Before we continue, you are looking at the second part of this Top 10 countdown. If you want to read part 1 first, here's the link:
http://butchwanderingmind.blogspot.com/2012/05/top-avengers-covers-between-400-499.html
Number 05 - Issue 12
This is an issue that a lot of fans have been waiting for. It's not exactly a grudge match, but I'm sure many people are wondering when these two teams, now that Hawkeye quit the Avengers then took the Thunderbolts under his wing, would collide.
But that's a back story from a fan. How about the cover itself? Well for starters it's action-packed... showing two teams at it... drawn spectacularly by gentleman George. So it may look a bit busy, but once anyone lays their eyes on it, their expression may very well be 'Wow!...' - I know mine was. Is it an attention getter? Oh man, you bet! Will it encourage someone to buy the issue? or at the very least, want to check it out? Definitely!
So right there, this makes it a great cover... it tells us what to expect, it shows strong impact - heightening one's impulse to buy and enjoy the issue. For any Marvel fan, seeing the Avengers fighting the Thunderbolts is one dream come true... making it a Busiek (who basically created the Thunderbolts and is one great Avengers writer too) penned story, with a George Perez art... man, this can't get any better. I mean, just look at the intangible colors of the Vision... such attention to details makes this cover a masterpiece - and take it from me, the insides are as good too.
Number 04 - Issue 33
When a cover is expected to speak for itself, it must be one heck of a cover not to spoil it with any banners or word balloons to cover portions of it. In this case, the cover convey's the story's gist. The Avengers are seemingly in a battle with Nefaria as they try to (by way of Tirathlon) keep Madame Masque away.
This may be a non-fan, non regular reader risk. It assumes that anyone seeing the cover will automatically know what it's all about. On the bright side, it shows a battle ensuing, and one would wonder who this person is that needs all the Avengers to battle him. So curiosity is hopefully piqued.
Now, as for fans... "Holy ____! It's Nefaria!", that in itself will be enough reason to buy the issue. Here's is a villain that stood toe-to-toe fighting Thor! And someone who can definitely give the entire team a run for their money... so yeah, it doesn't look too good for them, specially as the cover hints at Thor (and Captain America, for that matter) being conspicuously absent. This fanboy is already won over by the fact that this will be a battle for the team's survival - the glimmer of hope is that this team also has the Vision and Giant Man... the two Avnegers basically responsible for the team's successful defeat of Nefaria the last time. Oh yeah, and let's not forget Wanda too. Her Chaos magic can really flub things up for Nefaria - assuming it is used against him, and as long as he does not retaliate fast.
Number 03 - Issue 11
A team composed of dead Avengers lead by a newly revived (if we can call him really revived) Wonder Man. Bad enough when they have to fight villains, much worse when you have to battle reanimated - but still very much dead versions of your friends and loved-ones. Had this come out now, I would have said it was trying to ride on the coattails of the Zombie bandwagon. back then though, I can't really say.
Let's look at the line up a bit. Wonder Man, Mocking Bird, Captain Mar-vell, Thunderstrike, Doctor Druid and the Swordsman? I can't really tell as any part a defining costume is covered out by the issue number. Alive, these people can make a formidable team.
The colors used are eerie enough, and the dead are mostly just black with white highlights - sort of similar to those flashlights from under one's face effect in a dark room. So yeah, scary as possible is the obvious effect being achieved here. The fact that this is (I believe) a Halloween-connected issue may be a reason for this, but even so, the desired effect are achieved... and people are hooked to opening the issue. The cover also (slightly exceedingly) wishes to announce the fact that the title has been recognized by Wizard in their 1998 awards. So anyone not familiar with the title will hopefully think, okay... time to check this out.
Number 02 - Issue 06
In a list full of covers with teams battling, or in this case, about to battle each other, what makes this cover stand out? I'd like to think that once in a while, even a master like George borrows some techniques from other masters - in this case, I call this the Neal Adams' cover look... well, almost.
The reason for this is because Neal was the artist who did great covers presenting a worm's eye view/vanishing point style where each team is lined up on each side, about to battle each, simply waiting for the first move... perhaps a wrong move. It's not your typical real life formation against any team you normally face (with exception to American football), but it does make a great dramatic - specially if when done by Adams.
