A fun aspect of comic books is that sometimes their covers combine to make an even larger image. Here’s a look at some connecting covers.
The reality-hopping Exiles finally ventured into the Marvel 2099 Universe after six years of publishing. To celebrate the story, the covers of issues #75 & 76 join together to create one image.
After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.
Fantastic Four #3 debuted the Baxter Building, the Fantastic-Car (and other inventions) along with a lesser-known villain named, Miracle Man (no! not that Miracleman!). 45 years later, a Black Panther cover paid homage to that issue.
 Fantastic Four #3 March 1962 Jack Kirby |
 Black Panther vol. IV #27 June 2007 Niko Henrichon |
On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Black Panther
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four | Black Panther
Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: November 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Kyle Hotz
This is one of several one-shots that envisions what the Marvel Knights relaunches would have been like if they were published in 2099. In this future version of the Marvel Universe, the government re-enacted the Mutant Registration Act. The super-heroes joined together to defy the government but were eventually overpowered and went underground.
The Black Panther bloodline has been disrupted ever since the death of T’Challa’s son. A council was formed to keep order and prevent every citizen from attempting to usurp the kingdom of Wakanda. However, it appears that the council has grown corrupt over the years and newly appointed councilman, K’Shamba, doesn’t like it. At their latest meeting, they were attacked by a horde of Doombots and within a mere six weeks, Wakanda was completely conquered by Doctor Doom. However, a resistance force has grown over this time, one which K’Shamba has joined and been quickly promoted to leader.
In the bid to inspire more Wakandans to join the movement, K’Shamba dons the sacred uniform of the Black Panther. And, inspire, it does! Within mere weeks, the Wakandans have driven Doom from their homeland and K’Shamba has been fortified in his new position as the Warrior King of Wakanda. But, Doom always has another plan for conquest…
Kirkman & Hotz have put together a future that doesn’t look all that different than today’s world. Their tale of a leaderless nation, banding together to find a new leader and to oust their newly-enforced dictator was well done and could have easily been decompressed into a six-issue storyline with a lot more characterization. But, one-shot’s all we’ve got so, once you get over the disappointment that it’s not set within the original 2099 universe, you can begin to enjoy this tale of freedom.
On Ebay: Black Panther | Robert Kirkman | Kyle Hotz
On AtomicAvenue: Black Panther
Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!
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Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” part 5 written by Michael Higgins art by Erik Larsen This segment of the story focuses on Nightcrawler‘s prison – trapped in a freakshow and attacked by rip offs of the characters from Rocky & Bullwinkle. Meanwhile, Meggan meets up with Kitty Pryde, who seems to have an idea as to who’s behind everything. At the end, Kitty uses her phasing powers to rescue Nightcrawler, too. |
Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” part 23 written by Don McGregor art by Gene Colan The Black Panther begins his invasion of the estate of Anton Pretorius. He fights his way past an armed watchman and an attack dog only to be stopped by a hidden metal, sharp-toothed, ankle trap. |
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Coldblood in “Rise and Shine” conclusion written by Doug Moench art by Paul Gulacy Coldblood-7 comes face-to-face with his creator, Mako – encased within his Weapon-Walker (essentially a mech warrior suit). And, with the help of Gina Dyson, our hero is able to destroy the evil weaponeer. Afterwards, they ride off into the sunset in his slick computer-controlled car. |
Her in “Gods R’ Us“ written by Fabian Nicieza art by Erik Larsen While soaring through outer space, Her comes across a flotilla of free-floating debris. A sentient computer, an ID-Mark IV, reaches out to communicate with the cosmic heroine. It informs her that the debris comes from the industrious inhabitants of the planet U’Sr’Pr. The planet is named after its ruler, who lives on the only patch of vegetation left on the planet. He believes it serves as a reminder of their society’s unproductive past. But, when Her expresses her disappointment in their treatment of their planet’s ecological system, she siphons all of his power and begins working to reclaim that world’s natural beauty. |
Well, this is kind of strange. Last issue’s indicia read “Late December 1989” and this one says “Mid November 1989”. The Coldblood story seemed a bit anti-climactic and didn’t address any of the more interesting aspects of the story: man vs machine within the same body. Initially, the Coldblood feature seemed like it could function independent of the mainstream Marvel Universe but, later stories (in Deathlok as well as Civil War tie-ins) have planted him firmly with the Marvel U. The Black Panther story seemed like a lot of filler and the Her story was very preachy. But, it was nice to get two features with old-school Erik Larsen art. And, it’s worth noting that in her story, Her gets yet another name: Starduster (or J’Ridia in the U’S’Prian language). You can add that to her already long list that includes: Paragon, Kismet and Ayesha. The consequences of this story were later followed up on in Alpha Flight #97-100.
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Coldblood | Excalibur
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Excalibur
You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!
Pete Von Sholly has written and illustrated a few comics through the years. His credits range from Zero (an underground comix series from the 1970s) to some stories in Dark Horse Presents in 2000. The bulk of his professional work is storyboard/design for movies. His IMDB profile lists over 50 works including Nightmare on Elm Street 4, the Mask, Mars Attacks, and the Cat in the Hat. Prior to all that, he got a letters printed in silver age Marvel comics. Here’s another one from Fantastic Four #62 (cover date – May 1967). In this letter, he analyzes the clues given about Crystal’s powers (which were then unrevealed). This issue is more famously known for debuting Blastaar!
