Continuing my coverage of what to me are the top Avengers covers, I've not compiled what my favorites are between 100 - 199. At first I was worried, as this period had a lot of really great covers... and a lot of mediocre ones as well, which was sort of frustrating because there were a great many milestones that (at least in hindsight) definitely deserved better covers. Oh well... Lets start with the countdown.
Number 10 - issue 181
A landmark issue and this makes the cut because of the sheer number of Avengers appearing on this cover. Definitely a strong pull for any reader... and maybe even a passer-by or two. After all, its rare that you see that many Avengers in a seeming crowded scene mingling around the Avengers' meeting table.
Plus, lets face it... gentleman George Perez really makes crowded scenes (I count 22 heroes, though I have to point out that the scene includes the Guardians of the Galaxy - so purists will insist on only 17 Avengers) look real good - all the way to this mysterious person announcing the need for a drastic cut in membership - the mysterious person being none other than Agent Gyrich. So if only because of this fact that George did this cover, makes it even more desirable a cover for me (though not the top one as is quite obvious at this point).
The issue itself is a milestone by way of limiting the active Avengers to just seven - a number that they've for the most of their duration, respected. Though I suspect it was to also give some sanity back to the writer by being able to better focus on just seven main characters.
Number 9 - issue 166
This cover speaks of drama! I mean, how couldn't it? We see Count Nefaria - a 2nd rate leader of villains with little to offer in any battle, except maybe giving orders, suddenly transformed into someone who can absorb the blows of Mjolnir! Holy leaping lizards B, er... sorry wrong comic universe. But you have to admit, even the cover shows a stumped Thor (though inside the comic, the story unfolds into a very wonderful manner showing a rather scared Nefaria slowly realizing Thor's hammer isn't actually hurting him).
So the cover definitely begs of a double take - making sure we... the readers see what we're actually seeing. Adding to the drama, is how the Vision is poised to jump into the fray, coming in from behind Nefaria... but will he be enough to stop this new and more powerful incarnation of Nefaria? If that was not what was lurking at the back of your mind as you saw the cover - I don't know what will make you excited. Nefaria's new look is courtesy of John Byrne, who would be the regular penciler for Avengers at this point in time. I can't place the cover credits though. Great issue... complemented by this great looking cover which announces the fact :Nefaria Supreme!
Number 8 - issue 127
As covers go, this was definitely draw with great impact... then again, we are talking about Gil Kane - a great artist around the time this issue came out. Plus the fact that this story has both the Inhumans and the Fantastic Four showing up and fighting side-by-side with the Avengers... well, lets just say it would be foolish not to pick this issue up. This cover hints at the action within the issue's pages as it literally entices people to pick it up.
But back to the cover. What I liked about it is the dynamism, and the fact that the reader is placed front and center in the way of the charge led by Thor and flanked by both the Vision and the Thing and backed up by the Torch, Blackbolt and Mr. Fantastic at the rear - whoa... this screams "out of the way!" lest you end up flying being tossed aside like those purple clad flunkies (as only how Gil Kane can draw them too).
This issue - as its cover blur displays, definitely promises Havoc in the Hidden Land (of Attilan).
Number 7 - issue 116
Avengers versus Defenders! This was a milestone clash of two teams, and although the Avengers were considered as Earth's Mightiest Heroes - that title could certainly be put to the test when faced with the likes of Dr. Strange, Namor, the Hulk and Silver Surfer!
Though this crossover happened in both titles, and through three months, one Avengers cover stands out among the rest - that being the Surfer versus the Vision and Scarlet Witch atop a volcano (an idea that apparently preceded that of Star Wars' battle between Obi Wan and Anakin by decades).
And an interesting battle it really was - albeit considering that the Surfer was holding back, and that his victory was only because Wanda was in danger and the Vision had to help her first. Still... the cover's drama covers it all and more (although the blurb might be a bit overly dramatic in stating the 'to the death' part).
Even the colors leap out to add to the fiery drama. I can't place the artist for this cover... I'd think it was Sal Buscema, maybe heavily aided by an inker. The reason I hesitate is because Sal rarely hits a homer as great as this cover... and if it is Sal's work, then boy was he really inspired to create it. If not... well, its a great cover - otherwise it wouldn't get to the top 10 of my choice.
Number 6 - issue 195
This issue is unique in the fact that it shows three insect-themed heroes... two of them having never teamed up in the first place (at least, in an Avengers book). I'm talking about Ant Man and Yellow Jacket of course, as they try to free a captured and unconscious Wasp.
Add to this tidbit, the fact that this issue's cover (and interiors) are by George Perez, and you've got a really good issue - and cover at that! I like the all out action by way of the ants and yellow jackets swarming the bad guys - seemingly being overrun; obviously being led by the two small sized heroes as they free the Wasp from some kind of lab (I assume its a lab with all those equipment in the background).
I mean, lets face it... these guys are hardly noticed in the power department - so its a welcome treat to show that the statement 'small but terrible' definitely applies to these guys. The interiors are equally breathtaking, as this is the time when George is really showing us what a great artist he is - complete with a near perfect attention to detail. Definitely showing us early signs of what made him a great artist when he later handled the Teen Titans.
So that's it, the bottom half of this little collection. Just to share a little trivia, it was much harder to select through this batch (issues 100 - 199) because so many dramatic milestones happened to the Avengers within this time frame, that I was sorely tempted to select covers representing the milestones. However, I took a step back and reminded myself that despite these milestones, it was the covers I was focusing on. In that regard, I was a bit worried somewhere in the middle of this batch as the covers were seemingly drawn in a haphazard manner - thus not meeting my criteria. Lucky for me, the better covers suddenly came out with a vengeance at the latter part, and I then had to trim down from my favorites until I got to my personal 10 best covers - the top half of which is coming next.
