TwoMorrows Publishing; $10.95

Editor Michael Eury and his contributing writers dig deep into Marvel’s Bronze Age for what they call “Not-Ready-for-Primetime Marvel Heroes” in Back Issue #139, and the result is a little bit of magic.

The line-up of characters is wonderful: Doc Samson, Jack of Hearts, Thundra, Nighthawk, Union Jack, Paladin, Starfox, Modred the Mystic, Woodgod, the Shroud, Thunderbird and Warpath, Stingray, and Wundaar/The Aquarian. That’s matched with an impressive slate of creators, including Kurt Busiek, Peter David, Steve Englehart, Steve Gerber, Keith Giffen, Steven Grant, Bill Mantlo, David Michelinie, Roger Stern, Roy Thomas, and others.

Sometimes the characters didn’t click, while at others circumstances just ended their runs. In all cases, though, they’re worth reviewing, and that makes for another great issue of this magazine. And it’s comics. Who knows? They all could be back!

– J.C. Vaughn