Marvel Comics Presents
Encyclopedia
Marvel Comics Presents was an American comic book
anthology
series published by Marvel Comics
originally from 1988 to 1995; it returned for a second volume in 2007-2008.
, and often featured work by creators previously unpublished in the comics field. Including Scott Lobdell
(later X-men Writer). Who started work under the editorship of Tom DeFalco
.
The original plan was for the lead story to feature different members of the X-Men
in solo adventures lasting between eight and ten episodes. The first ten issues featured Wolverine
; others featured were Colossus
, Cyclops
, Havok, and Excalibur
. From issue 39 onwards, Wolverine
was featured as the lead story in all issues. Particularly notable was "Weapon X
" in issues #72-84, which revealed Wolverine's origin, with story and art by Barry Windsor-Smith
.
Later Ghost Rider
was added to the series as "co-lead" feature, and the book adopted a "flip-book" format, thereby allowing each of the two characters cover billing. Eventually other characters, such as Man-Thing
and Lunatik
, got cover billing.
Several of the Wolverine storylines have since been collected and reprinted in trade paperback format. The first volume features Wolverine's first adventures in Madripoor
, a fictional island that became Wolverine's second home during the late 1980s, as well as the "introduction" of Tyger Tiger
.
, and John Barber. The series hosted two 12-part stories (The Vanguard super-team and Weapon Omega
) and a host of short single to five-part stories involving a variety of characters within the Marvel Universe. The series was cancelled with issue 12.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
originally from 1988 to 1995; it returned for a second volume in 2007-2008.
Volume 1
The first volume was released on a biweekly basis and lasted for 175 issues. Each issue had four eight-page stories, of which generally two were episodes in ongoing serials and two were one-episode stories. The one-episode stories generally featured obscure or little-seen characters from the Marvel universeMarvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
, and often featured work by creators previously unpublished in the comics field. Including Scott Lobdell
Scott Lobdell
Scott Lobdell is an American comic book writer.-Early Career:Scott didn't begin to read comics until he was 17 years old, while lying in bed after lung surgery....
(later X-men Writer). Who started work under the editorship of Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well known for his association with Marvel Comics and in particular for his work with Spider-Man.-Career:...
.
The original plan was for the lead story to feature different members of the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
in solo adventures lasting between eight and ten episodes. The first ten issues featured Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
; others featured were Colossus
Colossus (comics)
Colossus is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Len Wein and illustrator Dave Cockrum, he first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
, Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
, Havok, and Excalibur
Excalibur (comics)
Excalibur is a Marvel Comics superhero group, an off-shoot of the X-Men, usually based in the United Kingdom. Conceived by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer Alan Davis, the original Excalibur first appeared in Excalibur Special Edition , also known as Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn.The...
. From issue 39 onwards, Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
was featured as the lead story in all issues. Particularly notable was "Weapon X
Weapon X (story arc)
"Weapon X" is a comic book story arc written and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith and published by Marvel Comics. The story arc appears in Marvel Comics Presents #72-84 and tells the story of Wolverine during his time in Weapon X.-Plot:...
" in issues #72-84, which revealed Wolverine's origin, with story and art by Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith, born Barry Smith is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States....
.
Later Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
was added to the series as "co-lead" feature, and the book adopted a "flip-book" format, thereby allowing each of the two characters cover billing. Eventually other characters, such as Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
and Lunatik
Lunatik
Lunatik is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.- Publication history :Lunatik first appeared in Creatures on the Loose #35-37 , and was created by David Anthony Kraft and George Pérez....
, got cover billing.
Several of the Wolverine storylines have since been collected and reprinted in trade paperback format. The first volume features Wolverine's first adventures in Madripoor
Madripoor
The Principality of Madripoor is a fictional island located in Southeast Asia in the Marvel Comics universe. Based on illustrations, it is in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore.-Publication history:...
, a fictional island that became Wolverine's second home during the late 1980s, as well as the "introduction" of Tyger Tiger
Jessan Hoan
Tyger Tiger is a fictional character most often appearing in Wolverine stories in the Marvel Comics universe. She is a former banker turned crime lord.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Volume 2
In 2007 the anthology series returned, also including work by creators previously unpublished in the comics field. The series' editors were Warren Simons, Nick Lowe, Andy SchmidtAndy Schmidt
Peter Andrewes Schmidt is a comic book editor and writer. He is best known for his work at Marvel and is now editing and writing at other companies.-Biography:...
, and John Barber. The series hosted two 12-part stories (The Vanguard super-team and Weapon Omega
Weapon Omega
Michael Pointer is a fictional character code-named Omega, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. He first appeared in New Avengers #16 as the Collective before becoming a member of the Omega Flight team...
) and a host of short single to five-part stories involving a variety of characters within the Marvel Universe. The series was cancelled with issue 12.
Bibliography
- Marvel Comics Presents Vol. 1 #1-175
- Marvel Comics Presents Vol. 2 #1-12
Collected editions
- Marvel Comics Presents: Wolverine Vol. 1 (Vol. 1 #1-10)
- Marvel Comics Presents: Wolverine Vol. 2 (Vol. 1 #39-50)
- Marvel Comics Presents: Wolverine Vol. 3 (Vol. 1 #51-61)
- Marvel Comics Presents: Wolverine Vol. 4 (Vol. 1 #62-71)
- Wolverine: Weapon X (Vol. 1 #72-84)
- Wolverine: Blood Hungry (Vol. 1 #85-92)
- Patsy Walker: Hellcat (Vol. 2 #1-4)
- Marvel Comics Presents: Weapon Omega (Vol. 2 #1-12)