Marvel Comics Presents #85
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeMarvel Comics Presents #85 is the opening chapter of the eight-part 'Blood Hungry' arc, and its primary historical distinction is delivering the cameo introduction of Cyber (Silas Burr) — an adamantium-laced villain built to be Wolverine's physical and psychological superior, and the character whose later confrontation with Logan directly led to the 'Patch' eye-patch identity. The issue also marks the professional Marvel debut of two artists who would go on to define a generation of comics: Sam Kieth drew Wolverine for the first time here, bringing a deliberately feral, almost abstract physicality to the character that stood apart from every contemporary style; and Jae Lee made his first published Marvel appearance in the Beast backup feature, an early glimpse of the gothic draftsmanship he would later channel into Eisner-winning work on Inhumans. As the issue immediately following Barry Windsor-Smith's landmark 'Weapon X' run (which concluded in #84), it represents a deliberate creative handoff — from one idiosyncratic visual voice to another.
In "Blood Hungry Part One: First Scent," Beast receives an unexpected invitation to the International Symposium on Mutant Research, a chance to reconnect with Jennifer Nyles—his former friend whose memories were erased by Professor X when Hank joined the X-Men. Written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Rob Liefeld, Jae Lee, and Tim Dzon, this issue blends intrigue and personal stakes in a story that sets a tense, atmospheric tone. The cover by Sam Kieth captures the mood with a striking, foreboding image.
In "Just Friends Part One: Professor!" from Marvel Comics Presents #85, Beast receives an unexpected invitation to the International Symposium on Mutant Research, sparking hope that he might finally reconnect with Jennifer Nyles—his former friend whose memories were erased by Professor X when Hank joined the X-Men. The story unfolds as Hank navigates the tense atmosphere of the symposium, where old wounds and unanswered questions begin to surface.
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The issue was edited by Terry Kavanagh with Mark Powers as assistant editor and Tom DeFalco as editor-in-chief, and went on sale July 23, 1991 with a cover date of September 1991. The lead Wolverine story was written by Peter David and drawn by Sam Kieth, a pairing that had previously collaborated on Marvel's short-lived Nightmare on Elm Street comic; Kieth also provided the wrap-around cover. The Beast serial — 'Just Friends,' written by Scott Lobdell — launched with pencils split between Rob Liefeld and the then-unknown Jae Lee, with Lee taking over the art duties more fully from issue #87 onward; editor Terry Kavanagh was sufficiently impressed by Lee's work here that he later tapped him to succeed John Byrne on Namor the Sub-Mariner. The Firestar serial ('Life During Wartime,' part 4 of its run) was written and colored by Marcus McLaurin with art by Dwayne Turner, while Scott Lobdell scripted the Speedball short story with art by Ron Wilson.
Trivia · 9 facts
- First (cameo) appearance of Cyber (Silas Burr), created by writer Peter David and artist Sam Kieth — Cyber arrives in Madripoor in shadow and disguise; his full appearance and name are withheld until issue #86.
- This is Sam Kieth's first interior art on Wolverine, launching the 'Blood Hungry' eight-part arc (issues #85–92); Kieth also drew the wraparound cover.
- Jae Lee's first published Marvel Comics work appears in this issue — he penciled portions of the Beast serial ('Just Friends,' Part 1), written by Scott Lobdell, beginning a run that ran through issue #92.
- The issue contains four serialized stories: 'Blood Hungry Part 1: First Scent' (Wolverine), 'Life During Wartime Part 4: Fire in the Hole' (Firestar), 'Just Friends Part 1: Professor!' (Beast), and a Speedball short.
- The Firestar story depicts Angelica Jones being cornered by Freedom Force — including Mystique, Blob, and Pyro — while trying to capture Mystique for black-market organ dealers in order to save her father's life.
- The Beast serial expands on Hank McCoy's Silver Age origin, introducing a retcon in which Professor X mindwiped everyone in Beast's hometown to protect his identity — a storyline set partially in Beast's pre-X-Men past.
- Commander Courage and the Were-Borgs make their first appearances (in shadow only) in the Beast story.
- The 'Blood Hungry' Wolverine arc from this issue was later collected in the trade paperback Wolverine: Blood Hungry (Marvel Comics Presents vol. 1, #85–92).
- The on-sale date was July 23, 1991; the issue shipped with a newsstand edition variant alongside the direct edition.
Cast · 22 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in Wolverine: Blood Hungry #[nn] (1993), Marvel Comics Presenta: Zona M #1 (1993), X-Men #11 (1994), X-Men #20 (1996), Wolverine: Blood Hungry #[nn] (2002), X-Men Origins: Firestar #[nn] (2017), True Believers: Wolverine -- Blood Hungry #1 (2018), Marvel Universe by Rob Liefeld Omnibus #[nn] (2019), Wolverine Omnibus #3 (2022)
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