New Universe analyses: Mark Hazzard Merc

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Creelman
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New Universe analyses: Mark Hazzard Merc

Post by Creelman »

Mark Hazzard: Merc
MH:M 1
Published: November 1986
Written by Peter David; Drawn by Gray Morrow (art)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Mal; "Treetop"; Scott Hazzard; Joan Hazzard; Jen & Glory; Santos; Maria

Brief synopsis: Soldier of fortune, Mark Hazzard, takes out the president of a south Pacific country. He attempts, but fails, to save the daughter of the dead president from the rebels who hired him.

References: Pages 1-3 take place ?. As noted on page 4, pages 4 through 21:1 take place days later. As noted on page 21, pages 21:2 through 22 take place the next day. Issue takes place two years since Hazzard's ex-wife remarried.

Flashback (13:3-13:5)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Leonard Hazzard; Margaret Hazzard
Brief synopsis: Hazzard's parents are unhappy that he is dropping out of West Point to sign up for a tour in Vietnam.
References: Takes place sometime during the Vietnam War.

Flashback (15:2-15:5)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard
Brief synopsis: Hazzard recalls some ops from his three tours in Vietnam.
References:

Flashback (16:1-16:3)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Margaret Hazzard
Brief synopsis: Hazzard argues with his mother about doing three tours in Vietnam. Hazzard's father is deceased at this point in time.
References:

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MH:M 2
Published: December 1986
Written by Peter David; Drawn by Gray Morrow (art)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Mal Rossi; Louis "Treetop" Barrington; Dave Klapholz; Gordon; Henri Graymalkin; Scott Hazzard; Joan Hazzard

Brief synopsis: Attending his son's baseball game, Hazzard has to take out three assassins sent by an old adversary, Henri Graymalkin.

References: Pages 1 through 7 take place the Friday of the same week at the end of the previous issue. Pages 8 through 22 take place the following Sunday.

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MH:M 3
Published: January 1987
Written by Peter David; Drawn by Alan Kupperberg (storytelling) & Jack Fury (finishes)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Lt. Claire Burnett; Artie; Jacob Ram; Eli Wisenthal; Col. Jarret Wolfson

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard is hired by Israeli secret service agent, Jacob Ram, to protect Israeli politician, Eli Wisenthal, from middle-eastern terrorists.
References: As noted on page 2, pages 1 through 4 take place the next day [Monday] after the previous issue. As noted on page 3, pages 4 through 23? take place that weekend.

Flashback (2:2-2:5)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard
Brief synopsis: Hazzard takes out the assassins in the previous issue.
References:

Flashback (6:4)
Appearances: Jarret Wolfson
Brief synopsis: While at West Point, Wolfson is left hanging from a flagpole by classmate, Mark Hazzard.
References:

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MH:M 4
Published: February 1987
Written by Peter David; Drawn by Alan Kupperberg (layouts) & Jack Fury (finishes)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Capt. Allison; Lt. Claire Burnett; Irham (villain); Besq (villain); Agent Dirkson; Sloan; Lewis Hart; Rick Burnett; Scott Hazzard; Mal Rossi; Louis "Treetop" Barrington

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard is jailed for killing the assassins who attacked him at his son's baseball game. Out on bail, Hazzard and his merc pals take out two more middle-eastern terrorists out for revenge for what Hazzard did to their compatriots in the previous issue. Hazzard turns down the opportunity for all his charges to be cleared if he does dirty work for a federal agency.

References: Pages 1-23:5 take place soon, if not immediately, after the previous issue. As noted on page 23, pages 23:6-24 take place the next day.

Flashback (2:1)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard
Brief synopsis: Hazzard takes out the assassins in issue 2.
References:

Flashback (2:2-3:3)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Eli Wisenthal
Brief synopsis: Hazzard protects Wisenthal and takes out the terrorists in the previous issue.
References:

Dream sequence (5:1-6:7)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Joan Hazzard; Scott Hazzard; Gordon

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MH:M 5
Published: March 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Mark Beachum (layouts) & Jack Fury (art)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Mal Rossi; Priestess; "Phoenix" Rossi; Ramon

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard and Priestess help Mal Rossi save Mal's sister, "Phoenix", from the biker, Ramon, who had kidnapped her. After admitting he made up the story, Mal lets Phoenix stay with Ramon.

