Spider-Man #323
• Captain America #361
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #27
• Indiana Jone and the Last Crusade #3
• The Uncanny X-Men #251
• Conan the King #55
• The Sensational She-Hulk #7
• Avengers West Coast Annual #4
• Nightmare on Elm Street #1
• The Punisher Magazine #2 
• Wolverine Saga #3

Titles on sale August 1

• Web of Spider-Man #56
• Alf #21
• Avengers Spotlight #24
• Groo the Wanderer #57
• Heathcliff #39
• Nth Man #4
• The New Mutants #81
• Quasar #2
• Groo Chronicles #5
• Alpha Flight #76
• Wolverine #15
• G.I. Joe European Missions #14
• The Marvel Universe Update #5
• Wolverine and Nick Fury: The Scorpion Connection graphic novel
• Thor Annual #14
• Marvel Comics Presents #32
• Savage Sword of Conan #165

Titles on sale August 8 

• Marvel Age Magazine #80
• Police Academy #1
• Captain America #362
• The Incredible Hulk #361
• Marvel Tales #229
• The Avengers #309
• SHIELD #3
• Shadowmasters #2
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade #4
• Conan the Barbarian #224
• The Punisher #25
• Silver Surfer #29
• The Amazing Spider-Man 3324
• The Uncanny X-Men #252
• Excalibur #14
• What If...? #5
• Power Pack #50
• Fantastic Four Annual #22
• G.I. Joe #92 

Titles on sale August 15

• Fantastic Four #332
• Iron Man #248
• Thor #409
• Count Duckula #9
• Spectacular Spider-Man #156
• The Transformers #58
• X-Factor #46
• The 'Nam #36
• Marvel Comics Presents #33
• Doctor Strange #9
• Moon Knight #6
• Death's Head #9
• Akira #12
• Blueberry 1: Chihuahua Pearl 
• Elektra Saga trade paperback 

Page 8

Newswatch 

Item: Marvel will publish the graphic novel Roger Rabbit: The Resurrection of Doom by Bob Foster and Dan Spiegle. 

Item: Talking Tops is offering a new t-shirt featuring the MarvelComicsaurus, as well as a Wolverine porcelain bisque. 

Item: Editor Carl Potts has married Cathleen Meloni in April. 

Item: Steve Buccellato is leaving staff to go freelance. Sara Tuchinsky will take his place as assistant editor in the Epic offices, while Evan Skolnick takes her place as assistant editor working for Greg Wright. 

Top Ten 

February 1989

1. The Uncanny X-men #245
2. Punisher War Journal #6
3. Excalibur #9
4. X-Factor #41
5. Wolverine #8
6. Havok and Wolverine #4
7. The Sensational She-Hulk #2
8. The Amazing Spider-man #316
9. The New Mutants #76
10. The Punisher #20

   29 - Marvel Age Magazine #75

Page 9 

Mark's Remarks

Page 10

The Mutant Report

"Wolverine & Nick Fury Starring in The Scorpio Connection," by Sholly Fisch 

Pages 11 - 15

Wolverine & Nick Fury graphic novel preview 

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age 

Page 18 

Stan's Soapbox 

Willie Lumpkin by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Page 19 

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Pages 20 - 21

Article: "Before Nick Fury, There Was...Lieutenant Blueberry," by R.J.M. L'officier

Pages 22 - 24

Article: "A Nightmare on Elm Street," by Peter Sanderson

Pages 25 - 26

Article: "Police Academy: The Comic Book," by Sandy Hausler

Pages 27 - 29

The Marvel Age of Comics: 1979 Part IV, by Brian Nelson

Pages 30 - 32

Letters Column: "Talk Is Cheap, Bub!", suggested by Michael Ewing-Chow

Inside Back Cover

Marvel Age Super Shopper Gallery 

Back cover

Ad for twice monthly comics running May through July 

After a couple of issues that mentioned an upcoming price hike, this is the final issue of Marvel Age with a $0.50 cover price. That price stood for just over three years — but fans who picked up this issue were probably pleased to see in Salicrup's Section that the new price would not be a full dollar, as previously announced, but $0.75 instead! Not only that, but the issue included a subscription coupon with readers' last chance to get on board at the old price. 

