Before we proceed, let me just explain a little about the countdown. This is the part of Avengers history where the numbering system gets confusing. After all, we have the Onslaught mess... then the Leifeld run, before we finally get to Heroes Return (and a return to sanity, far as I'm concerned). So I will be presenting covers that I feel are the top ten for this part of the run which, of course covers issue 400 and leads up to the start of the Disassembled run.
In line with this, I will simply state the issue's cover number, because there really is still an internal debate within me as to whether I should count the Leifeld run of Heroes reborn or not... so far, the 'not' is still winning. Needless to say, I'll stick to quoting the cover number and leave it at that.
Number 10 - Issue 64
When was the last time you saw a Falcon focused cover in Avengers? I'd say never before... so by itself, this becomes one reason I found myself drawn to the cover, and a solo focus at that (unless you count Redwing on his side). The cover's colors are also seemingly complementary to the Falcon's colors as well.
I also like the sunrise feel (or at least, it looks like a dawn scene to me, rather than a dusk setting) with the sun peeking between the Falcon and Redwing. I mean, let's face it... the art is clean and dynamic - but the colors make it definitely striking! It's almost a golden dawn view to me, and I wonder if this was the real intent of the artist at the start. I'd think so.
Normally, I frown on these 'generic' covers that just shows a character - with little connection to the cover. After all, I prefer being given a hint as to what will happen in the story... but I will take exception to this cover in particular. The dynamism of it's design... the birds in the background - all seemingly white pigeons or doves, against the city-scape, with the rising sun just peeking, giving Redwing an almost silhouette look. All these contribute to this becoming a picture perfect poster - if not a totally attractive cover.
Number 09 - Issue 7:
I love a busy cover... one that is nearly chaotic in it's design, demanding your attention with a lot of information, nearing overload... and one artist excels in this... George Perez.
This cover shows an all out battle between the Avengers and an unknown group or team of Kree warriors. Like I said, it's a busy cover so one has to really delve at every nook and cranny of said cover to appreciate everything that is happening all over the place. Look carefully, you will hardly see any wasted space. Whatever is not being used is filled up with a starscape. That is how meticulous a Perez cover can be... and it sure is representative of what this cover is all about.
There is also the seeming specter of Ms. Marvel silently witnessing all these - and yes, this is indicative of what the issue's story is all about. So it definitely is sound advertising, all the while being a fan's eye candy - heck, I'd even say this is a smorgasbord; not just a mere candy. It's Perez let loose and I cannot enjoy it enough. In fact, I'd enjoy this more if it were a full sized poster where I can better appreciate every detail of the ensuing fight.
Number 08 - Issue 1:
When I first beheld this issue, I was really happy. Finally, an honest to goodness Avengers issue representing a fanboy's dream. It had Cap front and center, leading a charge that included Iron man and Thor, with the Scarlet Witch, the Wasp, the Beast, Sersi, Hawkeye, with Giant man in the background and a few others... but wait, there's more, because this baby is actually a wrap around cover!
It's a worthy cover for the title's return to greatness via it's Heroes return blurb... complete with the obvious "Collector's Item 1st Issue" tag (and it is a collector's item indeed).
Adding to the dream issue cover is the fact that it (cover) and it's contents are rendered by the legendary George Perez. I'd say that the story is by Kurt Busiek... but let's face it, covers hardly do justice to a writer's plot and pacing. Nope, it won't show us how good the story can be. So I won't bother adding to this.
A great cover... it's really attractive, and promises all out action for anyone who opts to pick up the issue. If this cover won't come across as demanding the Marvel fan to pick it up and be bought, I don't know what will!
Number 07 - Issue 76:
Another one of these all white background - thus putting emphasis on the foreground, which happens to be five Avengers drawn in an almost picture-quality manner, spotlighting Cap in front holding his shield up high, thus pushing the Avengers logo down to the cover's bottom area. The shield shows an almost metallic shine, thus separating itself from the rest of the plain white cover.
Flanking Cap are two Avengers (the Black Panther, and the Vision) and behind them - thus making a wedge formation are two more Avengers, namely the Falcon and the Scarlet Witch. the latter two are looking on opposite directions, while the two behind Cap are merely facing outwards. The art is catchy because, aside from the previously mentioned picture quality look, it also plays with lights and shadows.
The Falcon ad Scarlet Witch seem to have their details blurred out by the white background's brightness... so yes, it's not just a plain white background, but simulates white light... which explain why the Panther's look seems grayish as opposed to near dark, and why Cap's front seems almost shadowy (though his shield shows no such shadow). It's a generic cover, and for some reason, the poses remind me of angel statues in cemeteries. It gives off a Gothic look despite the whiteness. Despite it's being a generic cover, it still looks catchy. I'd almost say it's a Jae Lee cover - but I'm not too sure.
Number 06 - Issue 32:
Sometimes, a cover may convey a clue and mislead the buyers to think something else. case in point - I'd be damned to not think that this looks like the Black Widow's hand, due to the familiar shape and design of the Widow's wrist stingers. In reality it seems Madame Masque has similar designs... the only clue (aside from the hard to miss out cover blurb below) is the seemingly shiny surfaced disc, showing the face of Madame Masque.
The disk then has seeming light rays extending out of the disc, while artistically segregating the cover into portraits of the Avengers in this particular issue. with the Wasp the only one not in a panel, but flying foreground while being shrunk (when compared to the size of Masque's hand)... nice juxtaposing, by the way.
I also can't help but notice (if I were not a regular reader) that Iron Man is sporting a rather vintage armor here, while the Scarlet Witch is getting to look more Gypsy-ish. The thing is, all the Avengers show a worried/pensive look - even, believe it or not, Iron Man, by way of the seeming large eyes behind the eye slits. It's a simple cover... yet clearly conveying what this issue is all about. Once again, George proves why he is a great artist, by being able to convey emotions... even through Iron Man's mask. If only for that, I consider this a great cover... but not yet in the top 5. Nope... that will be shown in part two of this topic.
