Charles and Diana … Luke and Laura … Peter Parker and Mary Jane … all couples whose weddings were the must-see events of the 1980s. This episode, I’ll be taking a look at that last one, as I look at both The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 and Marvel Age #54. Plus, I’ll also be continuing my look at the “Joes in Captivity” storyline with G.I. Joe #63.
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And as a bonus, here are some scans from the inside of Marvel Age #54 that feature the wedding of Spider-Man and Mary Jane.
The cover article…
Fred Hembeck’s cartoon about the couple’s married life …
A look at Willi Smith and the design of Mary Jane Watson’s dress (complete with paper dolls!) …
A look at the 1987 Marvel Saga annual …
Peter Parker’s Bachelor Party …
The calendar from the inside back cover …
The back cover of the issue featuring the happy couple …
Buster Witwicky fights off Ratbat in the Car Wash of Doom and The Punisher takes down a drug cartel in Bolivia! It’s the latest episode of Origin Story where I have a two-fer of Marvel Comics from 1987, starting with The Transformers #31 and ending with The Punisher #2.
Stalker, Quick-Kick, and Snow Job are in the gulag; Outback returns to Joe headquarters; Billy enters the ninja; and I talk about Trivial Pursuit. It’s all here in the latest episode of Origin Story, where I cover G.I. Joe #62.
The “Joes captured behind the Iron Curtain” storyline continues as Outback, the one who got away, escapes and fights his way across the border in G.I. Joe Special Missions #6. As always, I take a look at the comic and give it a review. Then, I spend time talking about the Stephen King novels published in 1987, especially his fantasy story The Eyes of the Dragon.
This time around, I have three … that’s right, THREE comics in ONE episode! I start off with the last of my FCTC-era Superman books for this show, which is Superman #7, then head over to Marvel for some military-grade violence! First, there’s the first issue in an UNLIMITED series with The Punisher #1 followed by the start of my all-time favorite G.I. Joe storyline with G.I. Joe #61.
In this episode of Origin Story, Bumblebee and Blaster head to Arizona and wind up victims of The Scraplets. Plus, I manage to make an Office Space joke at the expense of the Decepticons! It’s all in Transformers #29. Plus, I ramble about Top Gun even more, complete with Diet Pepsi commercial!
The finale of the second three-part “Punisher Invades The ‘Nam” and Chuck Dixon’s last issue of the series takes us through the end of Iceman’s story about Frank Castle’s time in country, with plenty of action, as Frank defends a firebase and confronts the colonel who may or may not know about the shady things that have led to his fellow soldiers’ deaths. It’s “Down to the Ground” by Chuck Dixon, Kevin Kobasic, adn Jimmy Palmiotti in The ‘Nam #69.
Chuck Dixon, Kevin Kobasic, and Jimmy Palmiotti take us through the second part of a three-part Punisher storyline with “The Walking Dead.” Frank has made his way back to his firebase and has uncovered the nefarious deeds of his C.O. Will he confront him or will he perish in a firefight before he can dole out … PUNISHMENT?! Oh, stop laughing. Anyway, I cover the issue and give a very brief review (I’m saving it for the finale, I guess), cover letters and ads, and take a look at the rest of 1971.
Frank Castle is back in the second “Punisher in ‘The ‘Nam'” storyline! This time around, I take a look at The ‘Nam #67, the first of a three-parter starring the Marvel vigilante who was so popular in the early 1990s that he got a book about his weapons. But at this point, he’s not The Punisher yet, although he does … punish. It’s brought to you by Chuck Dixon, Kevin Kobasic, and Jimmy Palmiotti. In addition to the issue, I’ll also be covering the historical context for the summer of 1971.
In the sixth episode of Origin Story, I wrap up my coverage of the ultimate Hasbro crossover by taking a look at G.I. Joe and the Transformers #4. Do the Joes and Cobras save the world with the help of the Autobots? Will Hawk and Barbara get back together? Does anyone care about the Anthony storyline? Plus, Bumblebee becomes Goldbug! And I ponder the nature of nostalgia.
Pop Culture Affidavit 