| Marvel Feature | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Marvel Feature #1 (December 1971) Cover art byNeal Adams. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Schedule | (vol. 1) Bimonthly (vol. 2) Bimonthly |
| Format | Ongoing |
| Publication date | (vol. 1) December 1971–November 1973 (vol. 2) November 1975–November 1976 |
| No. of issues | (vol. 1) 12 (vol. 2) 7 |
| Main character(s) | (vol. 1) TheDefenders,Ant-Man, and TheThing (vol. 2)Red Sonja |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | List
|
| Penciller | List
|
| Inker | List
|
Marvel Feature was a comic bookshowcase series published byMarvel Comics in the 1970s. It was a tryout book, intended to test the popularity of characters and concepts being considered for their own series. The first volume led to the launch ofThe Defenders andMarvel Two-in-One, while volume two led to an ongoingRed Sonja series.
Marvel Feature was one of three tryout books proposed byStan Lee after he transitioned from being Marvel Comics' writer and editor to its president and publisher, the others beingMarvel Spotlight andMarvel Premiere.[1] The advantage of such tryout books was that they allowed the publisher to assess a feature's popularity without the marketing investment required to launch a new series, and without the blow to the publisher's image with readers if the new series immediately failed.[1]
The first series was published for twelve issues from December 1971 until November 1973.[2] The lead story inMarvel Feature #1, by writerRoy Thomas and artistRoss Andru, featured the first team-up of theHulk,Doctor Strange, andNamor as theDefenders.[3] The first two issues ofMarvel Feature were in the 52-page format, with the remaining pages filled out by a new Doctor Strange solo tale and a Sub-Mariner reprint.[1] The Defenders continued as the stars ofMarvel Feature for two more issues and then received their own self-titled series in August 1972.
Ant-Man was the lead ofMarvel Feature for issues #4–10, paired with his un-billed female companion, theWasp, starting with issue #6. Doing an Ant-Man feature was editor Roy Thomas's idea, but he found he did not have the time to write it himself and so turned it over to writerMike Friedrich and artistHerb Trimpe.[1] The series featured the only comics work of Trimpe's brother, Mike, who inked issue #6 over Herb's pencils. Herb Trimpe explained that Mike was agraphic designer at the time and took on the inking job when his regular work slowed down.[1] Issues #7–10 each featured three separate Ant-Man stories and included art byP. Craig Russell. The final issue also reprinted non-Pym stories from theTales to Astonish series, all written by Stan Lee.
Marvel Feature #11 featured a battle between theThing and the Hulk. Issue #12 teamed the Thing andIron Man and featured an early appearance ofThanos. Both issues were penciled byJim Starlin. As withThe Defenders before it, the concept of teaming the Thing with a different character each issue proved popular enough during itsMarvel Feature tryout to justify a regular series, titledMarvel Two-in-One.[1]
The series was cancelled as of issue #12. Though it was successful in its intended role as a popularity gauge (both of the series spun off ofMarvel Feature had long runs with generally strong sales), it was unable to sustain a readership of its own.[1]
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The second series featuredRed Sonja, a supporting character from the ancient fantasy world ofConan the Barbarian. It was published for seven issues from November 1975 until November 1976.[4]Roy Thomas wrote issues #1, #6, and #7, whileBruce Jones scripted the other issues. Except for issue #1, drawn byDick Giordano, the art for the series was by the creator most associated with Red Sonja,Frank Thorne.[5] The character then received her own self-titled series in January 1977.
[Roy] Thomas and artist Ross Andru reunited [Doctor] Strange, the Hulk, and Namor as a brand new Marvel superhero team - the Defenders."
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Thorne's breakthrough came in 1975, when he was asked to draw 'Red Sonja' for Marvel.