Mark Hazzard MERC Collection

If the series is named Mark Hazzard, you know it has to be good (because Marks are awesome.) The Mark Hazzard: MERC comic book series, published by Marvel Comics under its New Universe imprint, debuted with issue #1 in 1986 as part of Marvel’s ambitious effort to introduce a more grounded, gritty, and realistic line of contemporary heroes. The testosterone-fueled action series follows Mark Hazzard, a seasoned professional soldier who leads a small team of highly skilled mercenaries on dangerous missions around the globe. Unlike traditional superhero titles, MERC emphasized modern military action, geopolitical tension, and the psychological weight of combat, presenting conflicts that felt closer to real-world headlines than costumed fantasy. Though the series ran for only twelve issues, it remains notable for its serious approach to the mercenary genre. It stands as one of the more distinctive attempts to broaden Marvel’s narrative scope during the late 1980s, and possibly the only good thing to come out of Marvel's New Universe.