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.
The X-Men Collectors’ Preview provided some insight into the then-current X-Men line of books. It features interviews with creators and behind the scenes info. It also includes a sketchbook that showed the thought-processes that went into creating the costumes from the Age of Apocalypse. The back cover to the book featured the Age of Apocalypse characters in a pose that swiped the front cover.
 X-Men Collectors’ Preview February 1995 |
 X-Men Collectors’ Preview February 1995 |
On Ebay: X-Men | Age of Apocalypse
Is there no distinction between a swipe and homage? I would suggest, particularly since these were both done in the same month/year, it’s homage and labeling it a “Swipe” may not be all that accurate.
Comment by BlaqueSaber — July 27, 2010 @ 1:58 pm
This is a wonderful point you brought up. Back when I was maintaining a comic swipes website (alas! one that was never completed), I tackled this issue. Indeed some are homages, some are swipes, some are done for marketing recognition, some are done as parody, and so on and so forth. After all that explanation, my conclusion was that it was just easier to refer to them all as ‘swipes’, with the understanding that the process behind their origins may differ.
As for the images above … they’re the exact same book! They’re just the front and back covers. So, it’s definitely not a swipe or homage … it’s more of a fun design approach indicating that they’re the same mutants you know … just different versions of ’em.
Comment by Doorman — July 28, 2010 @ 6:47 pm