Marvel Fanfare #3
Published and © by Marvel, July 1982
Title: “Into the Land of Death …”
Synopsis: The X-Men race to the Savage Land to join Angel in battling a recently unleashed Sauron.
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Dave Cockrum
Inker: Bob McLeod
Review: After two OK chapters (see reviews of Marvel Fanfare #1 and #2), Chris Claremont’s story finally feels like a full-blown X-Men adventure. Sadly, Dave Cockrum’s art here is a major step down form the Micheal Golden’s work on previous installments. Still, this is a solid X-outing for the era.
•••
Title: “Swashbucklers”
Synopsis: Hawkeye interrupts Al Águila’s attempt to break into Cross Technological Enterprises – but is the avenging archer on the right side?
Writer: Charlie Boatner
Penciler: Trevor Von Eeden
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Review: With its little-known author and pedestrian art, this backup tale doesn’t seem worthy of either fanfare or Fanfare.
Grade (for the entire issue): B-
Second opinion: “Cockrum’s art is not just banal. It’s weird and banal.” – Comics Coast to Coast #2, 1982
Cool factor: Marvel Fanfare has promise …
Not-so-cool factor: … but it’s already faltering.
Notable: Includes a one-page “Editori-Al” strip by Al Milgrom. … The “Marvel Fanflair” letters page includes an LoC from Paul Smith.
Character quotable: “Our capacity to kill is as infinite as out capacity to love. An’ it comes a lot more easily, too.” – Wolverine, violent philosopher
Editor’s note: This review was written Aug. 31, 2021.
