Marvel Fanfare is the title of two comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Both versions of Marvel Fanfare were anthology, showcase titles featuring a variety of characters from the Marvel universe.
Volume One
Marvel Fanfare featured characters and settings from throughout the Marvel Universe, and included stories of varying lengths by a vast array of different creators. The title was published every two months from March 1982 to December 1991 and ran for 60 issues. It was edited throughout its run by Al Milgrom, who also wrote and drew an illustrated column in most issues, entitled "Editori-Al". Marvel Fanfare's original working title was Marvel Universe, which was later appropriated by Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter for the encyclopedia series The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.
The series began with a Spider-Man/Angel team-up story by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden. Other Spider-Man appearance in the title included team-ups with the Scarlet Witch in issue #6 (January 1983) and the Hulk in issue #47 (November 1989). A Silver Surfer story by Steve Englehart and John Buscema that was originally intended for the character's own series appeared in Marvel Fanfare #51.
Marvel Fanfare was envisioned as a showcase of the comics industry's best talent. Each issue featured 36 pages of material with no advertisements and it was printed on magazine-style slick paper. it was more than twice as expensive as standard comic books ($1.25 in 1982 when most titles were 60 cents and $2.25 in 1991 when most were $1).
Editor Milgrom wrote of his experience with the series:
Volume Two
Marvel Fanfare Volume Two was published monthly for 6 issues between 1996 and 1997. This version of the title was edited by James Felder.
Like the first volume the title featured different creative teams in each issue and starred different characters from around the Marvel universe. However, the talent were mostly newcomers, the paper was cheap and it cost half the price of most other comics (99 cents when most comics cost $1.95).
The title is notable for featuring the early work of writer Joe Kelly and penciller Scott Kolins.
Collected Editions
- X-Men: In the Savage Land collects Marvel Fanfare #1-4, 96 pages, June 1988, ISBN 978-0871353382
- The Jungle Book includes material from Marvel Fanfare #8â€"11, 64 pages, April 2007
- Black Widow: Web of Intrigue collects Marvel Fanfare #10-13, 176 pages, April 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-4475-5
- Thor: The Warriors Three collects Warriors Three stories from Marvel Fanfare #13 and #34-37, 136 pages, September 2010, ISBN 978-0785144809
- Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph & Torment includes Namor the Sub-Mariner stories from Marvel Fanfare #16 and #43, 160 pages, 2013, ISBN 978-0-7851-8454-6
- Cloak & Dagger: Crime and Punishment includes Marvel Fanfare #19, 264 pages, June 2012, ISBN 978-0785161295
- The Incredible Hulk Visionaries â€" John Byrne includes the Hulk story from Marvel Fanfare #29, 208 pages, June 2008, ISBN 978-0785127055
- Essential Moon Knight vol. 3 includes Moon Knight stories from Marvel Fanfare #30 and 38-39, 528 pages, November 2009, ISBN 978-0-7851-3070-3
- Essential Silver Surfer vol. 2 includes Marvel Fanfare #51, 600 pages, June 2007, ISBN 978-0-7851-2700-0
- Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades includes Hellcat story from Marvel Fanfare #59, 1,160 pages, January 2011, ISBN 978-0785143260