On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Pete Von Sholly
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four
Some of the best parts of movies like Old School and Zombieland are their unexpected celebrity cameos. The same thing happens in comics, every once in a while. Here’s a look at another Celebrity Cameo!
In Super-Villain Team-Up #6 (cover date: June 1976), the Fantastic Four’s assault on Doctor Doom is halted by an interesting twist: Henry Kissinger, the U.S. Secretary of State!
On Ebay: Super-Villain Team-Up
On AtomicAvenue: Super-Villain Team-Up
After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.
There’s more to this homage than just the cover. The storyline features a “jock” vs a “nerd” but this time, the nerd isn’t Peter Parker. He’s now old enough to be beyond such terms, and old enough to intervene.
 Amazing Spider-Man #8 January 1964 Steve Ditko |
 Web of Spider-Man #35 February 1988 Alex Saviuk |
On Ebay: Spider-Man
On AtomicAvenue: Spider-Man
Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Amalgam Comics
Cover Date: June 1997
Cover Price: $1.95
Writer: Alan Grant
Artist: Val Semeiks
When the DC and Marvel Universes merged in Marvel vs DC, a new one was created: the Amalgam Universe. This one-shot combined Howard the Duck with Lobo.
Lobo the Duck has been hired to take down the ultimate supreme unknown villain that has destroyed Manhattan. And, on his way to find his bounty, he comes across another bountyhunter (Ambush the Lunatik) looking for the same prey, a jealous ex-lover (Bevarlene) and old companions (Jonas Turnip, Gamorola & Billie the Millie) who know the villain’s identity! Unfortunately, they’re distracted before they can spill the beans. Crazily enough, the identity of the unknown villain is locked away within Lobo’s brain! And, he manages to intimidate himself enough to give it up … it’s Gold Kidney-Lady. And, now that he knows who he’s after, he takes her down easily … but not before her deadly Gravitoninoutometer has been activated, pulling the Moon towards the Earth for a deadly collision!
I know it’s nit-picky but, I don’t like my one-shots to end with “to be continued”. And, yes, the point of these Amalgam one-shots was to make them look like the first issue in an ongoing series … but still! Give me a conclusion, people! Anywho, Semeiks’ artwork is wonderfully cartoony and kooky. It’s super-busy and very fun to look at. Alan Grant’s story is very irreverent and follows no real logical path. It’s absolutely unhinged and couldn’t follow a straight line to save its own life. But, that’s what’s fun about it.. This one’s for you if you’re into kooky, krazy komix!
On Ebay: Amalgam | Alan Grant | Val Semeiks
On AtomicAvenue: Amalgam Comics
Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!
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Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” part 4 written by Michael Higgins art by Erik Larsen Meggan awakes to find herself trapped in an episode of the Munsters. But, when she manages to break free, the Loonies realize that something has gone wrong – someone’s messing things up with their system, allowing Excalibur to free themselves of their prisons. Of course, we know from last issue, that someone is Kitty Pryde. |
Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” part 22 written by Don McGregor art by Gene Colan Zanti Chikane, wounded from last issue’s gunfire, struggles to his feet as the Black Panther gets the sonar glider off the ground. The Panther circles the glider around to rescue Zanti and they fly off to his village. The friends part ways: Zanti returns to his village, wife and family; the Panther ventures off to Devil’s Peak to find his mother. |
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Coldblood in “Rise and Shine” part 9 written by Doug Moench art by Paul Gulacy Against his internal computer’s advice, Coldblood-7 decides to trust Gina (assuming she’s not a Mako-controlled robotic imposter) and the duo decide to take down Mako’s city by destroying its power station. They cut the power, leaving Mako with no computerized defenses (no more robot assassins) so Coldblood leaves Gina behind as he makes his way to the Library, Mako’s control center. |
Captain America in “Past and Present Sins“ written by Sholly Fisch art by Jack Sparling Golden-Age super-hero, the Thin Man (of the Liberty Legion), tips off Captain America that an old Nazi war-criminal, Agent Axis, was smuggled into the U.S.A. and is now living in Queens, New York. The Thin Man discovered that his beloved land of Kalahia was destroyed, along with its people, by Agent Axis after the war. With vengeance in his heart, the Thin Man kills the Nazi war criminal in cold blood, as Captain America looks on in complete surprise and disgust! |
Wow! This Erik Larsen artwork is so fun to look at! It seems much more lovingly embellished than even his recent stylings on Savage Dragon. The Captain America short took an unexpected turn. At first, it looked like two, feeble senior citizens wrestling – and then it quickly turned into a murder scene. The most interesting part of the story is the wide array of emotions that the death stirs within the Star-Spangled Avenger.
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Coldblood | Excalibur | Captain America
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Excalibur | Captain America
You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!
Dennis O’Neil has been writing comics for decades! He’s best known for his work on gritty heroes like Batman, the Question, Green Arrow and the Shadow. He got a letter printed in Fantastic Four #53 (cover date – August 1966).
On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Dennis O’Neil
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four
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