See you then.
In line with this, I will simply state the issue's cover number, because there really is still an internal debate within me as to whether I should count the Leifeld run of Heroes reborn or not... so far, the 'not' is still winning. Needless to say, I'll stick to quoting the cover number and leave it at that.
When was the last time you saw a Falcon focused cover in Avengers? I'd say never before... so by itself, this becomes one reason I found myself drawn to the cover, and a solo focus at that (unless you count Redwing on his side). The cover's colors are also seemingly complementary to the Falcon's colors as well.
I also like the sunrise feel (or at least, it looks like a dawn scene to me, rather than a dusk setting) with the sun peeking between the Falcon and Redwing. I mean, let's face it... the art is clean and dynamic - but the colors make it definitely striking! It's almost a golden dawn view to me, and I wonder if this was the real intent of the artist at the start. I'd think so.
Normally, I frown on these 'generic' covers that just shows a character - with little connection to the cover. After all, I prefer being given a hint as to what will happen in the story... but I will take exception to this cover in particular. The dynamism of it's design... the birds in the background - all seemingly white pigeons or doves, against the city-scape, with the rising sun just peeking, giving Redwing an almost silhouette look. All these contribute to this becoming a picture perfect poster - if not a totally attractive cover.
I love a busy cover... one that is nearly chaotic in it's design, demanding your attention with a lot of information, nearing overload... and one artist excels in this... George Perez.
This cover shows an all out battle between the Avengers and an unknown group or team of Kree warriors. Like I said, it's a busy cover so one has to really delve at every nook and cranny of said cover to appreciate everything that is happening all over the place. Look carefully, you will hardly see any wasted space. Whatever is not being used is filled up with a starscape. That is how meticulous a Perez cover can be... and it sure is representative of what this cover is all about.
There is also the seeming specter of Ms. Marvel silently witnessing all these - and yes, this is indicative of what the issue's story is all about. So it definitely is sound advertising, all the while being a fan's eye candy - heck, I'd even say this is a smorgasbord; not just a mere candy. It's Perez let loose and I cannot enjoy it enough. In fact, I'd enjoy this more if it were a full sized poster where I can better appreciate every detail of the ensuing fight.
Number 08 - Issue 1:
When I first beheld this issue, I was really happy. Finally, an honest to goodness Avengers issue representing a fanboy's dream. It had Cap front and center, leading a charge that included Iron man and Thor, with the Scarlet Witch, the Wasp, the Beast, Sersi, Hawkeye, with Giant man in the background and a few others... but wait, there's more, because this baby is actually a wrap around cover!
It's a worthy cover for the title's return to greatness via it's Heroes return blurb... complete with the obvious "Collector's Item 1st Issue" tag (and it is a collector's item indeed).
Adding to the dream issue cover is the fact that it (cover) and it's contents are rendered by the legendary George Perez. I'd say that the story is by Kurt Busiek... but let's face it, covers hardly do justice to a writer's plot and pacing. Nope, it won't show us how good the story can be. So I won't bother adding to this.
A great cover... it's really attractive, and promises all out action for anyone who opts to pick up the issue. If this cover won't come across as demanding the Marvel fan to pick it up and be bought, I don't know what will!
Another one of these all white background - thus putting emphasis on the foreground, which happens to be five Avengers drawn in an almost picture-quality manner, spotlighting Cap in front holding his shield up high, thus pushing the Avengers logo down to the cover's bottom area. The shield shows an almost metallic shine, thus separating itself from the rest of the plain white cover.
Flanking Cap are two Avengers (the Black Panther, and the Vision) and behind them - thus making a wedge formation are two more Avengers, namely the Falcon and the Scarlet Witch. the latter two are looking on opposite directions, while the two behind Cap are merely facing outwards. The art is catchy because, aside from the previously mentioned picture quality look, it also plays with lights and shadows.
The Falcon ad Scarlet Witch seem to have their details blurred out by the white background's brightness... so yes, it's not just a plain white background, but simulates white light... which explain why the Panther's look seems grayish as opposed to near dark, and why Cap's front seems almost shadowy (though his shield shows no such shadow). It's a generic cover, and for some reason, the poses remind me of angel statues in cemeteries. It gives off a Gothic look despite the whiteness. Despite it's being a generic cover, it still looks catchy. I'd almost say it's a Jae Lee cover - but I'm not too sure.
Sometimes, a cover may convey a clue and mislead the buyers to think something else. case in point - I'd be damned to not think that this looks like the Black Widow's hand, due to the familiar shape and design of the Widow's wrist stingers. In reality it seems Madame Masque has similar designs... the only clue (aside from the hard to miss out cover blurb below) is the seemingly shiny surfaced disc, showing the face of Madame Masque.
The disk then has seeming light rays extending out of the disc, while artistically segregating the cover into portraits of the Avengers in this particular issue. with the Wasp the only one not in a panel, but flying foreground while being shrunk (when compared to the size of Masque's hand)... nice juxtaposing, by the way.
I also can't help but notice (if I were not a regular reader) that Iron Man is sporting a rather vintage armor here, while the Scarlet Witch is getting to look more Gypsy-ish. The thing is, all the Avengers show a worried/pensive look - even, believe it or not, Iron Man, by way of the seeming large eyes behind the eye slits. It's a simple cover... yet clearly conveying what this issue is all about. Once again, George proves why he is a great artist, by being able to convey emotions... even through Iron Man's mask. If only for that, I consider this a great cover... but not yet in the top 5. Nope... that will be shown in part two of this topic.
See you then.
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