Marvel Books: The Activators comic book cover mock-ups by Mike Zeck (1988) - Hasbro / Toy Line / The 80's / Trimpe / GI Joe / Transformers

Artist: Mike Zeck (All)

9 Comments - 440 Views - 14 Likes

Marvel Books: The Activators comic book cover mock-ups by Mike Zeck (1988) - Hasbro / Toy Line / The 80's / Trimpe / GI Joe / Transformers Comic Art

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Activators (Toy Line & Comic) PRESS character design art by Mike Zeck (1988) - Hasbro / Marvel Books / Big Looker Storybook / Turnaround / Model Sheet

Artwork Details

Title:	Marvel Books: The Activators comic book cover mock-ups by Mike Zeck (1988) - Hasbro / Toy Line / The 80's / Trimpe / GI Joe / Transformers
Artist:	Mike Zeck (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	440
Likes on CAF:	14 15
Comments:	9
Added to Site:	2/20/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

In 1982 Marvel produced a comic book series featuring the toys for GI Joe. In 1984 they debuted the Transformers comics and US toys. A few years later they may have been looking for their next line of toys and comics with The Activators, but it never came to be.

I'm excited to share this set of untold Mike Zeck and Marvel/Hasbro history. I picked up the cover pieces from a collector in France and the figure designs from a dealer in Italy. Here's what I've been able to piece together from other collectors and the little info I found online.

In the late 1980's (Circa 1986-88 based on the 75cent price on the cover mockups) Mike Zeck was hired to design a new line of characters and covers for a new toyline/story called THE ACTIVATORS, which was never published.

Based on these drawings the work was going to be published by Big Looker Storybooks, which Marvel Books published in the mid-to-late 80's under license from Hasbro. Marvel published some of their own licensed IP (Spider-Man) under Big Looker along side big properties like Transformers, GI Joe. The Activators felt like they may have been going for a mix of GI Joe and Transformers with soldiers wearing transformative tech.

Even though these never saw the light of day, I couldn't help but pick them up as they are prime era Zeck! He was working on his iconic Punisher run and Kraven's Last Hunt story around the same time and had just come off his memorable work on Captain America and Secret Wars just a few years before. I love the logo designs and thought the character designs were super cool as well.

The piece shows drawings of the comic covers of the first 6 issues stacked. The front image is a Herb Trimpe stat and there are some logo stats as well. The rest is pencil and inks by Mike Zeck.

It's safe to say this line wont be made any time soon as the name "The Activators" was repurposed for a Transformers toy line in 2010.

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About the Owner

	George H ( 6 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	April 2009
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	thedigitalgeorge
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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JN 80
Member Since 2016

1 - Posted on 2/20/2025

Great find George! One of the joys of this hobby, the unique art tracker down and shared

Malvin V
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 2/20/2025

This is awesome! If you want more info, you should try asking Mike Zeck directly, he is good about answering questions like that.

Rick W
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 2/20/2025

Cool factor activated!

Eranga Devasurendra
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 2/20/2025

That's a cool piece of history, man. And from a prime Zeck era to boot! Thanks for sharing the details with us!

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 2/20/2025

Fun mock-up art. Of COURSE they got Trimpe involved!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 2/21/2025

Pretty cool if they were going to follow the formula of comics, toys, and a TV show that blitzed afterschool activities! They would need to make these toys big like He-Man, but by 1988 even He-Man was out the door as TMNT was just around the corner.

Ken Martin
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 2/21/2025

This is a fantastic find! Zeck was the first artist I took notice of as a kid.

Tyler T
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 2/24/2025

Really fun piece of comic and toy history. It's made even better when you consider that Zeck made these during such a historic run. Wonderful pick ups!

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

Posted on 7/6/2025

"Activators...activate!" :) Not sure if that would've worked but I think it has a ring!

Glad you were able to get this whole set of design pieces, man, and by my main man, Zeck?! Fergetaboutit. Congrats!

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