References: Pages 1-13 take place on one day. As noted on page 14, pages 14-15 on the next night. As noted on page 16, pages 16-21 take place at dawn the next day. Page 22 takes place some time later.

Flashback (4:4-5)
Appearances: "Phoenix" Rossi; Ramon
Brief synopsis: Mal tells a fake story that his sister, singer in a rock band, was kidnapped by the biker, Ramon.
References:

Flashback (6:2)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Mal Rossi
Brief synopsis: Mal taking fire and carrying a disabled Hazzard
References:

Flashback (18:4)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Leonard Hazzard
Brief synopsis: Hazzard's father chides him for leaving West Point and the effect it may have on Mark's sister.
References:

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MH:M 6
Published: April 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Vince Giarrano (pencils) & Manny Hands (inks)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Mal Rossi; Louis "Treetop" Barrington; Priestess; Kurtz (introduction, villain); Fritz (villain); Freida; Rolf

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard and his team are guarding Kurtz, an oppressive candidate for president of a middle European country. After finding out from locals that Kurtz is a former Nazi, Hazzard takes him out.
References:

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MH:M 7
Published: May 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Val Mayerik (art)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Sgt. Major Peel (introduction); Doc (introduction); Ritter (introduction); Mal Rossi; Joan Hazzard; Scott Hazzard; the "Commander" (introduction); Esteban (introduction, villain)

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard and another mercenary, Sgt. Major Peel, train rebel fighters in central America. Later, the rebels' Commander is taken by government forces. Hazzard and his ad hoc team return to save the Commander.
References:

Flashback (16:2)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Doc
Brief synopsis: Hazzard and Doc fighting together (in Vietnam?)
References:

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MH:M 8
Published: June 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Gray Morrow & Vince Colletta
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Priestess; Louis "Treetop" Barrington (dream); Sgt. Major Peel (dream); Mal Rossi (dream); Joan Hazzard (dream); Scott Hazzard (dream); Father Kevin Eugene Johnson; Monsignor; Hamish; Ahmal

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard is hired to travel to Lebanon to rescue a kidnapped priest and recover a religious icon.

References: Pages 1 through 3 take place some time after previous issue. As noted on page 4, pages 4 through 7 take place the next day. As noted on page 7, pages 7 through 18 take place the next day. As noted on page 19, pages 19 through 21 take place a couple of days later. Page 22 takes place soon after.

Flashback (6:2-7:1)
Appearances: Father Capistran
Brief synopsis: Father Capistran captured by middle-eastern terrorists after unearthing the ring of the fisherman.
References:

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MH:M 9
Published: July 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Andy Kubert (pencils) & Adam Kubert (inker)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Lincoln Griffin; Mal Rossi; Ritter; Gramps; Louis "Treetop" Barrington; Priestess; Henri Graymalkin (BTS); Gordon (BTS)

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard is hired to transport stinger missiles to rebels in Afghanistan. The plan calls for Hazzard and pilot, Ritter, to fly over the Persian Gulf as a decoy while the missiles are transported across land by Mal Rossi and the man who hired them, Lincoln Griffin. The missiles are delivered, but Hazzard and Ritter are captured by Iranians who execute the pilot after finding out the duo were decoys.

References: Pages 1 through 5 take place some time after previous issue. As noted on page 6, pages 6:1 through 6:4 take place three days later. As noted on page 6, pages 6:5 through 7 take place the next morning. As noted on page 8, pages 8 through 10 take place the next morning. As noted on page 11, pages 11 through 22 take place the next morning/day.

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MH:M 10
Published: August 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Gray Morrow (pencils) & Vince Colletta (inks)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Lincoln Griffin; Priestess; Mal Rossi; Louis "Treetop" Barrington; Sgt. Major Peel; Gar Bremby (introduction); Kim Sun (introduction); Tony Danetta (introduction); Gramps; Henri Graymalkin (BTS); Gordon (BTS)

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard's mercenary friends mount an assault to break him out of an Iranian prison.

