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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.

1979’s Alien was a ground-breaking sci-fi film that’s gone on to spawn several sequels, video games, comic books, toys, posters and tons more pop-culture items. It’s popularity has made it the target of a few comic book cover swipes over the years.

Alien 1979	Bad Eggs: That Dirty Yellow Mustard #3 December 1996 Don Perlin
Deadpool #40 May 2000	Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #6 February 2010 Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Deadpool | Arthur Suydam | Bad Eggs

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.

Richard Gere and Julia Roberts starred in 1990’s romantic comedy, Pretty Woman. Deadpool and Dr. Betty Swanson (A.I.M./Hydra double agent) are featured in Arthur Suydam’s cover to Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #5.

Pretty Woman 1990

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #5 January 2010 Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Deadpool | Arthur Suydam

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.

1991’s X-Men #1 is the best-selling comic of all time, reaching 8 million in sales. Part of those figures are due to the variant covers (5 of ’em!) that were released. The other part was due to the incredible popularity of Jim Lee‘s art, at the time. Since it’s been so well-embedded in the social consciousness of comic fans, all of the variants have become targets for cover swipes over the year.

X-Men vol. II October 1991 Jim Lee	Lethargic Comics, Weakly #4 September 1991 Greg Hyland
Marvel Zombies: Dead Days July 2007 Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: X-Men | Lethargic | Marvel Zombies | Jim Lee | Greg Hyland | Arthur Suydam

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.

After debuting in Tales of Suspense #39 (1963), Iron Man became the regular feature in that series until it was canceled with #101 to make room for his own ongoing series (as well as Captain America’s solo title). Finally, fourteen years after his first appearance, Iron Man was able to claim his very own issue one hundred. As if that wasn’t more complicated than your average super hero title, Jennifer Walters (aka the She-Hulk) has an even more convoluted story on her way to #100. Her first series (the Savage She-Hulk) lasted 25 issues. Her second series (the Sensational She-Hulk) lasted 60 issues and was made famous by John Byrne‘s take on the character. Her third series (the adjectiveless She-Hulk) was made famous by Dan Slott‘s take on the character and lasted for one full year (12 issues) before it was relaunched into a second season (or volume II). So, when issue #3 of her second volume was published, it was actually the 100th issue if you combined all the previous She-Hulk solo title issue numbers. Certainly a reason to celebrate … especially for a female solo title. And, to tie everything in together, this is the 100th post in the Cyberspace Comics Blog. Woo Hoo!

Iron Man #100 July 1977 Jim Starlin	She-Hulk vol. II #3 February 2006 Greg Horn
Zoom Suit #1 (1 in 50 variant) April 2006 Jim Starlin

On Ebay: Iron Man | She-Hulk | Jim Starlin | Greg Horn | Zoom Suit

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

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 1996, the X-Men line of comics brewed up a cool story with a mystery villain named Onslaught. This storyline quickly grew into a mega-event spanning across almost all of the Marvel titles at the time. It wrapped up ages-old plotlines (Who was the infamous X-Traitor?) and set up a whole new alterniverse (the Heroes Reborn line of books). The books featured below are the bookends to the Onslaught saga. I think it was a neat choice to use a cover swipe here to show the changes in the character’s look and also to show that, initially it was just the X-Men … but, in the end, it took the all of Marvel’s heroes to defeat him.

Onslaught: X-Men August 1996 Adam Kubert

Onslaught: Marvel Universe October 1996 Adam Kubert

On Ebay: Onslaught | Adam Kubert

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.

Todd McFarlane‘s adjectiveless Spider-Man title was an enormously successful title. Todd left the title with a “bang!” by teaming Spidey up with another then-hot Marvel property, X-Force, against the unstoppable Juggernaut. Greg Hyland’s Lethargic Comics swiped a different well-known comics cover every month, and with issue #9, he spoofed McFarlane’s final Spider-Man issue.

Spider-Man #16 | November 1991 | Todd McFarlane

Lethargic Comics, Weakly #9 | April 1992 | Greg Hyland

On Ebay: Spider-Man | Lethargic | Todd McFarlane | Greg Hyland

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 Fantastic Four have ever been explorers into fantastic worlds and locations. They’ve traveled to exotic locales all over our planet, including the Savage Land and the Inhumans’ Great Refuge. They’ve also traveled to other worlds and dimensions. One such alternate plane of existence they’ve discovered is the Negative Zone. It’s inhabited by all kinds of bizarre and nefarious beings. One of these aliens is Blastaar, the deposed monarch of the Baluurians. He’s able to emit powerful force from both of his hands … and the FF’s always on his bad side. Fantastic Four #215 featured one of their many encounters.

Married With Children was a very popular TV show that lasted for eleven seasons from the late 1980s into the mid 1990s. Capitalizing on its success, NOW Comics licensed the show and began publishing comics based on it. As sales began to fall off, NOW experimented with some strange stories. One such spin-off was Married With Children: the Quantum Quartet, which re-invisioned the cast of the TV show as super-heroes based on the Fantastic Four. It didn’t last long. In fact, issues #3 and 4 were never published. But, a while later, those final two issues emerged, combined within this Big Wrap-Up special. As always, there’s no better way to begin a spoof comic than starting off with a cover swipe.

Fantastic Four #215 February 1980 Ron Wilson

Married With Children: the Quantum Quartet: the Big Wrap-Up Fall 1994

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Justice League | Married With Children

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.

2004’s Ghostbusters: Legion sold well enough to warrant a second printing. And, to mark that issue, it was printed with an all-new cover. This one paid homage to the movie, Christine (which was based on the Stephen King novel), by depicting the Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1 in the same pose as the 1958 Plymouth Fury in the Christine movie poster. Curiously enough, there is an ad in the back of Ghostbusters: Legion #3 for a die cast replica of that very same car!

Christine movie poster 1983

Ghostbusters: Legion #1 (2nd print) 2004

On Ebay: Ghostbusters

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.

Many comic book conventions have informative program guides to let you know what’s going on there. And, oftentimes, larger conventions will hire professional comics artist to provide new artwork for the guide’s cover (and sometimes interiors). In this case, the Mid Ohio Con got John Byrne to draw a large group of Marvel super-heroes … and then got Chris Giarrusso to swipe the image in his very own ‘Mini-Marvels’ style.

Mid Ohio Con 2008 Program John Byrne

Mid Ohio Con 2008 Program Chris Giarrusso

On Ebay: John Byrne | Chris Giarrusso