Air Raiders #2 (Marvel, 1988) | Comic Issue Overview
Air Raiders #2 (1988) titled "Subterfuge" is the second issue of Marvel’s comic adaptation of Hasbro’s five-issue but visually iconic 1980s toy line. Published during the height of Marvel’s toy-tie-in storytelling era, this issue blends sci-fi vehicle combat, high-concept fantasy world-building, and dramatic artwork tailored to the Air Raiders universe. Today, it stands as a fascinating piece of 80s toy and comic history, popular among collectors, toy historians, and fans of obscure Marvel titles in their Star Comics imprint.
Story Summary | Air Raiders #2
Keley Jones returns as penciler to throw readers into the second issue of Air Raiders, where the Air Raiders "Ride the Wind!" Meet the massive Thunderhammer vehicle, which looks incredible as it crushes Aerozar's minions during a raid. Unfortunately, feisty Air Raider Eeleta gets captured. Of course, Eeleta is no fair maiden in distress and doesn't wait for Rokk and the rest of the crew to rescue her. Action and intrigue unfold just beyond the Petrified Cloud Forest in Aerozar's Castle!
Creative Team
Writer: Howard Mackie
Penciler: Kelley Jones
Inker: Jim Sinclair
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Janet Jackson
Editor: Bob Budiansky
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco
Collector Notes & Value Trends
Like issue #1, Air Raiders #2 is not a rare comic book and, as of this writing, is reasonably affordable, depending on the condition. Expect to pay somewhere between $4 and $8 for a reader copy, or buy all five issues at once to facilitate your immersion into the Air Raiders universe!
Related Issues
Why Air Raiders #2 Is a Unique 80s Comic
The unique Kelley Jones quirky sci-fi style shines as he brings these tiny (literally, look these toys up) action figures to life with detail and emotion. This issue stands out because of the intense action scenes filled with gunfire and spaceship (airship) explosions. Eeleta's 1980s hair would be right at home in a Whitesnake video, and as 1980s toy tie-in-comics go, this issue is a fun read. It's rich with text, too, thanks to Mackie's writing. Issue #2 of the Air Raiders Marvel comic book is a must-own for your 80s toy franchise comic book archive.
Where Air Raiders Fits in the 1980s Comic Landscape
Air Raiders #2 arrives at a unique moment in the late-1980s comic scene, a time when big superhero sagas dominated the stands, but smaller, licensed toy-tie-in comics offered a different flavor: compact, high-concept sci-fi adventures that appealed to nostalgia, collectors, and fans of toy-based worlds.
By 1987-1988, the success of titles such as G.I. Joe and Transformers had shown that there was a profitable and passionate audience for comics connected to action-figure and vehicle toy lines. Air Raiders, though never reaching the sales heights of those giants, occupies a distinct niche: it combined the gritty atmosphere of crossover sci-fi with a survival-of-their-kind storyline, where air itself was the key resource and entire cultures depended on control of atmospheric resources.
The desolate landscapes, resource-scarce survival themes, and atmospheric tension evoke the mood of late 80s sci-fi rather than typical superhero fare. It’s this tonal difference that marks Air Raiders as part of a forgotten sub-genre of 1980s comics: gritty, dystopian, toy-inspired sci-fi adventures meant not only for children but for older readers craving mood, worldbuilding, and atmosphere.
In the broader scope of 1980s comics, Air Raiders #2 stands shoulder-to-shoulder with cult-favorite titles like Visionaries, Sectaurs, and Silver Hawks. Together, these books form a hidden corner of comic history: edgy, imaginative, and decidedly outside the mainstream.
FAQ | Air Raiders #2 (1988)
Q: What is Air Raiders #2?
A: The second issue of Marvel’s adaptation of Hasbro’s 80s Air Raiders toy line that expands on the main characters, landscape, and the overall plot of a planet where air is the most valuable commodity. Gritty artwork and sci-fi adventure make it stand out.
Q: Is Air Raiders #2 valuable?
A: Prices vary by condition, but as a toy-tie-in comic with a short run, not particularly.
Q: Who created the Air Raiders comic series?
A: Writer Howard A Mackie, penciller Kelley Jones, and colorist Janet Jackson.
Q: How many issues are in the Air Raiders comic series?
A: Five.
Q: Why is Air Raiders considered a collectible comic?
A: Short print run, toy line nostalgia, strong 80s aesthetics. Air Raiders #2 is not valuable, but it is a great collectible and a good read. This issue, in particular, showcases Kelley Jones's stylized artwork.
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