- Marvel Feature
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Marvel Feature 
Cover art Marvel Feature #1, vol. 1 (December 1971)
Art by Neal Adams.Publication information Publisher Marvel Comics Schedule Irregular (vol. 1)
Bimonthly (vol. 2)Format Ongoing Publication date December 1971-November 1973 (vol. 1)
November 1975-November 1976 (vol. 2)Number of issues 12 (vol. 1)
7 (vol. 2)Main character(s) The Defenders, Ant-Man, and The Thing (vol. 1)
Red Sonja (vol. 2)Creative team Writer(s) Roy Thomas, Bruce Jones (vol. 2) Artist(s) Frank Thorne (vol. 2) Collected editions Essential Defenders, vol. 1 ISBN 0785115471 Essential Marvel Two-in-One, vol. 1 ISBN 0785117296 Marvel Feature was the name of two comic book showcase series published by Marvel Comics in the 1970s. The first volume led to the launching of the new ongoing series The Defenders and Marvel Two-in-One, while volume two led to the new ongoing series Red Sonja.
Contents
Volume One
The first series was a superhero comic that was published for twelve issues, at irregular intervals from December 1971 until November 1973. The lead story in Marvel Feature #1, written by Roy Thomas, featured the first team-up of the Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange, and the Sub-Mariner as the Defenders, as well as a guest appearance by the Silver Surfer. The issue also included two backup stories, one reprinted from Sub-Mariner Comics #40 and the other a new Dr. Strange solo tale. The Defenders continued as the stars of Marvel Feature for only two more issues and then received their own self-titled book beginning the following month. Marvel Feature #2 reprinted a story from Sub-Mariner Comics #36, and the third issue had no backup story.
After receiving a good fan response when a story appeared in Iron Man #44, Ant-Man then became the lead of Marvel Feature for issues #4-10, paired with his un-billed female companion, the Wasp, starting with issue #6. Issues #7-10 each featured three separate Ant-Man stories and included art by P. Craig Russell. The final issue also reprinted non-Pym stories from the Tales to Astonish series, all written by Stan Lee.
Marvel Feature #11 was the first solo story Marvel published of the Thing from the Fantastic Four, and involved him in a fan-favorite fight against the Hulk. The final issue teamed the Thing up with Iron Man, and the Thing was then given a regular series called Marvel Two-In-One in which he teamed up with a different character each issue, a format that had already proven popular with Spider-Man in Marvel Team-Up. Both issues were penciled by Jim Starlin.
Volume Two
Marvel Feature #1, vol. 2 (November 1975)
The second series featured Red Sonja, a supporting character from the ancient fantasy world of Conan the Barbarian. It was published for only seven issues, from November 1975 until November 1976. Roy Thomas wrote issues #1 and #7, while Bruce Jones scripted the other issues. Except for issue #1, drawn by Dick Giordano, the art for the series was by the creator most associated with Red Sonja, Frank Thorne. The character then received her own self-titled series in January 1977.
Collected Editions
- Essential Defenders Vol. 1 (Marvel Feature Vol. 1 #1-3)
- Essential Marvel-Two-in-One Vol. 1 (Marvel Feature Vol. 1 #11-12)
External links
- Marvel Feature listing in the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators; includes table listing writers, artists, and stories for each issue
Defenders Creators Initial characters Opponents Related topics List of Defenders members • Marvel FeatureHenry Pym Creators Identities Successors Clint Barton • Rita DeMara • Bill Foster • Tom Foster • Erik Josten • Cassandra Lang • Scott Lang • Eric O'GradyOpponents Supporting Characters Comic book titles Tales to Astonish • Marvel FeatureCategories:- Marvel Comics titles
- 1971 comic debuts
- 1975 comic debuts
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