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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 18, 2013 22:12:20 GMT -5
Okay, I've been thinking along the same lines as HB. We need some more just general chit chat around here so here's a new idea. We'll take the Avengers 1 at time and look at the greatest covers featuring that character. As I start a new discusion, I'll get the ball rolling by posting 3 covers that I think are the greatest for that character. Chime in on them or throw out the ones you like to add the list. What I think might be fun is to see what different people think constitutes a great cover. Is it: 1. The sheer artistry 2. How heavily the character is featured 3. The emotion displayed 4. The memories brought forth by looking at it 5. The signifcance of the story connected to it 6. other BTW there's no right or wrong things to post. Covers can be from any Avengers title (Not character's own books), any era, any artist. We'll get things going with my choices for Thor. This early cover really demonstrates the power of Thor. Power explodes right off the page. images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080620220948/marveldatabase/images/d/d0/Avengers_Vol_1_122.jpg [/img] For this one, it's partly the body position, but it's also the face. It doesn't hurt that this is one of the first books I ever read so it tugs at my heart too. Love this cover. I love the story attached too. This cover, especially Thor, tells you that you are about to get what you needed to get after seeing the team get their butt's handed to them for the past couple of months. It makes you ready to get inside the book.
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Post by humanbelly on Feb 19, 2013 12:06:05 GMT -5
Well, here I am being a luddite again-- I can't figure out how to paste in image into a post, here. SW, when you have a moment, could you clue me in? Certainly this is a thread that'll require clear visual references, right?
My favorite Thor-centric cover? Ha! Issue #177-- with Don Blake startin' CPR on everybody. It's actually one of my favorite covers ever. It would appear to be the usual, cliche'd, hyperbolic, dire-moment "grab" cover that never quite accurately displays what really happens inside. . . but it's completely not! Not only does this happen as pictured, but it's the final panel of the story-- which is also 'wayyyyy out of the ordinary. And the fact that it's good ol' dependable Don Blake, whose cover appearances anywhere are probably enumerable on one hand, makes it a memorable landmark for me personally. I mean, I distinctly remember this cover when I pulled it off the rack at the drugstore. Good stuff!
HB
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Post by tomspasic on Feb 19, 2013 13:01:10 GMT -5
For HB:
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Post by tomspasic on Feb 19, 2013 16:25:24 GMT -5
And to divert away from Thor for a minute, here's my Swordsman cover gallery: First up, a Klassic Kirby Kover #19. Though not holding entirely true to Don Hecks interior costume design, it's a typically bravura Kirby cover, capturing the swashbuckling spirit of the Avengers perennial Bad Boy. This two parter introduced Swordy, and was the first time we got a glimpse of who Hawkeye was before he was Hawkeye. Next up, a Classic Colan Cover, #65. A typically brilliant action packed, swirling, motion filled Colan piece. Another two-parter exploring the checkered history of the Carny Duo, and introducing Barney Barton to boot. Then we get to #114, a gorgeous Romita (?) piece of art. This is when Englehart has bought back the Swordsman to reform and rejoin the Avengers, along with the mysterious Mantis. A personal favourite era, and one of my favourite issues. Next up is #344, this is strictly speaking another Avenger entirely, an Alternate Universe Swordsman, part of a seemingly never-ending storyline that ran for almost a hundred years..... And another cover from the same protracted storyline #355. There are a few other Swordsman covers knocking about, a Solo Avengers he shares with Clint, IIRC, but these are some of my favourites of the man who tried to be good, but somehow never quite seemed to make it. Salut, Swordsman!
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Post by starfoxxx on Feb 19, 2013 17:39:57 GMT -5
Wow, that #65 cover---nice. I don't own the issue, so thanks for the comic size image, tomspasic. I never really got a good look at it, and I love the covers around this time--- #65 is a great one. I always liked that different AVENGERS banner, used from issues #62 to #69. (Thank you, Cover Browser website). Also, check out the "corner head shot box" from issues #64-67. They are unique, with Yellowjackets shoulders shown, and a somewhat "jovial" vibe amongst the individual head shots. (I love the corner head shot boxes, I miss them from current team comic books. My dream tattoo is an Avengers head-shot lineup box with the Big 3, Beast, Vizh, Wanda, Tigra, with my birthdate as the number and month/year>>>don't steal my idea<<<.
