Mark Hazzard: Merc
Encyclopedia
Mark Hazzard: Merc was a comic book
series
published by Marvel Comics
under their New Universe
imprint
. The series ran for twelve issues in 1986
and 1987
, plus one Annual, which ended the series.
, Mark met and fell in love with his future wife, Joan. After graduating from high school, he went to West Point, where he was a cadet officer. Fed up with his father's disapproval—notably his disapproval of Joan—Mark dropped out, got married, and enlisted in the United States Army
. Hazzard spent three tours in Vietnam
ironically enough discovering something at which he was, finally, among the best: combat. While "in country," Hazzard met his future accomplices Louis "Treetop" Barrington and Sgt. Major Peel. Returning home, Mark and Joan produced a son, Scotty, but Hazzard coundn't find work. Mark finally became a mercenary
, then a mercenary commander. Under Hazzard's leadership, his mercenary crew tended to be more scrupulous than most in its choice of clients. Mark was happy, but his wife wasn't; she gave him an ultimatum, to choose between his life as a merc or their marriage.
After their divorce, Joan married a lawyer named Gordon, who had a strained relationship with Hazzard. Jealous, Gordon arranged for Hazzard to be sent on a mission in Iran, expecting him to die. Hazzard was rescued by his merc crew, and then investigated his betrayal. Tracking it back to Gordon, Hazzard strangled him but not before Gordon was able to inflict an ultimately fatal injury on Hazzard. Taken to a hospital, Hazzard was removed from life support at Scottie's request; Scottie believed his father would prefer it that way.
An eight page special was printed in February 2006 as a backup story in Amazing Fantasy #18 as part of a Untold Tales of the New Universe event, which was created to commemorate The 20th Anniversary of The New Universe and would also serve as a preamble to Warren Ellis' newuniversal. It was written by Tony Lee
with art by Leonard Kirk
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
under their New Universe
New Universe
The New Universe is a comic book imprint from Marvel Comics that was published in its original incarnation from 1986 to 1989. It was created by Jim Shooter, Archie Goodwin, Eliot R. Brown, John Morelli, Mark Gruenwald, Tom DeFalco and edited by Michael Higgins.In 1986, in honor of Marvel Comics'...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
. The series ran for twelve issues in 1986
1986 in comics
-Year overall:* Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, a four-issue limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller and published by DC Comics, debuts...
and 1987
1987 in comics
- Year overall :* Independent publishers continue to enter the comics arena, including Amazing, CFW Enterprises, Imperial Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, New Comics Group, and Rebel Studios...
, plus one Annual, which ended the series.
Backstory
Mark Hazzard's father was a career soldier who was very demanding of Mark; although Mark was generally very successful academically and as a football player, his father was perpetually disappointed in him for not being "the best." In high schoolSecondary education in the United States
In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with...
, Mark met and fell in love with his future wife, Joan. After graduating from high school, he went to West Point, where he was a cadet officer. Fed up with his father's disapproval—notably his disapproval of Joan—Mark dropped out, got married, and enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Hazzard spent three tours in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
ironically enough discovering something at which he was, finally, among the best: combat. While "in country," Hazzard met his future accomplices Louis "Treetop" Barrington and Sgt. Major Peel. Returning home, Mark and Joan produced a son, Scotty, but Hazzard coundn't find work. Mark finally became a mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
, then a mercenary commander. Under Hazzard's leadership, his mercenary crew tended to be more scrupulous than most in its choice of clients. Mark was happy, but his wife wasn't; she gave him an ultimatum, to choose between his life as a merc or their marriage.
The series
The series ran for 12 regular issues and one annual.After their divorce, Joan married a lawyer named Gordon, who had a strained relationship with Hazzard. Jealous, Gordon arranged for Hazzard to be sent on a mission in Iran, expecting him to die. Hazzard was rescued by his merc crew, and then investigated his betrayal. Tracking it back to Gordon, Hazzard strangled him but not before Gordon was able to inflict an ultimately fatal injury on Hazzard. Taken to a hospital, Hazzard was removed from life support at Scottie's request; Scottie believed his father would prefer it that way.
