Cover & Positioning — The issue is positioned as a prelude/coverage hub for “The Evolutionary War,” with a cover by Ron Frenz & Al Milgrom teasing the crossover focus. Inside, the content mixes preview articles, interviews, and a Hembeck humor feature — the usual Marvel Age blend of newsy features plus gags.

Feature: “The Evolutionary War” Overview — A multi-page article sets the table for Marvel’s big Annuals crossover of 1988, profiling the High Evolutionary and laying out how the storyline will ripple across numerous titles. The piece quotes/spotlights commentary from editors and writers tied to the event — Ralph Macchio, Mark Gruenwald, Louise Simonson, Steve Englehart, Chris Claremont, Carl Potts, and Roger Stern — explaining stakes, tie-in structure, and where readers will see key beats unfold. Think of it as the roadmap fans used before the Annuals hit.

Hembeck Humor Segment — Fred Hembeck contributes a two-page humor strip framed like a talk-show/variety bit in which Hembeck “hosts” and the High Evolutionary drops in (with a cheeky nod to a “Low Evolutionary” gag), riffing on his grand plans and history. It’s light, self-aware meta-comedy that winks at continuity while plugging the event. (Marvel’s database flags the Hembeck piece; its entry lists characters but no official synopsis text.)

Interview: Ron Frenz — A conversational profile with Ron Frenz (also a cover contributor here) touches on ongoing and upcoming projects, process, and influences. The interview is paired with art callouts and promotional sidebars.

Art Spotlight: Unpublished X-Factor #1 Cover — The issue showcases unpublished cover art for X-Factor #1 by Jackson Guice & Bob Layton with editorial notes on why it didn’t see print and how the final direction evolved. It functions as a behind-the-scenes piece for process nerds and collectors.

Feature: Akira at Marvel/Epic — A news/feature article tracks the U.S. publication of Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira (via Marvel/Epic), including remarks from Archie Goodwin and Jo Duffy on adaptation, production, and audience expectations. It positions Akira as a prestige import and explains Epic’s approach to bringing it to American readers.

Departmental Bits / House News — As with most Marvel Age issues, you get the usual short items, previews, and listing-style news blurbs for upcoming books and storylines, serving as a monthly snapshot of Marvel’s pipeline. (This is standard series behavior; exact micro-items vary and aren’t fully enumerated in public listings.)