Marvel Presents #4

History

Writer Steve Gerber, who co-developed the issue's new character with collaborator Mary Skrenes, later recalled that the decision to add a Mercurian woman to the lineup came from a straightforward recognition that the all-male founding roster needed a female voice. Artist and inker Al Milgrom, who also drew the cover, handled both pencils and inks on the interior story, giving the issue a consistent visual identity under editor Marv Wolfman — the same Wolfman who had shepherded the Guardians' earlier appearances in Defenders and Giant-Size Defenders. Gerry Conway served as editor-in-chief at Marvel during this period, and the bi-monthly publishing schedule of Marvel Presents was a reflection of the constrained production cadence common to anthology-format Bronze Age titles.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of Nicholette 'Nikki' Gold (Earth-691), a Mercurian genetically engineered for Mercury's extreme environment, who joins the Guardians of the Galaxy in this issue — she was created by Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes, and Al Milgrom.
• First full appearance of Aleta (Aleta Ogord), who had previously appeared only in a merged/shared form as part of Starhawk.
• First appearance of Karanada — an entity whose name translates from Alpha Centaurian as 'The Emptiness that Devours' — and the introduction of the Topographical Man story arc that defines this era of the series.
• Written by Steve Gerber with art and inks by Al Milgrom; edited by Marv Wolfman; cover by Al Milgrom with lettering by Dan Crespi; on sale January 27, 1976, with an April 1976 cover date.
• Published in three variants: the standard 25¢ edition, a 30¢ price variant, and a British edition.
• The issue's 'Readers' Space' letters page featured Steve Gerber's 'An Outline Course in World History 1975–3015 A.D.,' an in-universe timeline filling continuity gaps in the Guardians' history previously sketched in Defenders #26.
• The main story has been reprinted in at least seven collections and foreign editions, including Titans #7 (France, 1977), Star Wars Weekly #75 (Marvel UK, 1979), Guardians of the Galaxy: The Power of Starhawk (Marvel, 2009), Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Avengers #1 (Marvel, 2013), and Guardians of the Galaxy Epic Collection Vol. 1: Earth Shall Overcome (Marvel, 2023).
• Part of Marvel Presents #3–12, the original Guardians of the Galaxy's first-ever ongoing series; the run was cancelled with issue #12 (August 1977).

Full credits

Variants (2)