Avengers Annual #10

1 - Original cover (digital) by Al Milgrom
2 & 3 - Recreation by Michael Golden with colours by John Stinsman
4 - Recreation by Bob Layton
5 - Reprint cover by Terry and Rachel Dodson

1981 - Avengers Annual #10

Here's a recent re-imagining of the cover to Avengers Annual #10 by Michael Golden.

Here's the original:

And this alternate cover by the Dodsons was issued with reprinted comic for the Marvel Legends Warbird figure.

Hey Mike: Madelyne Pryor, Mastermind, and Mystique

Mike: Maddie Pryor was a child that showed up in Avengers Annual #10. She was in one panel. The location was the hospital where Jessica Drew had taken Carol Danvers after Rogue wiped her memory and powers. I've always wondered what that was about.

Jay: From my article on Avengers Annual #10 (marvel1980s.blogspot.com/2010/08/1981-avengers-annual-10.html):

“Interestingly, there’s a little girl in the hospital who’s called “Maddy Pryor” and of course any X-Fan worth their salt will recognize that name… turns out those Claremont was a fan of the folk band, Steeleye Span, and of their popular lead singer, Maddy Prior.”

Obviously Claremont liked the name enough that it stuck with him. Also note that this Maddy Pryor had brown hair and was obviously the wrong age (which could be explained by the fact that Madelyne was a clone of Jean Grey created by Mr. Sinister.

Mike: I've also wondered why Mastermind was messing with Mystique in the X-Men: From The Ashes storyline. Throughout that story, he was getting revenge on the X-Men by manipulating them and their colleagues until eventually making them think that Madelyne Pryor was Phoenix reincarnated, but what part did Mystique play in all this? It was Uncanny X-Men #170. She was dreaming she was chased down and hunted like a wolf by Jason Wyngarde and Lady Jean Grey. She wakes to find that Rogue had left her for Prof X. Did Mastermind manipulate Rogue to the good? And to what end?

Jay: Great questions. And I’ve got some answers from the infamous X-Men Danglers FAQ (http://www.oocities.org/area51/rampart/8644/zclaremontdang.html). Apparently, that scene was meant to as a “foreshadowing for a plot planned for Ms. Marvel, which Claremont also wrote at the time.  When Ms. Marvel was canceled, the plot was dropped.  Mastermind wanted revenge on Mystique because her arms shipping business was siphoning profits from the Hellfire Club.”

Hope that helps!

1981 - Avengers Annual #10

AVENGERS ANNUAL #10

Writer: Chris Claremont

Artists: Michael Golden (penciler/colourist) and Armando Gil (inker)

Claremont and Golden pull off one of strongest Annual efforts of the 1980s. This wonderful self-contained book featured a big event that was actually told in one story within one issue! Imagine that.

Avengers Annual #10 highlighted Claremont at his best, skillful handling a large cast of characters and at the same time, giving Rogue and Carol Danvers the special attention they needed (and for which Claremont was famous for as well). Claremont clearly loves Carol Danvers and has a history with the character having written her in her long-since cancelled series. Claremont excelled at moving the action along, compressing the story (with word-heavy caption I’ll admit), and really delivering value in this one double-sized issue.

This issue showed us the efforts that both the writer and editor put in to ensure that these events were in continuity and worked with all the other events that were recently happening in the Marvel Universe. They took advantage of the continuity and rewarded long-time readers.

This annual focused on Rogue who attacked Ms. Marvel and stole her powers using her mutant absorption abilities. - there’s a great battle sequence displaying how lethal Mystique can be as she and Rogue take out most of the Avengers. It was interesting to see Claremont tie up some loose story line from his tenure on Ms. Marvel. And again, working the Claremont strong woman angle, Carol tears a strip of her teammates over her rape (see Avengers #200).

The only criticism of this book would be the fact that the Avengers almost seem like guest-stars in their own Annual. Especially as the Avengers get their asses handed to them by the Brotherhood (to bring the overall plot about would claim Avengers fans of course). Okay, one more bit of criticism: most of the 1980s suffered under poor paper quality and colouring. I’d love to see these pages recoloured and printed as part of some Marvel Premiere Edition.

Interestingly, there’s a little girl in the hospital who’s called “Maddy Pryor” and of course any X-Fan worth their salt will recognize that name… turns out those Claremont was a fan of the folk band, Steeleye Span, and of their popular lead singer, Maddy Prior.

And lastly, this issue stands out for all of the above as well as being the first appearance of Rogue and of course, the spectacular art by Golden.