An eight page special was printed in February 2006 as a backup story in Amazing Fantasy #18 as part of a Untold Tales of the New Universe event, which was created to commemorate The 20th Anniversary of The New Universe and would also serve as a preamble to Warren Ellis' newuniversal. It was written by Tony Lee
Tony Lee
Tony Lee is a British comics writer, screenwriter, audio playwright and novelist.-Early life:Lee was born in Hayes, Middlesex in England...
with art by Leonard Kirk
Leonard Kirk
Leonard Kirk is an American-born comic book artist living in Canada. He has worked on such properties as Supergirl, JSA, Star Trek, Batman, and Witchblade...
.
Mark's Shop
- Louis "Treetop" Barrington - PilotAviatorAn aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
during the Vietnam War. - the Doc - South Vietnamese army field medic, after the war she moved to America.
- Lincoln "Stryker" Griffin - former NavyNavyA navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
S.E.A.L., during the Vietnam War, now used his skills with Mark Hazzard. - Sgt. Major Peel - a man who found himself in mercenary work after the Vietnam War. Hired Mark Hazzard to help teach AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
insurgents to fight in 1980's - The Priestess - a fourteen years old runaway whose life was saved by Mark Hazzard.
- Ritter - ex-Air Force who now used his skills for personal profit.
- Mal Rossi - Mark Hazzard's oldest and best friends, a New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
er who couldn't deal with "regular" life, became alcoholic and lecherous, but was saved by Mark - who gave him a regular paying job using his combat skills.
Writers
- Peter DavidPeter DavidPeter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc #1-4 (November 1986-February 1987) - Doug MurrayDoug Murray (comics)Doug Murray is an American comic book writer. He served in the Vietnam War, and was the main writer on the popular comic book series The 'Nam.-Bibliography:*The 'Nam #1-45, 49-51, 75 Dec 1986-Dec 1990*Mark Hazzard: Merc #5-12, March 1987-October 1987...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc #5-12 (March 1987-October 1987); Mark Hazzard: Merc Annual #1 (1987) - Tony LeeTony LeeTony Lee is a British comics writer, screenwriter, audio playwright and novelist.-Early life:Lee was born in Hayes, Middlesex in England...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc Amazing Fantasy #18 (February 2006)
Art
- Gray MorrowGray MorrowDwight Graydon "Gray" Morrow was an American illustrator of paperback books and comics.-Biography:Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Morrow is best known as art director of Spider-Man between 1967 and 1970 and as illustrator of the syndicated Tarzan, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and Prince Valiant comic...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc #1-2, 8, 10-11 (November 1986-December 1986, June 1987, August 1987-September 1987) - Alan KupperbergAlan KupperbergAlan Kupperberg is an American comic artist known for working in both comic books and newspaper strips.-Career:Kupperberg began writing and drawing for Marvel Comics in 1974, mostly doing fill-ins and one-shots...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc #3-4 (January 1987-February 1987) - Mark Beachum - Mark Hazzard: Merc #5 (March 1987)
- Vincent Giarranno - Mark Hazzard: Merc #6, 12 (April 1987, October 1987)
- Val MayerikVal MayerikVal Mayerik is an American comic-book and commercial artist, best known as co-creator of Marvel Comics' satiric character Howard the Duck.-Early life and career:...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc #7 (May 1987) - Andy KubertAndy KubertAndrew "Andy" Kubert is an American comic book artist, son of Joe Kubert, and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc #9 (July 1987) - Vincent WallerVincent WallerVincent Waller is a writer, artist and animator. He was writer and director for The Ren & Stimpy Show , directing the popular episodes Rubber Nipple Salesmen and Big Baby Scam....
- Mark Hazzard: Merc Annual #1 (1987) - Leonard KirkLeonard KirkLeonard Kirk is an American-born comic book artist living in Canada. He has worked on such properties as Supergirl, JSA, Star Trek, Batman, and Witchblade...
- Mark Hazzard: Merc Amazing Fantasy #18 (February 2006)