MARVEL AGE #116

This issue of Marvel Age predominantly introduces the upcoming fall Mutant crossover: the much-maligned X-Cutioner's Song. The crossover was the first since the launch of X-Men v2 and X-Force v1. The behind-the-scenes information on the creative team's X-Summit in preparation for the crossover provides a good insight into the working processes for the X-Teams in the early '90s. The article is a good read not only as preparation for reading the crossover itself, but also for the historical insight into the creative minds of the time before Onslaught, the Civil War, Dark Reign, and all the other major changes in the '00s. Other notable articles/editorials in the issue include insights from Stan Lee on the creation of the X-Men, Mark Gruenwald's take on the nature of narrative and writing in comics, and Tom DeFalco's caution to writers of fan fiction and fans who suggest ideas to comic book writers - "ideas do not a story make!" Two of the lengthier articles are about the creation of Marvel character sculptures for toys and an interview with Bob Harras on the X-Men cartoon series that began on Fox in the fall of 1992.