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 19, 2013 19:17:04 GMT -5
HB, don't feel alone. I had trouble figuring out how to post the pics too and an more trouble yet again figuring out how to do it as a reply instead of when starting the thread. This is how I did it. If someone has a shortcut, I'd love to know too. 1. Locate the pic online 2. Rt. click then open properties. 3. Copy the URL Address 4. Click the insert image icon on the message screen and then paste the address between the two little things that say The problem now is that I can't do that as a reply because there are no icons. The only thing I see to do is start the message, then click modify and the icons are there. There's probably a simpler way
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 19, 2013 19:23:23 GMT -5
Now, without further ado, I'll move on to Ironman. I was really surprised at how it was to locate good IM covers. I guess the artits decided to save all the really strong images of him for his own book. Anyways, here's the best 3 I came up with. ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4578453204239163&pid=15.1 [/img] Again, I don't think any of these showcase IM as much as I'd like but he is nicely featured on each one and especially like seeing him being the most outraged on #181. Oh, and Tom, I like that cover from 177 as well. I never even thought about that as a Thor cover as I thumbed through but, of course, it is.
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Post by tomspasic on Feb 19, 2013 19:45:08 GMT -5
My method for posting pictures: 1. Get a photobucket or other image hosting site account. 2. Upload the pictures to your account (either scan yourself, or if already online, copy/paste/save to your pc in a paint programme, or "save as" the pic, and then upload to photobucket). 3. In photobucket there is a setting on each picture for "IMG code" which gives a link which looks like this:
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/tommyboy2002/avengers19_zps98f2ef88.jpg[/IMG] copy and paste the IMG code link into your post and the image will appear once the message is posted.
You can sometimes copy/paste links directly from other web pages, but often it's frowned on as "bandwidth theft". Plus if those sites go under or remove the pic it's lost to you, so I prefer the method above, as it means your pictures stay online for years, if need be.
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Post by wundagoreborn on Feb 20, 2013 16:08:08 GMT -5
I think IM looks hard core in this one: Obviously, Cap is the focal point here. But you can't get more badass glower than that out of a guy with no facial features.
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Post by starfoxxx on Feb 20, 2013 17:34:01 GMT -5
Wow, I'm really enjoying this thread, covers have always played into my fascination with comic books, and those great Avengers covers probably had alot to do with why Avengers became my favorite.
My first LCS had tons of old Marvels and DCs for $1-$3 back in the 80s, and I bought them back them if the cover was cool----Avnegrs #151 and #12 were among my earliest back issues, just amazing, classic covers.
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 20, 2013 19:36:03 GMT -5
Day 3 and time to cover (pun intended) Hank Pym. I actually think Hank has had a good number of good covers. Possibly that's because of his size in relation to other characters or because characters who didn't have their own books were more featured in Avengers to make up for that. Although Goliath was my least favorite of Hank's identies (Okay, not true, Dr. Pym the adventurer was worse and I don't even count his brief stint as the Wasp because I try so hard to forget it ever happened.) this cover is one of my all time favorites. This is one of the times his Ant-man identity seems to have been taken seriously This is one of the very few recent covers you'll see posted from me for any character but I sure like this one. It's partially the dymnamics and colors but also the wonderful excitement that went with it. Finally, Hank was back to Giant Man and back to being a real part of an Avengers book.
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Post by humanbelly on Feb 20, 2013 20:15:10 GMT -5
Day 3 and time to cover (pun intended) Hank Pym. I actually think Hank has had a good number of good covers. Possibly that's because of his size in relation to other characters or because characters who didn't have their own books were more featured in Avengers to make up for that. Although Goliath was my least favorite of Hank's identies (Okay, not true, Dr. Pym the adventurer was worse and I don't even count his brief stint as the Wasp because I try so hard to forget it ever happened.) this cover is one of my all time favorites. This is one of the times his Ant-man identity seems to have been taken seriously This is one of the very few recent covers you'll see posted from me for any character but I sure like this one. It's partially the dymnamics and colors but also the wonderful excitement that went with it. Finally, Hank was back to Giant Man and back to being a real part of an Avengers book. Holy cats! I got it to work! Thanks guys! Aaaaaand the reward is that we get to see the cover of Avengers #63, which Avengers Academy #7 was a tribute to-- the irony being, of course, that it was Clint the first time, and Hank the second. Now, let's see if I can get this to work again. . . ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4876283395769075&pid=1.7[/img] Hot dog-- there we go! Yep, this is my personal favorite of Hank's Avengers covers. I'll tell you, though, a quick browse through a cover gallery does indeed show that he was THE dominant cover character for most of that run between issues 28 and 52 or so. Ooops-- gotta run-- HB
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 20, 2013 21:00:59 GMT -5
Aaaaaand the reward is that we get to see the cover of Avengers #63, which Avengers Academy #7 was a tribute to-- the irony being, of course, that it was Clint the first time, and Hank the second. I actually considered putting that cover for a minute before realizing it wasn't actually Hank. That would have been embarrassing for a major Avengers fan like me if I had. However, it's a different story since you not only were aware of the difference but pointed it out. I agree that it's ironic that one of the best Goliath covers didn't feature Hank or one of the best Clint Barton covers didn't feature Hawkeye, whichever way you want to look at it..
