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.
In 1992, Avi Arad created King Arthur & the Knights of Justice – a cartoon series that combined the legends of Camelot with American football! It only lasted a season and a half but it spawned a Super Nintendo game and a Marvel Comics mini-series.
On Ebay: King Arthur
On AtomicAvenue: King Arthur
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.
In 2005, Allan Heinberg (writer for the O.C. & Grey’s Anatomy) created a new team of super-heroes: the Young Avengers. The team was initially comprised of Iron Lad, Patriot, Asgardian and Hulkling. Five years later, during Marvel’s Dark Reign, a new group of heroes (including the son of Princess Python) decided to use the name for themselves. You can imagine that the original Young Avengers (who were still using the name) weren’t too happy about that!
 Young Avengers #1 April 2005 Jimmy Cheung |
 Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1 July 2009 Mark Brooks |
On Ebay: Young Avengers
On AtomicAvenue: Young Avengers
Marvel Two-In-One launched in 1974, teaming the Thing with a different hero each month. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!Spoilers appear below – You’ve been warned!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: June 1977
Cover Price: 30¢
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Ron Wilson
the Thing – Benjamin J. Grimm was bombarded by cosmic rays in a space exploration flight, alongside three friends. The cosmic rays gave each of them different powers, and they formed the Fantastic Four. Ben underwent the most physical change of the foursome: his skin mutated into orange rock and, as a result, he gained super-strength.
Namor the Sub-Mariner – Namor is the hybrid son of a human and an Atlantean. He possesses the power of flight and super strength that is enhanced with hydration. His mother was the Queen of Atlantis, thus making him its prince.
Reed Richards believes that Professor Louis Kort is the only one who can remove the Fixer’s mind-controlling device from Deathlok, without killing him. So, the Thing loads up the comatose cyborg into the Fantastic Four’s Sling-Jet and takes flight for Kort’s lab in London (he also brings his girlfriend, Alicia, along for the ride).
As they fly over the ocean, Namor spots the Fantastic Four plane and flies alongside to say “Hello”. At that very same moment, he is attacked by Piranha (we later learn it’s one of many Piranha duplicates). Alicia urges the Thing to lend Namor some aid, so they delay their trip as the Thing jumps into the deep waters. They’re swarmed by a horde of Piranhas and brought to their amphitheatre (as is Alicia).
The villains command that the heroes fight, or else they’ll harm Grimm’s girlfriend. Namor and the Thing duke it out but, as planned, they end up smashing the amphitheatre and bringing it down upon the Piranhas. Namor swims ahead to rescue Alicia before she can be crushed by the falling stone. After some parting words, the Thing and Alicia get back into the Sling-Jet and continue their journey to London.
The story takes place beneath the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
These copycats of the Piranha have not been seen but the original returned in the Defenders vol. II #7.
After the Sub-Mariner’s series was canceled in 1974, he was featured in the first ten issues of Super-Villain Team-Up (from 1975 to February 1977). By the time this issue came out, there wasn’t a Sub-Mariner series to put a marketing push behind – so it seems like this was just for fun!
Meh. It was overly coincidental that out of the entire Atlantic Ocean, the Thing’s plane just happened to be in the same place as Namor was swimming. And, on top of that, the Piranhas picked that exact time to ambush Namor? OK – Now you’re really pushing the believability. (I know, I know – it’s just comics, right? Well, we can demand some level of quality storytelling, can’t we?) Anyhow, once you get behind the hard-to-get-beyond coincidences, now our heroes have to take on the duplicates of a lame Namor villain (not even the villain, himself? Yeesh!). I suppose the only fun part was we get some slugfest scenes of the Sub-Mariner and the Thing trading blows – but really, all this issue does is delay the advancement of Deathlok’s freedom from the Fixer’s control.
Note: This issue’s letters column features commentary on Marvel Two-In-One #25.
