Marvel Comics Presents #11 (January 1989) (Slag's Story)

So, as a nice little bonus, I thought I'd include a little story focusing on one of the members of the Wolfpack: Slag. This story was originally published in an anthology title called Marvel Comics Presents.

Marvel Comics Presents often told short stories featuring various characters from around the Marvel Universe. Their covers were wraparounds showing the characters that were featured in an issue. These stories would also feature work by authors who were starting out in comics. The first volume lasted from 1988 to 1995, with 175 issues. This title is most known for broadening the mythos of Wolverine, as this title would not only debut the fictional country of Madripoor (which you may be familiar with if you watched Falcon and the Winter Soldier and/or X-Men '97), but this title also revealed exactly how he got his indestructible adamantium claws. 

But Wolverine wasn't the only one of Marvel's Merry Mutants who got featured here. Other X-Men members like Cyclops, Havok, and Colossus also got solo stories. Plenty of non-mutant characters also got stories, like the Scott-Lang Ant-Man, She-Hulk, the Man-Thing, Shang-Chi, Ghost Rider, and the Black Panther. In fact, this series introduced T'Challa's stepmother Ramonda, whom you may be familiar with if you watched the Black Panther films.

So yeah, this little-known book is more significant to Marvel history than you think. Let's look at Slag's story in Marvel Comics Presents #11! 

The cover is a Rick Leonardi and Terry Austin piece. It's a wraparound, depicting the characters who will get stories here. Colossus takes up half the cover, which makes sense, as the X-Men were hot at the time, and he presumably has the "main story" of the anthology. I have to admit, I find Leonardi and Austin's interpretation of Scott Lang rather amusing. They make him look rather bulky. I also find the cover itself interesting as it appears to be depicting the characters standing on an American flag...well, Man-Thing is...hovering? What is he doing up there? And is that why Colossus looks so sad?

"Over and Over!"
Writer: John Figueroa
Penciler: Ron Wilson
Inker: Christopher Ivy
Colorist: John A. Wilcox
Letterer: Michael Heisler
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The story begins with our man Slag making a slam-dunk. A board-breaking slam dunk. And when I say he broke the backboard, I mean it.

"BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA!"

It's not much of a problem, though. He's broken this board before, and he can easily fix it. He's then visited by his cousin Chris. Chris has a problem. 

"He also thinks I stole his lunch! I don't even like kelp sandwiches!"

You see, Chrissy-boy here has got himself a fondness for crack. He's in debt by a thousand bucks. However, Ty-Rock (Chris's dealer) is willing to cancel the debt if Chris will kill a cop for him. Thing is, Chris doesn't have it in him to kill a cop. Also, if he caught, the law would throw a very big book at him. Not to mention other cops would really want his head on a silver platter.

So yeah. Chris is in quite a pickle here. Mmm...pickle...

Ah, sorry. Since Slag is in the Wolfpack, and they've been busting up drug dealers, maybe he and the rest of the Pack can convince Ty-Rock to back off. Slag agrees, but he'll do this on his own, and Chris must agree to go to rehab. Chris does, and leads Slag to the crackhouse that Ty-Rock does his business in.

"This place needs a serious remodeling..."

Slag goes in, and deals with Ty-Rock's men. He sends them scattering. And then our man Slag meets the big man himself.

"Are you here to steal my kelp sandwiches?"

Slag tells Ty-Rock he'll get his money when he gets it. Until then, no more selling to Chris. Ty-Rock gives a counter-offer: Slag works for him, he'll cancel Chris's debt. Also, unlike the Wolfpack, Slag could make some money as one of Ty-Rock's enforcers. 

It's kind of funny that he would make that offer, as if this story is set after the last issue of the Wolfpack's miniseries we looked at here, money isn't exactly much of a problem for the Pack anymore. Slag is not impressed by Ty-Rock's offer. 

Slag is far worse than annoyed with Ty-Rock. In fact, he's angry. Our man thinks of Ty-Rock as an exploitive monster, who preys on the desperate and vulnerable, just so he can live the high life. Slag shows him exactly what he thinks of those kind of men.

"This outfit is not you! You are a SUMMER!"

He rips off Ty-Rock's gold chains and clothes, leaving him naked. He then takes his leave, warning Ty-Rock one last time to never bother Chris again. After he's done, he assures Chris he's safe now, and he can go to rehab. Chris agrees, but he'll do it tomorrow. Maybe. Maybe tomorrow as he walks away. The rest of the Wolfpack run up to Slag, wondering if everything's alright, and if it's over. A tearful Slag says that it's not over. It's never over. 

I have to admit, I did struggle a bit over what to say about this story. It's very basic. I do wish we had a bit more opportunity to explore Slag a bit more as a character.