Cover: Patrick Rolo & John Czop & Reggie Jones & Tim Dzon

Marvel Comics Presents #170

Dec 1994 · Marvel · 1.75 USD; 2.35 CAD

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★ 1st appearance — Suzi Endo

About this Issue

Marvel Comics Presents #170 is notable primarily as the debut issue of Psychobabble, a multiple-personality shape-shifter who challenged both Doc Samson and Vengeance across this issue and its immediate sequel, representing one of the more psychologically textured villain introductions in the late run of the anthology. The issue also functions as a documented chapter of the 'Hands of the Mandarin' crossover event, weaving the anthology's episodic structure into the wider Iron Man family of titles and illustrating how Marvel used MCP in 1994 to expand crossover real estate at a low page-count cost. As one of the final two dozen issues of the original 1988–1995 anthology series — which wrapped with issue #175 — it belongs to the twilight phase of a format that had launched careers and housed major stories such as 'Weapon X.'

In "In the Hands of the Mandarin, Part 2 of 2: Inner Demons," Doc Samson is pulled from a counseling session when an emergency at the institute holding one of his former patients demands his attention. With Vengeance by his side, Samson heads into uncertain territory, where past secrets and psychological shadows threaten to erupt. Written by Chris Cooper and illustrated by Reggie Jones and Fred Harper, with colors by Ashley Posella and letters by Diana Albers, this 1994 issue features a cover by Patrick Rolo, John Czop, Reggie Jones, and Tim Dzon.

Contains 4 stories

[In the Hands of the Mandarin, Part 2 of 2:] Inner Demons

8 pp · Superhero

In "In the Hands of the Mandarin, Part 2 of 2: Inner Demons," the Mandarin confronts a haunting array of past selves, each a fragment of his fractured legacy. As he overcomes these echoes, the Heart of Darkness bestows upon him a terrifying new power—ushering in a chilling new chapter of conquest.

Suzi

8 pp · Superhero

Red Wolf

8 pp · Western-Frontier

Billy Two-Rivers (introduction)John Stands-in-Timber (introduction)Randall (introduction, villain)Tarantino (introduction, villain)Mason (Maggia boss, introduction, villain)

Shrinking to Nothing [Part 1]

8 pp · Horror-Suspense, Superhero

In "Shrinking to Nothing [Part 1]," psychiatrist Doc Samson is pulled from a session with patient Badilino when an urgent call summons him to the institute housing one of his former patients. With tension already high, Samson brings Vengeance along for backup as they head into the unknown.

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More listings for this title

VF+ $5.88 VG $7.3 FN $11 VF $15 Newsstand $16.99 VF/NM · Newsstand $23.1 Marvel Comics Presents # 170 US $3.4 Marvel Comics Presents #170 Comic 1994 - Marvel Comics - Force Works $6.91

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History

Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as a bi-weekly anthology, with each issue packaging four roughly eight-page serials or standalones across a flip-book format introduced at issue #90. By late 1994, the series had replaced its long-running Wolverine and Ghost Rider anchors with Vengeance (Michael Badilino) as the recurring lead feature starting with issue #147, a shift documented on the Wikipedia MCP page. Issue #170 was edited by Richard Ashford, with Ralph Macchio as group editor and Tom DeFalco as editor-in-chief, and went on sale December 25, 1994 per the Grand Comics Database. The Vengeance serial in this issue was written by Chris Cooper with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, while the Mandarin and Force Works tie-in segments were connected to the broader 'Hands of the Mandarin' crossover scripted primarily by Len Kaminski and Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning across Iron Man, War Machine, and Force Works.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of Psychobabble (a shape-shifting multiple-personality criminal), who debuts in the Vengeance serial written by Chris Cooper, penciled by Reggie Jones, and inked by Fred Harper; the character continues into MCP #171.
Contains 'In the Hands of the Mandarin Part 2 – Inner Demons,' a direct tie-in to the 1994 'Hands of the Mandarin' crossover, which ran across Iron Man, War Machine, Force Works, and MCP #169–172; this segment's events take place prior to Iron Man #307 in internal chronology.
The 'Suzi' story focuses on Suzi Endo (a Stark Enterprises Hong Kong executive with cybernetic abilities) from the POV of the Force Works team during the events of Force Works #7; the character's first full appearance was in Force Works #6.
Red Wolf (William Talltrees) and his wolf companion Lobo appear in a standalone story defending a Native American casino from a Maggia takeover attempt — one of several 1990s MCP stories to feature the character.
Vengeance's story establishes Doc Samson as Michael Badilino's psychiatrist, bringing together two Marvel characters whose histories were otherwise unconnected, and sets up the Pendleton Institute for the Criminally Insane as a key setting.
The MCP Hands of the Mandarin tie-in segments (issues #169–172) were later collected in the 2013 trade paperback Iron Man/War Machine: Hands of the Mandarin.
Issue was edited by Richard Ashford (editor), Ralph Macchio (group editor), and Tom DeFalco (editor-in-chief); on-sale date per the Grand Comics Database was December 25, 1994.
The Butterfly, Lich, Foundry, Deluge, and Q'Wake appearing in the Force Works/Mandarin segment are the Mandarin's Avatars — a group of superpowered alien-empowered servants introduced in Force Works #6 during the same crossover.