Random Happenstance

At first glance, the covers would seem to be the best part of this one, but maybe there's more to it? From 1992, Marvel Comics Presents #99, featuring two Sam Kieth covers: one a Byrne/Austin Wolverine tribute (the classic rising-from-the-sewers panel) and the other Ghost Rider, surrounded by little monsters strongly resembling the Isz from the Maxx!

The Ghost Rider story features those little monsters, D'sprytes, servants of D'spayre--man, that action figure should've included a couple of them! They try to turn innocents against Ghost Rider, but the Spirit of Vengeance doesn't take the bait. (Also, it's weird the bystanders are more concerned about Ghost Rider yelling and waving at nothing they could see, rather than the flaming skull and all.) Later, to try and make something out of that mess, Dan Ketch stops to help a homeless man. ("Fallen Spirits" Written by Dan Slott, art by Jimmy Palmiotti.)

Next, a Spider-Man story--aw, c'mon, he only had like six books at the time! This is more like an old Mr. & Mrs. Superman story; as Mary Jane accidentally leaves for work with a roll of Peter's film in her pocket, that he needed to get to the Bugle to get paid. Spidey is left to scramble after her, struggle through models, stop some random crimes, and MJ takes care of the problem herself. A question: MJ appears to be putting on makeup, before going to a modeling shoot, where she would be made-up again. Does she have to put on, like, walking around makeup? ("Has Anybody Seen My Gal?" Written by Susan Kennedy, pencils by Malcolm Davis, inks by Don Hudson and Andrew Pepoy.)

On the flipside, the usual Wolverine story is treading water a bit, since next month would be a bigger story: Nightmare torments Wolvie, until he wakes up. Felt like a lot of 'tributes,' i.e. swipes, in this one. Still, based on something I saw on BlueSky, I think this story was also included in some Halloween giveaway book. ("Hauntings" Plot by Rob Liefeld, script by Howard Mackie, pencils by Jim Valentino, inks by Bud la Rosa.)

Finally, "Razer's Edge" not only uses Puck's tortured backstory effectively, it also pits him against an unexpected baddie: Arcade, who wants to pull the demon Razer from Puck for his own uses. Unsurprisingly, Razer is not onboard with that, and Arcade is forced to let Puck take it back; although Puck still wants to get his little hands on Arcade for faking Heather's death to traumatize him. (Plot by Raz Mesinai, plot and script by Paula Foye, pencils by Joe Madureira, inks by Joe Rubinstein.)

The little throwaway numbers are the good ones today! Although, again, the covers are probably what anybody remembers.