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Post by humanbelly on Feb 20, 2013 21:24:27 GMT -5
Aaaaaand the reward is that we get to see the cover of Avengers #63, which Avengers Academy #7 was a tribute to-- the irony being, of course, that it was Clint the first time, and Hank the second. I actually considered putting that cover for a minute before realizing it wasn't actually Hank. That would have been embarrassing for a major Avengers fan like me if I had. However, it's a different story since you not only were aware of the difference but pointed it out. I agree that it's ironic that one of the best Goliath covers didn't feature Hank or one of the best Clint Barton covers didn't feature Hawkeye, whichever way you want to look at it.. Even more notable, I'd say, is that (for me at least) the identity-shifting stunt really worked. I completely bought it at the time, and by issue #65 had totally accepted Hawkeye as Goliath (as it were). Naturally, it had little to do with Clint now having super-powers, but rather that he was still consistently and identifiably "Hawkeye" in those 7-league boots. (Sorry for the tangent-- back to our regularly scheduled thread. . . ) HB
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Post by tomspasic on Feb 21, 2013 5:41:27 GMT -5
A couple more for the Hank Pym gallery: Got to have some more Kirby. I like this because of the rows of heads.. One of many fine Don Heck covers...
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 21, 2013 20:41:05 GMT -5
The next Avenger up warms my heart since, as my name implies, I've always had a soft spot for this little lady. Thus I give you Janet Van Dyne, the wonderful, winsome Wasp. I love that this cover really shows Jan as a force to be reckoned with. She's in a powerful position rather than just flitting about hoping to distract or confuse someone. I absolutely love this cover. It's completely unique and interesting. Just a great idea overall. I'm not going to say this is one of my favorite stories on the inside, especially when it pushes the comics code a little too far for no good reason, but the cover is quite nice and became an iconic image for the Wasp. I don't really dislike the story inside that much, mind you, but if you judge this book by it's cover, you will be disappointed.
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Post by wundagoreborn on Feb 22, 2013 15:45:16 GMT -5
Looking through Cover Browser for Jan covers is really disappointing. She should have had much more cover prominence over the years. A founder. A team leader. An all around awesome chick. So where is she?
I call size-ism.
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 23, 2013 3:01:04 GMT -5
Looking through Cover Browser for Jan covers is really disappointing. She should have had much more cover prominence over the years. A founder. A team leader. An all around awesome chick. So where is she? I call size-ism. I agree but I do think the ons where she was featured are pretty cool. What always surprises me is how many issues she's not on the cover at all even though a group is depicted and she is in the issue. I know it's not practical to include everyone in the issue but she seems especially easy to work in. She really doesn't take up much room.
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 23, 2013 3:03:03 GMT -5
The Hulk wasn't on a lot of covers but, of the few he did appear on, here's my favorites. Issue #1 wasn't a particularly great cover in any capacity but it still makes my list for the Hulk because of the limited choices. I think this one's actually kind of cool. He was actually representing the Defenders here but it's still an Avengers cover and still has a pretty decent Hulk depiction.
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Post by humanbelly on Feb 23, 2013 6:53:47 GMT -5
Looking through Cover Browser for Jan covers is really disappointing. She should have had much more cover prominence over the years. A founder. A team leader. An all around awesome chick. So where is she? I call size-ism. I agree but I do think the ons where she was featured are pretty cool. What always surprises me is how many issues she's not on the cover at all even though a group is depicted and she is in the issue. I know it's not practical to include everyone in the issue but she seems especially easy to work in. She really doesn't take up much room. Even more unfortunate is that in so many of the covers that DO feature her, she's portrayed as a victim or hostage or imperiled: Although to be fair, she does have a particularly good kick-posterior cover right here: Hmm. Anyone regretting that ol' HB's figured out this image-inserting thingy? Hah? ;D HB
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Post by humanbelly on Feb 23, 2013 7:04:51 GMT -5
Say, TomS, where did this image for #65 come from? Some sort of reprint? There's the Spidey UPC box. . . and the color scheme is quite different (and honestly, much more eye-catching, IMO) than the original. Ahhh- right from the midst of my favorite run. . . very nice, indeed. . . HB
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Post by tomspasic on Feb 23, 2013 7:39:09 GMT -5
Yes it's a from reprint, recoloured by Ken Klaczak and edited by "reprint editor" Danny Fingeroth. I believe its from the Marvel Super Action series of Avengers reprints, from the early 1980s.