References: Issue takes place soon, if not immediately, after the previous issue. And, as noted on page 3, the rescue mission takes place over approximately 36 to 48 hours.

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MH:M 11
Published: September 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Gray Morrow & Vince Colletta
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Lincoln Griffin; Priestess; Mal Rossi; Louis "Treetop" Barrington; Sgt. Major Peel; Kim Sun; Tony Danetta; Henri Graymalkin (dies); Joan Hazzard; Scott Hazzard; Gordon (dies); Gar Bremby (BTS)

Brief synopsis: Mark Hazzard's mercenary friends rescue him from the Iranian prison. Lincoln Griffin gives Hazzard the name of the person who tipped off the Iranians about his mission, Henri Graymalkin. Hazzard finds out from Graymalkin that Joan's husband, Gordon, had told him about Hazzard's mission to the Persian Gulf. Hazzard confronts Gordon about his treachery. He pulls a gun and shoots Hazzard, but the mercenary manages to strangle Gordon to death before collapsing.

References: Pages 1 through 10 take place immediately after the previous issue. As noted on page 11, pages 11 through 22 take place the next day.

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MH:M Annual 1
Published: [November] 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Vincent Waller (pencils) & Fraja Bator (inks)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard (dies); Louis "Treetop" Barrington; Lincoln Griffin; Sgt. Major Peel; Priestess; Mal Rossi; Joan Hazzard; Scott Hazzard

Brief synopsis: Sgt. Major Peel and Lincoln Griffin are in Afghanistan training Mujahideen rebels to help them fight the Soviets invading their country. At the same time, in a New York hospital, Mark Hazzard is in a coma and his friends and family recount their histories with him. After a failed operation, the doctors explain that Hazzard had no brain activity and was only being kept alive by machine. All agree that he wouldn't want to live that way and have the doctors turn the machines off, letting him die.

References: The main story takes place soon after Hazzard was shot in the last episode.

Flashback (3:1-4:6)
Appearances: Sgt. Major Peel; Mark Hazzard
Brief synopsis: After the Vietnam War Sgt. Major Peel is a former mercenary and is hired by Mark Hazzard to join his shop.
References:

Flashback (6:1-12:4)
Appearances: Lincoln Griffin; Mark Hazzard
Brief synopsis: During the Vietnam War, Navy SEAL, Lincoln Griffin, is rescued after a botched mission by Mark Hazzard. After the war, Griffin becomes a sky marshal, a policeman and, finally, a mercenary. He meets Mark Hazzard, a fellow mercenary, again.
References:

Flashback (17:5-22:5)
Appearances: Mal Rossi; Mark Hazzard
Brief synopsis: Mal Rossi, attached to the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam (AATTV), is rescued by Mark Hazzard during the breakout of the Tet Offensive. After the war, Rossi is hired by Hazzard to be a member of his mercenary shop.
References: The Tet Offensive launched on the morning of January 31, 1968.

Flashback (23:4-26:2)
Appearances: Priestess; Mark Hazzard; the Sensei
Brief synopsis: Priestess runs away to New York and is rescued by Mark Hazzard. Hazzard introduces Priestess to the Sensei who trains her in martial arts. After he dies, the Sensei leaves his dojo to Priestess.
References:

Flashback (28:3-33:2)
Appearances: Louis "Treetop" Barrington; Mark Hazzard
Brief synopsis: In 1969, Louis Barrington is flying Huey helicopters in Vietnam and encounters Mark Hazzard during an extraction of American forces. After the war, he became rich as a mercenary who would do any job for the money. He is hired by Hazzard to join his mercenary shop but demands to run the operation.
References:

Flashback (33:6-37:3)
Appearances: Mark Hazzard; Joan Hazzard; Leonard Hazzard; Margaret Hazzard; Scott Hazzard
Brief synopsis: As a child, Mark Hazzard can never do enough for his father's approval. Mark Hazzard takes Joan Hazzard to the prom and sees him off to West Point. Leonard Hazzard is disappointed Mark isn't first at his class at West Point. Mark quits West Point, marries Joan and leaves for Vietnam as a NCO. Following the war, Scott Hazzard is born. Mark becomes a mercenary, but the job tears apart their marriage.
References:

