Marvel Comics Presents ran for 175 issues from 1988 until 1995. Each issue included four eight-page stories with typically two or three on-going features (and no ads). It spotlighted some of the leading creators of mainstream comics over a period of precipitous economic growth and even more rapid decline. Reading through it is an opportunity to revisit any number of weird aspects of 90s superhero comics. This blog is a primitive, oddly regimented, manifestly scattershot crawl through an often disappointing but occasionally splendid comic. All image copyrights are Marvel's. Issue credits linked below. Updated on Wednesdays. #1: Early Sept 1988(09.25.19) Credits: comicbookdb This Walt Simonson cover is justly lauded for its angular, geometric Wolverine, but Simonson also takes real advantage of the wraparound cover to offer an even more remarkable, totemic Man-Thing. It's striking to see him handle a heap of vegetation so deftly, given his typical Thor and FF stomping grounds. The back and front are dynamically integrated by the countervailing Shang-Chi and Silver Surfer paths, which is, rather sadly, a design feature that will wax and wane moving forward in the series. A. Wolverine, "Save the Tiger" [1/10] A noir-ish opening act in Madripoor with Wolverine thrashing some thugs. The Janson inks over John Buscema's pencils set a weird but inviting tone with some dewey pastels courtesy of Glynis Oliver (formerly Wein). A splash-then-double-splash to open over the skyline does the nice work of grounding the characteristically Wolverine/Patch stomping ground. Claremont's Logan voiceover is tight and propulsive but even at this early stage it's easy to anticipate how it'll eventually become a familiar subject of parody. A promising introductory installment replete with a high tension hook. B. Man-Thing, "Elements of Terror" [1/12] From the mistaken credits on the interior cover, you might think that Moench and Gerber are swapping their standard haunts, but in actuality we find Gerber picking up his deep engagement with Man-Thing and displaying his unparalleled grasp of Man-Thing's odd but crucial empathic conceit. In this first installment, however, the story here feels somewhat secondary, given Sutton's exemplary, marshy textures. A gruesome high point comes with a peculiar ossified, crystalline ghoul that reminds of Bissette and Totleben's Fluoronic Man. Sutton's work throughout this feature likely marks the closet Man-Thing will approach Moore-era Swamp Thing in visual terms. And, while some of the transitions and action are obscurely rendered, the atmosphere and teetering layouts make for a lively opening entry. C. Shang-Chi, "Crossing Lines" [1/8] Moench returns to his deliberately paced, introspective Shang-Chi beat but there seems to be none of the vibrancy of Gulacy or Day here. This installment, unlike the previous two, comes off as both retrospective and preamble. Most concerningly, the actual combat, penciled by Tom Grindberg and finished by Dave Cockrum, feels both over-rendered and oddly dashed off. Some goons are dispatched and Shang-Chi is reunited with his supporting cast with little fanfare, but the vaguely poetic narration that's intended to undergird things doesn't resonate. This is likely the story that needed the most propulsive start for the uninitiated audience, so it stands out as a badly missed opportunity. D. Silver Surfer, "Fear Itself" A self-contained Silver Surfer yarn with a simple hook: Surfer is assailed by a fear-eating alien that puts him through a few trials in hopes of consuming deep, unique terror. Al Milgrom writes and inks with a (hopefully deliberate) silver age-inspired goofiness and channels the compressed, dopey vibes of a C feature in an annual issue. Notable perhaps for exploring Silver Surfer psychodrama without lapsing into unduly overwrought monologue, but this kicks off a tepid run of Fear Eater stories that are catalogued as one shots despite the thread running throughout. Power Ranking: Wolverine (B+), Man-Thing (B), Silver Surfer (B), Shang-Chi (C)