Marvel Feature was the name of two comic book showcase series published by Marvel Comics in the 1970s. The first volume led to the launch of The Defenders and Marvel Two-in-One, while volume two led to an ongoing Red Sonja series.
Volume One
The first series was published for twelve issues from December 1971 until November 1973. The lead story in Marvel Feature #1, by writer Roy Thomas and artist Ross Andru, featured the first team-up of the Hulk, Doctor Strange, and the Sub-Mariner as the Defenders. The issue included a new Dr. Strange solo tale. The Defenders continued as the stars of Marvel Feature for two more issues and then received their own self-titled series in August 1972. Marvel Feature #3 saw the Defenders battle Xemnu, a huge, furry, alien monster which had originally been named "the Hulk".
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 featured a battle between the Thing of the Fantastic Four and the Hulk. The final issue teamed the Thing and Iron Man, and featured an early Thanos appearance. Both issues were penciled by Jim Starlin. The Thing was then given a regular series titled 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.
Volume Two
The second series featured Red Sonja, a supporting character from the ancient fantasy world of Conan the Barbarian. It was published for seven issues from November 1975 until November 1976. Roy Thomas wrote issues #1, #6, 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
- Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 1 includes Marvel Feature #1-3, 256 pages, July 2008, ISBN 978-0785130444
- Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange Vol. 4 includes Doctor Strange story from Marvel Feature #1, 272 pages, January 2010, ISBN 978-0785134954
- Essential Defenders Volume 1 includes Marvel Feature #1-3, 544 pages, May 2005, ISBN 978-0785115472
- Essential Marvel Two-in-One Vol. 1 includes Marvel Feature #11-12, 576 pages, November 2005, ISBN 978-0785117292
- The Superhero Women: Featuring the Fabulous Females of Marvel Comics includes Marvel Feature vol. 2 #4, 254 pages, November 1977, Simon & Schuster, ISBN 978-0671229283
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