George's cover does not have the same effect as Adams; in fact, I don't really know if this was really the intent of George, but the drama is definitely conveyed - and with said drama, can a fan's money not be far behind in purchasing such as issue? Die hard fans also realize that this other team - the Squadron Supreme, is a bit of an offshoot for another team from a different comic company - so in effect, we are looking at a battle between the Avengers and a pseudo-Justice League. Yup... this issue I'd definitely be getting. And to sort of add to the obvious... the Nuff Said blurb just adds to the fact that he cover need not explain anything anymore.
And so we finally come down to what, to me is the best cover this side of George Perez's run on the Avengers...
Number 01 - Issue 19
How such a simple cover can convey such a threat is again a fan's viewpoint. If you have been a long time Avengers reader - maybe even one who's read them in the past - if not necessarily at the current run of 400 to 499 (and Lord knows there were good reasons to quit in between said runs like I did), you'd still probably know about just a handful of villains that the Avengers title can truly consider as really great Avengers villains - and Ultron is definitely one of them - if not the most personal villain to the team, having ties - origin-wise or later formed with Henry Pym, Janet Van Dyne and Bobbi Chase by way of their brain patterns. Oh yeah... let's not forget his using similar patterns in creating the Vision back then... patterns from Wonder Man. So yeah... definitely personal.
So seeing this cover in all it's deceptive simplicity - no battle scenes, just the inner red lighting from Ultron's eyes and mouth... plus energy seemingly escaping from the eyes - that are likewise glowing... this may not convey emotions, and it need not, for Ultron is somewhat emotionless - but very deadly. I can imagine this being the last thing certain Avengers may see before being subdued, captured or possibly even killed. This cover represents the Avengers Boogie-man come to life, and whenever Ultron shows himself, you can bet the team will have to act decisively. The cover does not show too many items - but what it emphasizes is the iconic Ultron symbol (specially the mouthpiece shape).
So yeah... a very very simple, almost minimalism inspired cover - yet able to convey a lot to Avengers fans. It simply stands out and promises a tale that is both personal and promising tragic events for the team. The blurb 'This EVIL reborn' emphasizes this as well. It just pushes the right buttons in any fan... and those self same buttons will compel the reader to buy the issue.
Now, if you really don't find the need to read the 1st half of this article,and just want to dive into the Top 5, well, who am I to complain? These you'll find right below. Now, before I start, I would just like to say that it ever possible, I try to make sure I have a healthy snapshot of the best covers, not necessarily by just one artist. Though in this case, it may look like a collection if George Perez collection. This is not the article's intent... then again, we are talking 'best' covers, so if George can knock it out of the park a whole lot more often, then who am I to deny him his right? So, let's get to it.
Number 05 - Issue 12But that's a back story from a fan. How about the cover itself? Well for starters it's action-packed... showing two teams at it... drawn spectacularly by gentleman George. So it may look a bit busy, but once anyone lays their eyes on it, their expression may very well be 'Wow!...' - I know mine was. Is it an attention getter? Oh man, you bet! Will it encourage someone to buy the issue? or at the very least, want to check it out? Definitely!
So right there, this makes it a great cover... it tells us what to expect, it shows strong impact - heightening one's impulse to buy and enjoy the issue. For any Marvel fan, seeing the Avengers fighting the Thunderbolts is one dream come true... making it a Busiek (who basically created the Thunderbolts and is one great Avengers writer too) penned story, with a George Perez art... man, this can't get any better. I mean, just look at the intangible colors of the Vision... such attention to details makes this cover a masterpiece - and take it from me, the insides are as good too.
When a cover is expected to speak for itself, it must be one heck of a cover not to spoil it with any banners or word balloons to cover portions of it. In this case, the cover convey's the story's gist. The Avengers are seemingly in a battle with Nefaria as they try to (by way of Tirathlon) keep Madame Masque away.
This may be a non-fan, non regular reader risk. It assumes that anyone seeing the cover will automatically know what it's all about. On the bright side, it shows a battle ensuing, and one would wonder who this person is that needs all the Avengers to battle him. So curiosity is hopefully piqued.
Now, as for fans... "Holy ____! It's Nefaria!", that in itself will be enough reason to buy the issue. Here's is a villain that stood toe-to-toe fighting Thor! And someone who can definitely give the entire team a run for their money... so yeah, it doesn't look too good for them, specially as the cover hints at Thor (and Captain America, for that matter) being conspicuously absent. This fanboy is already won over by the fact that this will be a battle for the team's survival - the glimmer of hope is that this team also has the Vision and Giant Man... the two Avnegers basically responsible for the team's successful defeat of Nefaria the last time. Oh yeah, and let's not forget Wanda too. Her Chaos magic can really flub things up for Nefaria - assuming it is used against him, and as long as he does not retaliate fast.