Marvel Age #78

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: May 16, 1989

Cover date: September 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

• 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, Terry Kavanagh, Howard Mackie, Dwayne McDuffie, Marc McLaurin, Al Milgrom, Carl Potts, Mike Rockwitz, Marc Siry, 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, Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Vince Evans, Jesus Gonzalez, Brad K. Joyce, Cindy Kruhm, Ken Lopez, Ed Magalong, Jade Moede, Joyce Phus and Rodney S. Timmons: Production

• Paul Ryan: Cover

• Gregory Wright: Colorist

• Adam Blaustein: Manufacturing Coordinator 

• Don Alcindor, Christine Aurilia, Dwight Coye, Dan Cuddy, Tom Fardy, Suzanne Gaffney, Arthur Parris Jackson, Marie Javins, John Lewandowski, George Roussos, Stu Schwartzberg, Mark Silverman, and Evan Skolnick: 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: Motorola 

Front cover 

• Character: Quasar 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

• Subscription coupon

Pages 1 - 7

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale June 27

• The Punisher Magazine ! 
• Daredevil #271
• Avengers West Coast #49
• The Amazing Spider-Man #321
• The Punisher Movie Special #1
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #26
• The Uncanny X-Men #249
• Saga of Wolverine #2
• The Sensational She-Hulk #6
• Avengers Annual #18
• G.I. Joe European Missions #13

Titles on sale July 4

• Power Pack #49
• Web of Spider-Man #55
• Alf #20
• Groo the Wanderer #56
• Heathcliff #38
• Nth Man #3
• The New Mutants #80
• The Punisher War Journal #9
• St. George #8
• The New Mutants Annual #5
• Alpha Flight #75
• Savage Sword of Conan #164
• Avengers Spotlight #23
• Quasar #1
• Wolverine #13
• Marvel Comics Presents #30
• Marvel Universe Update #4
• Fantastic Four Trade Paperback

Titles on sale July 11

• Captain America #360
• The Avengers #308
• Conan the Barbarian #223
• G.I.Joe #91
• The Punisher #24
• Marvel Age Magazine #79
• Excalibur #13
• The Incredible Hulk #360
• Marvel Tales #228
• The Saga of the Sub-Mariner #12
• Death's Head #8
• X-Factor Annual #4
• Silver Surfer #28
• The Amazing Spider-Man #322
• The Uncanny X-Men #250
• What If...? #4
• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2
• Marvel Fanfare #46
• Shadowmasters #1
• Titles on sale July 18

• Fantastic Four #331
• Iron Man #247
• Thor #408
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #155
• The Transformers #57
• Wolverine #14
• Groo Chronicles #4
• X-Factor #45
• Marvel Comics Presents #31
• Classic X-Men #38
• Doctor Strange #8
• Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange graphic novel
• Alien Legion #12
• Cloak and Dagger #7
• Moon Knight #5
• The 'Nam #35
• Web of Spider-Man Annual #5
• Conan Saga #29
• Akira #13

Page 8

Newswatch 

Item: Turns out Marvel Age's price will go from $.50 up to $.75, not a full dollar as previously announced. 

Item: The Captain Marvel Special is coming soon, starring Monica Rambeau. 

Item: The Marvel U.K. series The Sleeze Brothers will be published in the U.S. soon.

Item: Marvel Age trivia quiz master Brian Nelson recently got married to Barbara Calvi. 

Top Ten 

1. January 1989
2. Uncanny X-Men #244
3. The Sensational She-Hulk #1
4. Excalibur #8
5. Havok and Wolverine #3
6. Wolverine #7
7. X-Factor #40
8. The Amazing Spider-Man #315
9. The New Mutants #75
10. The Punisher #19
11. West Coast Avengers #44

   26 - Marvel Age Magazine #74

Page 9

Mark's Remarks

Page 10

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Pages 11 - 13

The Mutant Report

"Bob Harras Interview," by Eric Fein 

Pages 14 - 15

Article: "Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment," by Peter Sanderson

Pages 16 - 17 

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age 

Page 18

Stan's Soapbox

Willie Lumpkin, by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Pages 19 - 20

Article: "The Coming of Quasar," by Peter Sanderson

Pages 21 - 25

Quasar Preview 

Pages 26 - 27 

Article: "Shadowmasters," by Barry Dutter

Pages 28 - 29

The Marvel Age of Comics: 1979 Part III

Pages 30 - 32

Letters Column: "Which Came First, The Mutant or the Egg?", suggested by Andy Neumeyer 

Inside back cover

Ad for "Fantastic Four: The Trial of Galactus" trade paperback

Back cover

Ad for Captain America, The Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine, and X-Men all shipping twice monthly from May through July

 

In 1988, the concepts of manliness and being a wimp were again part of the public discourse, thanks in no small part to George H. W. Bush being called a wimp during his second presidential campaign, a subject tackled by a Newsweek cover story in late 1987. 

Of course, Marvel Comics had no shortage of tough guy heroes in 1989 -- not with Wolverine and Nick Fury running around! This issue has articles on them, as well as Indiana Jones and the second volume of A Sailor's Story. 

And in Salicrup's Section, readers found a dire warning: Marvel Age would soon go up in price from $.50 to a whole buck! 

