Marvel Fanfare #10 - "Widow" Part 1 of 4. Starring the Black Widow. Script by Ralph Macchio. Pencils (and co-plotting) by George Perez. Inks by Brett Breeding. Chapter 2 pencils by Bob Layton and Luke McDonnell. Cover by George Perez. SHIELD has a new assignment for Natasha Romanoff. And this one will take her back inside the Soviet Union. But before telling the widow about her next mission, Nick Fury details to Sam Sawyer the long history and origin of the Black Widow. Flashback cameos by the Red Guardian, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Captain America, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Goliath (aka Hank Pym), Daredevil, Spider-Man, Hercules, and Ivan Petrovich. Second story: "How Fear Came" Script by Mary Jo Duffy. Pencils by the great Gil Kane. Inks by P. Craig Russell. The adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" continues. Special feature: This issue includes a portfolio of Brent Anderson's artwork. Five full-page illustrations/pin-ups of the Thing, Captain America, Wolverine, Shang-Chi, and Moon Knight. (Notes: The back cover features a scene from the Jungle Book adaption with art by P. Craig Russell. Printed on glossy paper. 32 pages. Cover price $1.50.
Marvel Fanfare #11 - "Back in the U.S.S.R." Part 2 of 4. Starring the Black Widow. Plot by Ralph Macchio and George Perez. Script by Ralph Macchio. Pencils by George Perez. Inks by J.J. Sinnabel (aka Joe Sinnott pp. 1, 6, 8, 10-11, 17 and Jack Abel pp. 2-5, 7, 9, 12-16). Cover by George Perez and Bob Layton. Undercover in the Soviet Union, Natasha falls in love with a fellow defector only to see him killed by KGB agents. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure sets a trap for the Black Widow in Hong Kong that involves no less than six assassins. Cameo appearances by Nick Fury and Damon Dran. Second story: "Kaa's Hunting" Script by Mary Jo Duffy. Pencils by Gil Kane. Inks by P. Craig Russell. The adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" concludes. Special feature: This issue includes four pin-ups: Cloak and Dagger by Terry Austin; the Hulk by Jim Shooter and Terry Austin; The Man-Thing by Bob Wiacek; and Dr. Strange by P. Craig Russell (his unpublished cover to issue #8). (Notes: The back cover features a scene from the Jungle Book adaption with art by Sandy Plunkett and P. Craig Russell. Printed on glossy paper. 32 pages. Cover price $1.50.
Marvel Fanfare #12 - "The Web Tightens!" Part 3 of 4. Starring the Black Widow. Script by Ralph Macchio. Pencils (and co-plotting) by George Perez. Inks by Al Milgrom. Cover by George Perez. Cornered in a Hong Kong curio shop by six assassins, the Black Widow puts on a dazzling display of her powers to escape. And after teaming up with SHIELD agent James Woo, the widow descends into the sewers to find the Iron Maiden. Natasha and Agent Woo successfully locate the Iron Maiden. But unexpectedly run into the dangerous Snapdragon too. Second story: "Marvel Annfare" Script by Roger Stern and Ann Nocenti (story idea). Art by Al Milgrom. Roger Stern laments the lack of editors present in the Marvel bullpen. So Ann recommends he don the star-spangled avenger's uniform to get inspired to write a Cap story for Marvel Fanfare. Cameo appearances by Bill Mantlo and Captain America. Special feature: This issue includes a portfolio of Rick Leonardi's artwork. Five full-page illustrations/pin-ups of Iron Man, the Silver Surfer, Storm, Thor, and Angel. (Notes: The back cover illustrates a scene from the second story with art by Al Milgrom. The inside back cover features an essay from Robbie Carosella describing the work that takes place in Marvel's stat room. The Iron Maiden returns in Captain America 388. Printed on glossy paper. 32 pages. Cover price $1.50.
Marvel Fanfare #13 - "The Widow... Alone" Part 4 of 4. Starring the Black Widow. Script by Ralph Macchio. Pencils by George Perez. Inks by John Beatty (pp. 1-13) and Brett Breeding (pp. 14-18). Cover by Art Adams. Damon Dran stands revealed as the mastermind behind the plot to destroy SHIELD and the Black Widow. And victory appears close at hand for Dran since Natasha and Ivan Petrovich are prisoners on his remote island. But the widow has been in near impossible situations before. Can the beauteous ex-Russian spy find a way to defeat Damon Dran and Snapdragon... and keep SHIELD in business for another day? Cameo appearances by Nick Fury and Jimmy Woo. Second story: "Ballad of the Warriors Three" Script by Alan Zelenetz. Art by Charles Vess. The fair Idunn asks Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg to find her missing husband Bragi. Cameo appearances by Odin and Lady Sif. (Notes: The back cover features the Warriors Three with art by Charles Vess. Damon Dran previously appeared in Daredevil (1st series) 94. Snapdragon appears next in Captain America 388. Printed on glossy paper. 32 pages. Cover price $1.50.