Marvel Preview #7

History

Marvel Preview was an anthology magazine published under the Curtis/Magazine Management imprint, operating outside the Comics Code Authority and aimed at an older readership; by issue #7, Archie Goodwin served as editor-in-chief with John Warner as series editor and Ralph Macchio as associate editor. The Satana lead feature, 'The Damnation Waltz' by Chris Claremont and Vicente Alcázar, was originally developed for the cancelled Haunt of Horror magazine before being redirected here, which partly explains why a text essay by Claremont within the issue discusses the behind-the-scenes difficulty Marvel experienced in getting the character off the ground. The back-up science-fantasy story, 'The Sword in the Star! Stave 2: Witchworld!' by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen, was a continuation of a serial begun in Marvel Preview #4, and the 'Witchworld' chapter is widely cited as Giffen's first significant professional comics work. The character Rocky — later canonized as Rocket Raccoon — was inspired by the Beatles' 1968 song 'Rocky Raccoon,' and his introduction here was a secondary element of an ongoing Prince Wayfinder space-fantasy narrative rather than a planned franchise launch.

Trivia · 9 facts

• First appearance of Rocket Raccoon, here called 'Rocky,' in the 18-page back-up story 'The Sword in the Star! Stave 2: Witchworld!' written by Bill Mantlo with art by Keith Giffen.
• Rocket Raccoon did not receive his full name or canonical Marvel Universe status until his next appearance in The Incredible Hulk #271 (May 1982), where 'Rocky' is established as short for 'Rocket.'
• The character's name and personality traits were consciously inspired by the Beatles' 1968 song 'Rocky Raccoon,' according to Bill Mantlo himself.
• The 68-page issue was published in the black-and-white magazine format by Marvel/Curtis (Magazine Management Co.), meaning it was distributed on newsstands and was not subject to the Comics Code Authority.
• The Satana lead feature, 'The Damnation Waltz' (and its second chapter 'La Simphonie Diable'), was written by Chris Claremont with art by Vicente Alcázar and was originally produced for the cancelled Haunt of Horror magazine before landing here.
• The issue contains a prose essay by Chris Claremont detailing the troubled publication history of the Satana character, and a second illustrated text piece featuring Satana artwork by Michael Netzer (credited as Mike Nasser) and Esteban Maroto.
• Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan) appears only in cameo within the Satana story; the Camarilla of the N'Garai makes its first appearance as the antagonist group, and the demonic Basilisk appears as a conjured force within the same story.
• The Satana stories from this issue were later collected in Essential Marvel Horror Vol. 1, while the Rocket Raccoon/Sword in the Star story was reprinted in both the Rocket Raccoon: Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant hardcover and Rocket Raccoon & Groot: The Complete Collection.
• The cover is a painted work by Bob Larkin; John Warner served as story editor and Karen Mantlo (Bill Mantlo's wife) served as letterer for the back-up feature.

Cast · 7 characters

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