Kickers, Inc.
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Kickers Inc. was a 12-issue comic book published by Marvel Comics as part New Universe imprint from 1986 to 1989. Created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, the series featured a group of former football players for the fictional New York Smashers football team who essentially became a group of super-heros for hire, calling themselves "Kickers Inc." They were lead by Jack Magniconte, a player for the Smashers who gained super-human strength and endurance from a machine created by his scientist brother. Later retellings retconned his origin slightly, making the mysterious "White Event" into the cause of Magniconte's strength.
From the beginning of the series, Kickers Inc. did not fit in well with the New Universe line's stated goal of being more grounded in realism than the regular Marvel Comics Universe. Perhaps as a result, Kickers Inc. was one of weakest titles of the imprint. It was cancelled after issue 12, along with other New Universe comics such as Nightmask and Merc. However, Jack Magniconte and other characters from the series continued to appear in the remaining New Universe titles.
During their tenure on Kickers Inc., Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz decided they made a good team, and would later work together during Tom DeFalco's run on Thor as well as DeFalco's MC2 titles.
Creators
Writers
- Tom DeFalco - Kickers, Inc. #1-5 (November 1986-March 1987)
- Mary Jo Duffy - Kickers, Inc. #3 (January 1987)
- Ron Altaville - Kickers, Inc. #4, 6-8, 12 (February 1987, April 1987-June 1987, October 1987)
- Terry Kavanagh - Kickers, Inc. #4, 6-8, 12 (February 1987, April 1987-June 1987, October 1987)
- Mark Gruenwald - Kickers, Inc. #5 (March 1987)
- Dwight Zimmerman - Kickers, Inc. #9, 11 (July 1987, September 1987)
- Adam Blaustein - Kickers, Inc. #10 (August 1987)
- Howard Mackie - "Choices" in D.P. 7 #21 (May 1988) [Jack Magniconte back-up story]
Art
- Ron Frenz - Kickers, Inc. #1-3 (November 1986-January 1987); "Choices" in D.P. 7 #21 (May 1988) [Jack Magniconte back-up story]
- Howard Bender - Kickers, Inc. #4 (February 1987)
- Paul Ryan - Kickers, Inc. #5 (March 1987)
- Rod Whigham - Kickers, Inc. #6-7, 10, 12 (April 1987-May 1987, August 1987, October 1987)
- Larry Alexander - Kickers, Inc. #8, 11 (June 1987, September 1987)
- Alan Kupperberg - Kickers, Inc. #9 (July 1987)
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