Marvel Age #77

Price: $0.50 US 

Pages: 36 (32 interior plus four covers)

On sale: April 18, 1989

Cover date: August 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

• Cindy Kruhm: Designer

• 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, Terry Kavanagh, Howard Mackie, Dwayne McDuffie, Marc McLaurin, Al Milgrom, Carl Potts, Mike Rockwitz, Marc Siry, 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, Paul Becton, Harry Candelario, Rob Carosella, Harry Eisenstein, Vince Evans,  Dawn Geiger, Jesus Gonzalez, Brad K. Joyce, Ken Lopez, Ed Magalong, Jade Moede, Joyce Phus and Rodney S. Timmons: Production

• Keith Pollard: Cover

• Gregory Wright: Colorist

• Christine Aurilia, Dwight Coye, Dan Cuddy, Tom Fardy, Suzanne Gaffney, Marie Javins, John Lewandowski, George Roussos, Stu Schwartzberg, Mark Silverman, and Evan Skolnick: 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: License Revoked

Front cover 

• Character: Nick Fury and some Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

 Inside front cover

• Salicrup's Section 

• Marvel Agenda (contents) 

• Masthead 

• Indicia 

• Subscription coupon

Pages 1 - 7

Marvel Coming Attractions

Titles on sale May 23

• Captain America #357
• Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23
• Marvel Comics Presents #27
• Conan the King #54
• Excalibur #12
• Saga of Wolverine #1
• Sensational She-Hulk #5
• Punisher War Journal #8
• Web of Spider-Man #54
• G.I. Joe Special Missions #25
• West Coast Avengers #48
• G.I. Joe European Missions #12

Titles on sale May 30

• Amazing Spider-Man #319
• Avengers Spotlight #22
• Alf #19
• Groo the Wanderer #55
• Heathcliff #37
• Alpha Flight #74
• Marvel Universe Update #3
• Power Line #8
• Wolverine #11
• The War #4
• Nth Man #2
• The New Mutants #79
• Punisher Annual #2
• Savage Sword of Conan #163
• The 'Nam Trade Paperback #3
• A Sailor's Story #2 

Titles on sale June 6

• Marvel Age Magazine #78
• The Incredible Hulk #359
• Captain America #358
• The Avengers #307
• Marvel Tales #227
• Conan the Barbarian #222
• G.I. Joe #90
• The Punisher #23
• Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9
• Uncanny X-Men #248
• Silver Surfer #27
• Marvel Comics Presents #28
• What If...? #3
• S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
• The Saga of the Sub-Mariner #11
• Death's Head #7

Titles on sale June 13

• Fantastic Four #330
• Thor #407
• Count Duckula #6
• The Transformers #56
• X-Factor #44
• Wolverine #12
• Daredevil Annual #4
• Conan Saga #28
• The Amazing Spider-Man #320
• Akira #12
• Groo Chronicles #3

Titles on sale June 20

• Captain America #359
• Spectacular Spider-Man #154
• Classic X-Men #37
• The 'Nam #34
• Iron Man #246
• Moon Knight #4
• Doctor Strange #7
• Marvel Comics Presents #29
• Alf Annual #2 

Page 8

Newswatch 

Item: At last, the Adult Thermonuclear Samurai Elephants one-shot is on the way, under its new name, Power Pachyderms.

Item: Doctor Who will be back in U.S. comics with the graphic novel Voyager: A Doctor Who Adventure. 

Item: Assistant editor Sue Flaxman is leaving staff; new assistant editor Renée Witterstaeter is joining staff, to work with Craig Anderson. 

Top Ten

December 1988

1. The Uncanny X-Men #243
2. Excalibur #7
3. Havok and Wolverine 39
4. X-Factor #39
5. The Amazing Spider-Man #314
6. The Punisher War Journal #5
7. The Punisher #18
8. The New Mutants #74
9. West Coast Avengers #43

    26. Marvel Age Magazine #73

Page 9

Mark's Remarks

Page 10

Marvel Trivia Quiz

Pages 11 - 12

The Mutant Report

"Wolverine Saga," by Peter Sanderson 

Pages 13 - 14

Article: "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," by Sandy Hausler

Page 15 

Article: "The Punisher Magazine," by Sholly Fisch

Pages 16 - 17

Hembeck's Page in Marvel Age

Page 18 

Stan's Soapbox

Willie Lumpkin, by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo

Pages 19 - 20

Article: "Don't Yield, Back Shield!" by Sholly Fisch

Pages 21 - 25

Shield Preview

Pages 26 - 27

Article: "A Sailor's Story 2: Winds, Dream, and Dragons," by Barry Dutter

Pages 28 - 29

The Marvel Age of Comics: 1979 Part II

Pages 30 - 32

Letters Column: "Thor-ty Something," suggested by Shawn McAmie

Inside back cover

Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards for 1988 ballot

Back cover

Ad for The Nth Man