Continuing my countdown of the Top Ten covers for Avengers covering issues 200 to 299. If you missed the first part of this, you can always go to this link: Top Ten Avengers 200-299 pt1. And so we move on:
Number 5 - Issue 290
This is number five because of several reasons... 1) it shows the Avengers plus a few guest stars (in this case, Marina and Machine Man) individually contained in cubes and unable to get out - and boy, if that does not pique your interest... 2) it shows the Captain (Steve Rogers' persona), signifying that he's in this story - even if he isn't actively in the team's roster; and for fans following the title, they will know he's been away - for readers not following the title, they will be drawn to what is obviously a new costume for 'Captain America'... 3) though this is for die hard fans, it shows an Avengers antagonist long time not seen - the Super Adaptoid, seemingly triumphant and showing new powers than simply just absorbing the heroes collective powers. So how cool is that?
The cover also happens to be drawn by John Buscema - most possibly the perennial Avengers artist when one considers the history of this title (you see, as of this issue's release, George Perez would still not have done his second coming to the title - and even if he did, fans - including me, would be torn to consider if George or John would be the perennial artist for this title)... hence my 'most possibly' statement.
Again the cover gives one a hint of what to expect within the issue's pages - and captured though they seem to be by a very powerful enemy, die hard fans will naturally expect the Avengers to somehow escape and win the day... its just a matter of how. Steve's inclusion, even if just as a guest was a great pull - specially in his Captain uniform, somehow conveys to me the need to have either Cap, IM or Thor in any incarnation of the team... not that I'm selling Captain Marvel and company short... its just a fanboy preference.
Number 4 - Issue 223
Talk about cover impact... this issue has got to be one attention getter. I can't remember if the Distinguished Competition has ever used an Atom - Green Arrow team up that made GA make Atom ride his arrow - somehow I think they did... but I can't recall exactly when. Still, even if such a team up happened, I never saw a cover as dramatically presenting such a team up as this Avengers cover. I mean, seeing Hawkeye and Antman... both looking intense as they execute the 'ride the arrow' stunt.
By this cover alone, I was definitely hooked to look inside the comic - and hoped that the story inside conveyed the drama and promised action that the cover seemed to promise. After all, how often do they execute such a move? And for what reason?
As the title blurb indicates 'Somebody's gonna to get it', and with a cover like this, it sort of made a promise to some great action scenes. Another reason I liked the concept of this cover is the fact that I don't think Hawkeye and Antman have been teamed up as often as I can remember, so this was definitely not only intense looking - but unique.
Number 3 - Issue 221
I don't know if this is the first time they've tried this kind of a cover. I mean, the Avengers line-up changes has been as much a tradition as, say Jarvis being part of the mansion (or tower, or mansion again), but I wonder if this was the very first time this kind of marketing gimmick was used... and I'm too lazy to check - anyway the use of the line-up change announcement plus mug shots of possible candidates does catch one's interest.
Funny... back then it was unimaginable to have Wolverine or Doc Strange join... and I don't think the same would be said for the Invisible Woman (then still referred to as the Invisible Girl) - so could it be possible that this cover was a sort of an oracle for things to come decades later? Who knows. I mean, look at the top row and just remove Dazzler. See?
Still, it was a nice attention grabber... and seeing many faces with the possible hint of two characters in the mug shots would be Avengers within the issue itself? Well, lets just say I was hooked to find out more.
Number 2 - Issue 255
Think about it... a painted cover! Around this time, such a style was basically a novel idea - and to actually usher in the arrival of John Buscema, not just as the cover artist, but the issue's artist as well... paired off with Tom Palmer! Would I have possibly missed out on this milestone of an issue had I not been following the title? I'd like to think yeah... I would have taken notice - simply because of the issue's cover.
The line up of Cap, Herc and Black Knight also somehow ushers back the team line up during John's first tour of duty in this title. With the addition of Starfox and Captain Marvel, plus the starfield cover background, this issue promises a space adventure in the offing - at least, that's my interpretation.
Honestly, though, had this issue's painted cover been slightly more action-oriented... one with greater impact, I would have chosen it as number 1. The fact that it reached number 2 is a testament to John Buscema's beautifully painted cover work.
Number 1 - Issue 276
Talking about a more action-oriented cover, this is why I chose this particular issue to be number 1, its got an intense looking Thor ready to pound some heads, ably supported by Captain America, Captain Marvel, the Black Knight... and Doctor Druid? Again, as line-up considerations come into play, I would have had question the wisdom of adding Druid - then again, he was just a guest, so it was a way for me to find out more about the character. Prior to his showing up in Avengers, Druid was a tabula rasa to me.
Once again, we have John Buscema and Tom Palmer to thank for such a great cover, and as I previously said, this topped the previously mentioned painted cover (by a slight margin) because it was more action oriented. After all, who wouldn't be thrilled with the return of Thor to the title? Sporting a beard at that! This is, of course, picking up from a blank knowledge perspective - but... followers of the title would know that this was the second round of the battle between the Avengers and the Masters of Evil that had besieged Avengers Mansion, so this was the start of payback. Thor being in the issue meant a set of much needed muscles and fire power (in a manner of speaking) against the same Master who put a very inebriated and drugged Hercules to the hospital.
