Marvel Preview #22

The Seventies was a period of expansion and experimentation for Marvel Comics, and arguably one of the most effective examples of this was Curtis Magazines.

Aimed at older readers and unaffected by the Comics Code, these black-and-white magazines provided artists and writers with greater creative freedom and more pages in which to develop their ideas.

One of the longest-running series in the Curtis imprint was Marvel Preview. Utilizing the talents of some of the industry's greatest creators, it showcased a variety of stories and characters, even including an issue featuring Thor (I will discuss this in detail in a future post).

Anyone familiar with my tastes in comics knows that John Buscema is one of my favorite artists. It was this little fact that led me to seek out a copy of Marvel Preview #22 (1980), which features (strangely enough) Merlin.

Buscema is probably best known for his Conan illustrations. I went through an intense Conan phase during my junior and senior years of high school, devouring novels and Savage Sword of Conan (the only magazine that survived the "boom"), but my interest in the character has waned considerably since then (although I have "rediscovered" him recently). It was during this period that I came to love Buscema's work, and his renderings were forever cemented in my mind as the definitive Conan art (apologies to Barry Windsor-Smith).

Buscema is, in many ways, the consummate Marvel artist (which is probably why Stan Lee chose him as co-author of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way). His dynamic layouts, command of anatomy, and ability to draw any character with precision made him a superstar and me a lifelong fan.

I like Arthurian legends fairly well, but I certainly wouldn't call myself a rabid fan of them. Buscema's art is chiefly what prompted me to buy this book, and I don't regret the decision.

(I'd like to point out that the beautifully painted cover by Earl Norem has little to do with the issue's contents. Merlin never at any point in the story removes his shirt, and I seriously doubt he's cut like that.)

The illustrations (inked by frequent Buscema collaborator Tom Palmer) are, naturally, top notch. The washes are effective in creating the desired mood for the tale, and I honestly believe that the art wouldn't have looked as good had it been colored. There are 55 pages of story, and by the end I felt as if I had read a graphic novel.

The story concerns Arthur's discovery of a young man named Beliar who is mortally wounded. After Merlin heals him, the youth tells the king and his knights that he sustained his injuries in a fight with a dragon. Beliar proves to be quite popular at Camelot and is taken on as apprentice to the Round Table. Despite all this, Merlin is suspicious, and his fears are confirmed when he catches Beliar in his chambers, though the youth denies any wrongdoing.

A month later, Beliar shows himself to be unchivalrous in a tournament, and Arthur banishes him. He disappears that night, taking Guinevere with him. Arthur and Merlin set out to rescue her, facing many perils along the way. They eventually reach a castle, wherein resides the "Prince of Evil." His lair is not unlike Hell, and it is revealed that Beliar is, in fact, his son.

A duel between Arthur and Beliar ensues, and the Prince and Merlin soon lend their powers to their respective allies. Beliar proves too powerful, though, and Arthur is driven to the ground. Victory seems assured for the bad guys, but Merlin, exploiting an error made by the Prince, turns the tide, incapacitating Beliar, beheading the Prince, and rescuing the queen. The severed head, however, begins to laugh maniacally and declares, prior to exploding, that the Prince will return, leaving room for a sequel that never happened.

I cannot find much to criticize about this issue. It is masterfully illustrated and has an effective story, co-written by Buscema and Doug Moench. Buscema's myriad Conan comics certainly prepared him for the fantastic nature of this tale, and although it's more-or-less a standard questing story, it didn't really need to be anything else. If I had to offer one criticism, it would be that the issue isn't just about Merlin, although he is the main character. I expected it to be a "solo adventure" featuring the legendary wizard, but it's more about his partnership with Arthur (of which he is an indispensable element).

Definitely worth picking up.