DAZZLER #35 comic cover art

Back in the day when comics sold to people under the age of 40 sales of even lower-performing titles were big numbers. As a result cancellation was something of a last resort instead of an annual exercise. Dazzler had been launched to tie in with disco but naturally by the time Alison's adventures were out the genre had become a lightning rod for hatred. Despite a change in direction the mutant songstress struggled to shift comics, so Danny Fingeroth had her switch to acting hopeful. To help promote the new format a series of nine covers were created by Bill Sienkiewicz, who was a serious heavyweight at the company. They didn't really help Dazzler but they looked superb.

New Universe advert

Launched in 1986 with this stunning promotional image drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz, the New Universe was Marvel's first attempt to launch an all-new imprint. Sadly the talent on the titles themselves was largely less stellar, typified by so much of it being written by the amiable but limited Mark Gruenwald. Four of the eight launch titles were cancelled within a year of their debut, and the line as a whole was wound down in 1989 to widespread apathy.