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MH:M #12
Published: October 1987
Written by Doug Murray; Drawn by Vince Giarrano (pencils) & Pat Redding (inks)
Appearances: Lincoln Griffin; Sgt. Major Peel; Babrak; Kamal (dies); Gramps

Brief synopsis: Lincoln Griffin and Sgt. Major Peel are with the mujahideen battling the Soviet army. After their group is hit hard by the Soviets, Griffin decides to lead a group of rebels across the border and take the fight to the Soviets.
References:

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Chronology entries:
Barrington, Louis/Treetop
MH:M@ 1-FB
{MH:M 1}
MH:M 2
MH:M 4
MH:M 6
MH:M 9
MH:M 10
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1

Bremby, Gar
{MH:M 10}
MH:M 11-BTS

Burnett, Lt. Claire
{MH:M 3}
MH:M 4

Burnett, Rick
{MH:M 4}

Danetta, Tony
{MH:M 10}
MH:M 11

Doc
MH:M 7 (16:2)-FB
{MH:M 7}

Gordon
{MH:M 2}
MH:M 9-BTS
MH:M 10-BTS
MH:M 11

Gramps
{MH:M 9}
MH:M 10
MH:M 12

Graymalkin, Henri
{MH:M 2}
MH:M 9-BTS
MH:M 10-BTS
MH:M 11

Griffin, Lincoln
MH:M@ 1-FB
{MH:M 9}
MH:M 10
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1
MH:M 12

Hart, Lewis
{MH:M 4}

Hazzard, Joan
MH:M@ 1-FB
{MH:M 1}
MH:M 2
MH:M 7
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1

Hazzard, Leonard
MH:M@ 1-FB
{MH:M 1-FB}~MH:M 5 (18:4)-FB~MH:M@ 1-FB

Hazzard, Margaret
MH:M@ 1-FB
{MH:M 1-FB}~MH:M@ 1-FB

Hazzard, Mark
MH:M 1-FB~MH:M 5 (18:4)-FB~MH:M@ 1-FB
MH:M@ 1-FB
MH:M 5 (6:2)-FB
MH:M 7 (16:2)-FB
MH:M@ 1 (23:4-26:2)-FB
{MH:M 1}
MH:M 2
MH:M 3
MH:M 4
MH:M 5
MH:M 6
MH:M 7
MH:M 8
MH:M 9
MH:M 10
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1

Hazzard, Scott
MH:M@ 1-FB
{MH:M 1}
MH:M 2
MH:M 4
MH:M 7
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1

Johnson, Father Kevin Eugene
{MH:M 8}

Klapholz, Dave
{MH:M 2}

Kurtz
{MH:M 6}

Peel, Sgt. Major
MH:M@ 1 (3:1-4:6)-FB
{MH:M 7}
MH:M 10
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1
MH:M 12

Priestess
MH:M@ 1 (23:4-26:2)-FB
{MH:M 5}
MH:M 6
MH:M 8
MH:M 9
MH:M 10
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1

Ram, Jacob
{MH:M 3}

Ramon
{MH:M 5}

Ritter
{MH:M 7}
MH:M 9

Rossi, Mal
MH:M@ 1-FB
MH:M 5 (6:2)-FB
{MH:M 1}
MH:M 2
MH:M 4
MH:M 5
MH:M 6
MH:M 7
MH:M 9
MH:M 10
MH:M 11
MH:M@ 1

Rossi, “Phoenix”
{MH:M 5}

Sensei
{MH:M@ 1 (23:4-26:2)-FB}

Sun, Kim
{MH:M 10}
MH:M 11

Wisenthal, Eli
{MH:M 3}

Wolfson, Col. Jarret
MH:M 3-FB
{MH:M 3}

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That was a grind. I had forgotten how uninspired the stories were. Plus, there were no connections with any other New Universe titles or events, so the series lived in a vacuum. The annual is full of flashbacks that each run from the Vietnam War to the time of the current issue. I'll leave it to a better person to break down each panel of each flashback in chronological order! Glad that's out of the way.
-Dan
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