A landmark issue and this makes the cut because of the sheer number of Avengers appearing on this cover. Definitely a strong pull for any reader... and maybe even a passer-by or two. After all, its rare that you see that many Avengers in a seeming crowded scene mingling around the Avengers' meeting table.
Plus, lets face it... gentleman George Perez really makes crowded scenes (I count 22 heroes, though I have to point out that the scene includes the Guardians of the Galaxy - so purists will insist on only 17 Avengers) look real good - all the way to this mysterious person announcing the need for a drastic cut in membership - the mysterious person being none other than Agent Gyrich. So if only because of this fact that George did this cover, makes it even more desirable a cover for me (though not the top one as is quite obvious at this point).
The issue itself is a milestone by way of limiting the active Avengers to just seven - a number that they've for the most of their duration, respected. Though I suspect it was to also give some sanity back to the writer by being able to better focus on just seven main characters.
This cover speaks of drama! I mean, how couldn't it? We see Count Nefaria - a 2nd rate leader of villains with little to offer in any battle, except maybe giving orders, suddenly transformed into someone who can absorb the blows of Mjolnir! Holy leaping lizards B, er... sorry wrong comic universe. But you have to admit, even the cover shows a stumped Thor (though inside the comic, the story unfolds into a very wonderful manner showing a rather scared Nefaria slowly realizing Thor's hammer isn't actually hurting him).
So the cover definitely begs of a double take - making sure we... the readers see what we're actually seeing. Adding to the drama, is how the Vision is poised to jump into the fray, coming in from behind Nefaria... but will he be enough to stop this new and more powerful incarnation of Nefaria? If that was not what was lurking at the back of your mind as you saw the cover - I don't know what will make you excited. Nefaria's new look is courtesy of John Byrne, who would be the regular penciler for Avengers at this point in time. I can't place the cover credits though. Great issue... complemented by this great looking cover which announces the fact :Nefaria Supreme!
As covers go, this was definitely draw with great impact... then again, we are talking about Gil Kane - a great artist around the time this issue came out. Plus the fact that this story has both the Inhumans and the Fantastic Four showing up and fighting side-by-side with the Avengers... well, lets just say it would be foolish not to pick this issue up. This cover hints at the action within the issue's pages as it literally entices people to pick it up.
But back to the cover. What I liked about it is the dynamism, and the fact that the reader is placed front and center in the way of the charge led by Thor and flanked by both the Vision and the Thing and backed up by the Torch, Blackbolt and Mr. Fantastic at the rear - whoa... this screams "out of the way!" lest you end up flying being tossed aside like those purple clad flunkies (as only how Gil Kane can draw them too).
This issue - as its cover blur displays, definitely promises Havoc in the Hidden Land (of Attilan).
Avengers versus Defenders! This was a milestone clash of two teams, and although the Avengers were considered as Earth's Mightiest Heroes - that title could certainly be put to the test when faced with the likes of Dr. Strange, Namor, the Hulk and Silver Surfer!
Though this crossover happened in both titles, and through three months, one Avengers cover stands out among the rest - that being the Surfer versus the Vision and Scarlet Witch atop a volcano (an idea that apparently preceded that of Star Wars' battle between Obi Wan and Anakin by decades).
And an interesting battle it really was - albeit considering that the Surfer was holding back, and that his victory was only because Wanda was in danger and the Vision had to help her first. Still... the cover's drama covers it all and more (although the blurb might be a bit overly dramatic in stating the 'to the death' part).
Even the colors leap out to add to the fiery drama. I can't place the artist for this cover... I'd think it was Sal Buscema, maybe heavily aided by an inker. The reason I hesitate is because Sal rarely hits a homer as great as this cover... and if it is Sal's work, then boy was he really inspired to create it. If not... well, its a great cover - otherwise it wouldn't get to the top 10 of my choice.
This issue is unique in the fact that it shows three insect-themed heroes... two of them having never teamed up in the first place (at least, in an Avengers book). I'm talking about Ant Man and Yellow Jacket of course, as they try to free a captured and unconscious Wasp.
Add to this tidbit, the fact that this issue's cover (and interiors) are by George Perez, and you've got a really good issue - and cover at that! I like the all out action by way of the ants and yellow jackets swarming the bad guys - seemingly being overrun; obviously being led by the two small sized heroes as they free the Wasp from some kind of lab (I assume its a lab with all those equipment in the background).
I mean, lets face it... these guys are hardly noticed in the power department - so its a welcome treat to show that the statement 'small but terrible' definitely applies to these guys. The interiors are equally breathtaking, as this is the time when George is really showing us what a great artist he is - complete with a near perfect attention to detail. Definitely showing us early signs of what made him a great artist when he later handled the Teen Titans.
So that's it, the bottom half of this little collection. Just to share a little trivia, it was much harder to select through this batch (issues 100 - 199) because so many dramatic milestones happened to the Avengers within this time frame, that I was sorely tempted to select covers representing the milestones. However, I took a step back and reminded myself that despite these milestones, it was the covers I was focusing on. In that regard, I was a bit worried somewhere in the middle of this batch as the covers were seemingly drawn in a haphazard manner - thus not meeting my criteria. Lucky for me, the better covers suddenly came out with a vengeance at the latter part, and I then had to trim down from my favorites until I got to my personal 10 best covers - the top half of which is coming next.
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