So... there you have it. The top ten covers from Avenger's next hundred issues. I'll eventually make the third part which will cover issues 300 to 399, but not now. I barely squeezed this out during the holiday season's lull. Maybe in January. Until then, Avengers Assemble!
This is number five because of several reasons... 1) it shows the Avengers plus a few guest stars (in this case, Marina and Machine Man) individually contained in cubes and unable to get out - and boy, if that does not pique your interest... 2) it shows the Captain (Steve Rogers' persona), signifying that he's in this story - even if he isn't actively in the team's roster; and for fans following the title, they will know he's been away - for readers not following the title, they will be drawn to what is obviously a new costume for 'Captain America'... 3) though this is for die hard fans, it shows an Avengers antagonist long time not seen - the Super Adaptoid, seemingly triumphant and showing new powers than simply just absorbing the heroes collective powers. So how cool is that?
The cover also happens to be drawn by John Buscema - most possibly the perennial Avengers artist when one considers the history of this title (you see, as of this issue's release, George Perez would still not have done his second coming to the title - and even if he did, fans - including me, would be torn to consider if George or John would be the perennial artist for this title)... hence my 'most possibly' statement.
Again the cover gives one a hint of what to expect within the issue's pages - and captured though they seem to be by a very powerful enemy, die hard fans will naturally expect the Avengers to somehow escape and win the day... its just a matter of how. Steve's inclusion, even if just as a guest was a great pull - specially in his Captain uniform, somehow conveys to me the need to have either Cap, IM or Thor in any incarnation of the team... not that I'm selling Captain Marvel and company short... its just a fanboy preference.
Number 4 - Issue 223
Talk about cover impact... this issue has got to be one attention getter. I can't remember if the Distinguished Competition has ever used an Atom - Green Arrow team up that made GA make Atom ride his arrow - somehow I think they did... but I can't recall exactly when. Still, even if such a team up happened, I never saw a cover as dramatically presenting such a team up as this Avengers cover. I mean, seeing Hawkeye and Antman... both looking intense as they execute the 'ride the arrow' stunt.
By this cover alone, I was definitely hooked to look inside the comic - and hoped that the story inside conveyed the drama and promised action that the cover seemed to promise. After all, how often do they execute such a move? And for what reason?
As the title blurb indicates 'Somebody's gonna to get it', and with a cover like this, it sort of made a promise to some great action scenes. Another reason I liked the concept of this cover is the fact that I don't think Hawkeye and Antman have been teamed up as often as I can remember, so this was definitely not only intense looking - but unique.
Number 3 - Issue 221
I don't know if this is the first time they've tried this kind of a cover. I mean, the Avengers line-up changes has been as much a tradition as, say Jarvis being part of the mansion (or tower, or mansion again), but I wonder if this was the very first time this kind of marketing gimmick was used... and I'm too lazy to check - anyway the use of the line-up change announcement plus mug shots of possible candidates does catch one's interest.
Funny... back then it was unimaginable to have Wolverine or Doc Strange join... and I don't think the same would be said for the Invisible Woman (then still referred to as the Invisible Girl) - so could it be possible that this cover was a sort of an oracle for things to come decades later? Who knows. I mean, look at the top row and just remove Dazzler. See?
Still, it was a nice attention grabber... and seeing many faces with the possible hint of two characters in the mug shots would be Avengers within the issue itself? Well, lets just say I was hooked to find out more.
Number 2 - Issue 255
Think about it... a painted cover! Around this time, such a style was basically a novel idea - and to actually usher in the arrival of John Buscema, not just as the cover artist, but the issue's artist as well... paired off with Tom Palmer! Would I have possibly missed out on this milestone of an issue had I not been following the title? I'd like to think yeah... I would have taken notice - simply because of the issue's cover.
The line up of Cap, Herc and Black Knight also somehow ushers back the team line up during John's first tour of duty in this title. With the addition of Starfox and Captain Marvel, plus the starfield cover background, this issue promises a space adventure in the offing - at least, that's my interpretation.
Honestly, though, had this issue's painted cover been slightly more action-oriented... one with greater impact, I would have chosen it as number 1. The fact that it reached number 2 is a testament to John Buscema's beautifully painted cover work.
Talking about a more action-oriented cover, this is why I chose this particular issue to be number 1, its got an intense looking Thor ready to pound some heads, ably supported by Captain America, Captain Marvel, the Black Knight... and Doctor Druid? Again, as line-up considerations come into play, I would have had question the wisdom of adding Druid - then again, he was just a guest, so it was a way for me to find out more about the character. Prior to his showing up in Avengers, Druid was a tabula rasa to me.
Once again, we have John Buscema and Tom Palmer to thank for such a great cover, and as I previously said, this topped the previously mentioned painted cover (by a slight margin) because it was more action oriented. After all, who wouldn't be thrilled with the return of Thor to the title? Sporting a beard at that! This is, of course, picking up from a blank knowledge perspective - but... followers of the title would know that this was the second round of the battle between the Avengers and the Masters of Evil that had besieged Avengers Mansion, so this was the start of payback. Thor being in the issue meant a set of much needed muscles and fire power (in a manner of speaking) against the same Master who put a very inebriated and drugged Hercules to the hospital.
So... there you have it. The top ten covers from Avenger's next hundred issues. I'll eventually make the third part which will cover issues 300 to 399, but not now. I barely squeezed this out during the holiday season's lull. Maybe in January. Until then, Avengers Assemble!
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