On Ebay: Marvel Two-In-One | the Thing | Sub-Mariner
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Two-In-One | Sub-Mariner
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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Wolverine in “Weapon X” part 11 written by Barry Windsor-Smith art by Barry Windsor-Smith The Professor opens the fission gate and unleashes a flaming discharge of 240,000 mega-therms upon Weapon X. But, that’s not enough to stop Logan. Even burnt to a crisp, Weapon X still pursues his prey: the Professor. And, after coming so close multiple times before, Logan finally nails his target with three claws through the head. |
Firestar in “Life During War Time” part 2 written by Marie Javins with Marcus McLaurin art by Dwayne Turner Before she can be captured, Firestar bursts out of her house with her father. Before the rest of Freedom Force can catch up, Spiral runs her father through with a sword. And, after Freedom Force launches their attack on her, Firestar manages to escape with enough time to bring her father to the hospital. It seems that Mystique wanted to recruit her into the team but the difficulty with her capture may have changed her mind. Meanwhile, two other figures (Cross and Fitch) decide that they want to recruit Mystique for their own nefarious cause. |
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Hawkeye in “the Distance“ written by Fabian Nicieza art by John Stanisci A washed up boxer named Carmen “the Rocker” Jakarter decides life isn’t worth living anymore. Can Hawkeye reach him in time to change his mind? |
Human Torch in “the Matchstick and the Moth“ written by Steve Ditko with Erik Larsen art by Steve Ditko Two goons inform a new super-villainness called the Moth that their boss will pay her one million dollars to capture the Human Torch. After she manages to achieve that goal, she discovers that there is no boss willing to pay the money. The goons intended to kill her and sell the Torch off to the highest bidder. Before they get to her, she discovers their intent and teams up with the Human Torch to defeat them. |
After flirting with the concept for the past few issues, the Professor meets his death at the hands of Weapon X. The Firestar feature continues to have some high stakes with the life of her father at risk. Hawkeye’s story was depressing with little room for inspiration and the Human Torch story had a fun little twist in the middle.
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Firestar | Hawkeye | Human Torch
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Firestar | Hawkeye | Human Torch
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”!
In the 1980s, Catherine Yronwode served as Editor-in-Chief of Eclipse Comics. Her tenure as EIC brought forth such notable works as Alan Moore’s Miracleman, Dave Stevens’ the Rocketeer and Scott McCloud’s Zot! After Eclipse went bankrupt, she worked in Claypool Comics’ production department. She got a letter printed in Micronauts #13 (cover date: January 1980), proving her fondness of the Man-Thing.
On Ebay: Micronauts | Cat Yronwode
On AtomicAvenue: Micronauts
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.
In 1984, Marvel Comics debuted a Transformers mini-series that proved so popular, they extended it into an ongoing series. One that lasted for 80 issues! Twenty years after it first hit stands, Titan Books (a UK publisher), reprinted this series in fourteen individual collections. Every two collections can be combined to make one image.
On Ebay: Transformers
On AtomicAvenue: Transformers
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.
In 2009, Marvel launched a series of Wolverine variant covers to coincide with the box office release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The variant of Amazing Spider-Man #590 swiped one of the famous Dogs Playing Poker paintings by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, entitled A Bold Bluff.
 A Bold Bluff 1909 Cassius Marcellus Coolidge |
 Amazing Spider-Man #590 June 2009 |
Marvel Two-In-One launched in 1974, teaming the Thing with a different hero each month. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!Spoilers appear below – You’ve been warned!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: May 1977
Cover Price: 30¢
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Ron Wilson
the Thing – Benjamin J. Grimm was bombarded by cosmic rays in a space exploration flight, alongside three friends. The cosmic rays gave each of them different powers, and they formed the Fantastic Four. Ben underwent the most physical change of the foursome: his skin mutated into orange rock and, as a result, he gained super-strength.
Deathlok – in a post-apocalyptic future, the corpse of Colonel Luther Manning was reanimated using cyborg components. Last issue, he was brought to the present by the Fixer and Mentallo.
Utilizing more servo-units, the Fixer and Mentallo gain control over Deathlok and send him to shoot Jimmy Carter (with a servo-unit, naturally) as he’s being inaugurated as the President of the United States of America. But, while the villains control his body, they don’t control his mind or voice. So, he attempts the shot in a way that will allow the Fantastic Four and Nick Fury to stop him. Unfortunately for President Carter, they still can’t react fast enough to stop the shot from being fired.
Afterwards, the Fantastic Four and Nick Fury are able to defeat Deathlok and later, the Fixer and Mentallo. S.H.I.E.L.D. has agreed to figure out a way to remove their control from Deathlok and its revealed that the President wasn’t shot. It was actually the Impossible Man posing as the President (Mr. Fantastic called a mysterious guest early in the issue, asking for his help) all along!
The majority of this story takes place at the White House in Washington, D.C.