A team composed of dead Avengers lead by a newly revived (if we can call him really revived) Wonder Man. Bad enough when they have to fight villains, much worse when you have to battle reanimated - but still very much dead versions of your friends and loved-ones. Had this come out now, I would have said it was trying to ride on the coattails of the Zombie bandwagon. back then though, I can't really say.
Let's look at the line up a bit. Wonder Man, Mocking Bird, Captain Mar-vell, Thunderstrike, Doctor Druid and the Swordsman? I can't really tell as any part a defining costume is covered out by the issue number. Alive, these people can make a formidable team.
The colors used are eerie enough, and the dead are mostly just black with white highlights - sort of similar to those flashlights from under one's face effect in a dark room. So yeah, scary as possible is the obvious effect being achieved here. The fact that this is (I believe) a Halloween-connected issue may be a reason for this, but even so, the desired effect are achieved... and people are hooked to opening the issue. The cover also (slightly exceedingly) wishes to announce the fact that the title has been recognized by Wizard in their 1998 awards. So anyone not familiar with the title will hopefully think, okay... time to check this out.
Number 02 - Issue 06In a list full of covers with teams battling, or in this case, about to battle each other, what makes this cover stand out? I'd like to think that once in a while, even a master like George borrows some techniques from other masters - in this case, I call this the Neal Adams' cover look... well, almost.
The reason for this is because Neal was the artist who did great covers presenting a worm's eye view/vanishing point style where each team is lined up on each side, about to battle each, simply waiting for the first move... perhaps a wrong move. It's not your typical real life formation against any team you normally face (with exception to American football), but it does make a great dramatic - specially if when done by Adams.
George's cover does not have the same effect as Adams; in fact, I don't really know if this was really the intent of George, but the drama is definitely conveyed - and with said drama, can a fan's money not be far behind in purchasing such as issue? Die hard fans also realize that this other team - the Squadron Supreme, is a bit of an offshoot for another team from a different comic company - so in effect, we are looking at a battle between the Avengers and a pseudo-Justice League. Yup... this issue I'd definitely be getting. And to sort of add to the obvious... the Nuff Said blurb just adds to the fact that he cover need not explain anything anymore.
And so we finally come down to what, to me is the best cover this side of George Perez's run on the Avengers...
Number 01 - Issue 19How such a simple cover can convey such a threat is again a fan's viewpoint. If you have been a long time Avengers reader - maybe even one who's read them in the past - if not necessarily at the current run of 400 to 499 (and Lord knows there were good reasons to quit in between said runs like I did), you'd still probably know about just a handful of villains that the Avengers title can truly consider as really great Avengers villains - and Ultron is definitely one of them - if not the most personal villain to the team, having ties - origin-wise or later formed with Henry Pym, Janet Van Dyne and Bobbi Chase by way of their brain patterns. Oh yeah... let's not forget his using similar patterns in creating the Vision back then... patterns from Wonder Man. So yeah... definitely personal.
So seeing this cover in all it's deceptive simplicity - no battle scenes, just the inner red lighting from Ultron's eyes and mouth... plus energy seemingly escaping from the eyes - that are likewise glowing... this may not convey emotions, and it need not, for Ultron is somewhat emotionless - but very deadly. I can imagine this being the last thing certain Avengers may see before being subdued, captured or possibly even killed. This cover represents the Avengers Boogie-man come to life, and whenever Ultron shows himself, you can bet the team will have to act decisively. The cover does not show too many items - but what it emphasizes is the iconic Ultron symbol (specially the mouthpiece shape).
So yeah... a very very simple, almost minimalism inspired cover - yet able to convey a lot to Avengers fans. It simply stands out and promises a tale that is both personal and promising tragic events for the team. The blurb 'This EVIL reborn' emphasizes this as well. It just pushes the right buttons in any fan... and those self same buttons will compel the reader to buy the issue.
Bravo George - not just for this, but for all the classic covers yo created that became part of this list.,, and even those covers that were not included. Thank you.
And that concludes our Top 10 for the range of 400 to 499.
And that concludes our Top 10 for the range of 400 to 499.
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