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 23, 2013 11:35:05 GMT -5
Hmm. Anyone regretting that ol' HB's figured out this image-inserting thingy? Hah? ;D LOL. Not at all. That was the whole point of this thread. To get us talking more and involved more. Glad to see it's working. You're right about the victim thing. Of course, I guess it was unavoidable since she mostly was a victim in those early years. A cover showing her push a button wouldn't have been very exciting. Sue Storm had similar issues in the FF. Even though she usually was on the cover (The whole team was) she was hardly ever depicted as doing anything useful. I could go on but you get the point. (Speaking of people who never should have learned to do this)
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 24, 2013 10:28:54 GMT -5
Anyone who's noticed that I've done entries for all the original Avengers may be expecting me to move on to Cap now, but there's one more cover boy who's been around even longer. We mustn't forget - JARVIS! The perfect Jarvis cover Even though the image of an injured Jarvis may itself may not be flattering, the clear esteem and love the team holds for this man is so evident that it's still a great cover for him. Who says nothing good came out of Inferno?
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 25, 2013 19:15:56 GMT -5
And now: The best of Captain America. The first appearance of a major character (Or in this case, first modern appearance) often houses one of that characters most iconic and memorable covers. Avengers #4 is certainly no exception. A great cover and an important issue. Proud to say that this one is part of my collection. I wish that first one was too. This is a nice, dramatic image that really stirs up some emotional response.
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Post by sharkar on Feb 25, 2013 22:31:33 GMT -5
Oh, those are great Cap covers--just classic! Those are my choices for Steve too. But where did you get that version of #4 from? I prefer the original. Anyway, thanks for starting this thread, spiderwasp! The problem now is that I can't do that as a reply because there are no icons. The only thing I see to do is start the message, then click modify and the icons are there. There's probably a simpler way You don't need the icon, you can can just type brackets with the text img and /img around the URL address. The open and closed brackets are next to the P on the keyboard. Here's what it would look like (below), though I'm omitting the final "g" in the /img bracket so I don't end up with two #4 covers here! www.coverbrowser.com/image/avengers/4-1.jpg[/im]
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Post by spiderwasp on Feb 25, 2013 22:36:24 GMT -5
Oh, those are great Cap covers--just classic! Those are my choices for Steve too. But where did you get that version of #4 from? I prefer the original. ] Interesting. I hadn't even realized it was alternate. I knew what cover I wanted, searched for it and posted it without really looking carefully. The original was what I intended to post.
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Post by humanbelly on Feb 26, 2013 6:15:54 GMT -5
Oh, those are great Cap covers--just classic! Those are my choices for Steve too. But where did you get that version of #4 from? I prefer the original. ] Interesting. I hadn't even realized it was alternate. I knew what cover I wanted, searched for it and posted it without really looking carefully. The original was what I intended to post. It's a bit of a curiosity, isn't it? The signature looks like. . . JK & Scott Bula (?) 2010, I think? At the risk of sounding like an old fogey, it seems AWFULLY presumptuous that any artist would say to himself, "Oh, this iconic Kirby cover's okay-- but I know some tweaks that'll make it REALLY good-!" It's not really an homage, as it uses too much of Jack's work-- it's really little more than a swipe, I daresay. But maybe I'm kinda prickly this morning. . . HB
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Post by sharkar on Feb 26, 2013 12:06:03 GMT -5
It's a bit of a curiosity, isn't it? The signature looks like. . . JK & Scott Bula (?) 2010, I think? At the risk of sounding like an old fogey, it seems AWFULLY presumptuous that any artist would say to himself, "Oh, this iconic Kirby cover's okay-- but I know some tweaks that'll make it REALLY good-!" It's not really an homage, as it uses too much of Jack's work-- it's really little more than a swipe, I daresay. The signature next to the JK looks like Steve Rude's and a quick search confirms this. I'd say nothing nefarious or covert is going on here, HB; Rude is praising the King, not burying him. Perhaps Rude's cover was created for the Jack Kirby Collector or for some other Kirby-centric or Avengers tribute...or perhaps a fan commissioned this of Rude...or maybe Rude just wanted to take a shot at recreating a truly iconic cover. The JKC often features recreations by Mike Royer, Joe Sinnott and others, either from scratch...or they ink over copies of the original art photostats. Again, intended as tributes to Kirby.
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Post by wundagoreborn on Feb 26, 2013 14:04:56 GMT -5
I'm a fan of this 'last man standing' cover of Cap: When Thor's down and you're still fighting back, that says a lot...
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