After being taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody in this issue, the Fixer and Mentallo are later freed by Hydra in the Micronauts #24 (cover date: December 1980).
Deathlok debuted in Astonishing Tales #25 and he maintained the lead feature of that series until it was canceled with issue #36 (cover date: July 1976). From there, his story continued into Marvel Spotlight #33 (April 1977). The character’s existence in a post-apocalyptic future was problematic because he didn’t exist within the “proper” Marvel Universe. In order to have stories where he could interact with Marvel heroes, they had to time-travel to meet him (this was the case in Marvel Team-Up #46). But, the story that began last issue and continued into this one rectified that concern by bringing Deathlok to the present via Doctor Doom’s time-machine. Problem solved!
This issue was a lot of fun! Not only did we get to see Deathlok in action within the Marvel Universe but we were also treated to a lot of characterization. Fun moments between the Thing and the Human Torch. Character introspection as Deathlok lamented his current situation (not only being mind-controlled … but having to live as a reanimated corpse). Add to that a Jack Kirby cover, an historical event and a mystery guest star (yeah, I know … I spoiled the mystery) and this was easily Marv Wolfman’s best issue of Marvel Two-In-One yet.
Note: This issue’s letters column features commentary on Marvel Two-In-One #24.
On Ebay: Marvel Two-In-One | the Thing | Deathlok
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Two-In-One | Deathlok
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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Wolverine in “Weapon X” part 10 written by Barry Windsor-Smith art by Barry Windsor-Smith At the Professor‘s urging, Doctor Abraham Cornelius riddles Weapon X with bullets. While Weapon X fights back, seemingly killing the doctor – the Professor runs off to the reactor with Miss Hines. He intends to lure Weapon X into the exhaust-pit so that it will incinerate him. The villainous Professor grabs Hines and tosses her into the pit as bait. As Weapon X is lured in by her screams, the fission-gate is opened and the purge sequence begun. |
Firestar in “Life During War Time” part 1 written by Marie Javins with Marcus McLaurin art by Dwayne Turner Firestar‘s code name, costume and training were all given to her by the White Queen (Emma Frost) but she later rebelled against her teacher. Emma swore that she wouldn’t go after Firestar herself … but that doesn’t mean she can’t have her revenge in other ways. With the press of a button, Emma releases all of her information on Firestar to Freedom Force (the government’s private mutant hunters). Part of the group (Mystique, Spiral and Avalance) breaks into Firestar’s house, placing her under arrest. |
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Iron Man in “Making Real Progress“ written by Bill Mumy art by Steve Leialoha Tony Stark has been called to Kuau’i by his friend Carl. Carl’s brought all of his Stark equipment to the island in order to get started on building a new resort … but he just can’t get the equipment working. Tony is baffled by the equipment; they appear to function normally until they’re actually put to work. Later that night, at Carl’s residence, Iron Man discovers an ancient skull that was removed from the construction site as it flies (under its own power) back to where it came from. As Iron Man approaches the skull, his power cuts out! He then experiences a vision (or a head trip?!) as Hawaiian spirits explain how their land was taken from them in 1778. The next day, moved by the experience, Tony Stark the land from Carl and decides to turn it into a cultural museum, instead. |
Power Man in “Hero in Hiding“ written by Marcus McLaurin art by Sal Velluto After the events of Power Man and Iron Fist #125, Luke Cage was accused of killing Daniel Rand. Now, Power Man is in hiding in Chicago but, this hero can’t stay hidden long when wrongs are being done. So, he risks his freedom by stepping out into the spotlight to protect some tenement dwellers from their life-draining super, Victor. |
The Professor continues to stoop to all-new depths to protect his own hide. The Firestar story is off to an interesting and action-packed beginning. Iron Man’s feature was a change of pace from most of his other stories – I don’t really know how well the spirit-world works with Iron Man stories and this doesn’t do much to change my mind in favor of them. Power Man’s short offered a quick afterword to his long-running series (which was cancelled five years prior).
On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Firestar | Iron Man | Power Man
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Firestar | Iron Man | Power Man
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”!
Here’s another famous fanmail from Kurt Busiek. He got a letter printed in the Micronauts #6 (cover date: June 1979), complimenting the title as having more “nifty” things than “no-nos”.
On Ebay: Micronauts | Kurt Busiek
On AtomicAvenue: Micronauts
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