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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.

Over twenty years after the first appearance of Superman, DC Comics decided to create a female version: Supergirl! The 75th issue of Peter David’s well-regarded Supergirl series pays homage to her first appearance.

Action Comics #252 May 1959 Henry Boltinoff?

Supergirl vol. IV #75 December 2002 Rob Haynes

On Ebay: Supergirl
On AtomicAvenue: Supergirl | Action Comics

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.

What If vol. II #105 introduced Spider-Girl (and a host of other characters), who went on to star in her own solo title for 100 issues! That title was canceled to make room for her second ongoing title, the Amazing Spider-Girl. Her second series ended with issue #30 and was followed by the Spectacular Spider-Girl, a four issue mini-series.

What If?! vol. II #105 February 1998 Ron Frenz

Amazing Spider-Girl #30 May 2009 Ron Frenz

On Ebay: Spider-Girl
On AtomicAvenue: Spider-Girl

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 New Warriors were a group of teen-heroes for the 1990s that was a ton of fun with great writing by Fabian Nicieza and art by Mark Bagley. The team was made up of Nova, Namorita, Speedball, Marvel Boy, Firestar and Night Thrasher. Psionex was a group of villains they faced off against and, in Annual #4, they decided to go straight and be a new team of super-heroes.

New Warriors #1 July 1990 Mark Bagley

New Warriors Annual #4 1994 Stephen Jones

On Ebay: New Warriors
On AtomicAvenue: New Warriors

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.

This Daredevil issue is part of Frank Miller’s Death of Elektra saga and was homaged by Arthur Suydam decades later.

Daredevil #179 February 1982 Frank Miller

Marvel Zombies #3 (second print) April 2006 Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Daredevil | Marvel Zombies
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Zombies | Daredevil

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.

Robert Kirkman wrote the entire third series of Marvel Team-Up and reached all across the Marvel Universe for guest leads including Sleepwalker and Darkhawk. He even pulled characters from alternate futures (like Marvel Knights 2099) and in a rare sight for comics, issue 14 included his creator-owned character, Invincible!

Marvel Team-Up vol. III #1 January 2005 Scott Kolins

Marvel Team-Up vol. III #25 December 2006 Phil Hester

On Ebay: Marvel Team-Up
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel 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.

Before he was given his own series, the Black Panther took over the lead feature in Jungle Action starting with issue #5. Decades later, the Marvel Knights line relaunched a Black Panther series by Christopher J. Priest that was filled with excellence.

Jungle Action #8 January 1974 Rich Buckler

Black Panther vol. IV #27 April 2000 Sal Velluto

On Ebay: Jungle Action | Black Panther
On AtomicAvenue: Jungle Action | Black Panther

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.

For decades, Spider-Man was barely associated with the Avengers and crossovers between the two properties were special events. Now, of course, that line between them has become blurred ever since the New Avengers and Marvel’s Civil War. In 1990, Avengers #314 kicked off a five part space-adventure story that brought Spidey along for the ride. The cover to Dark Avengers #12 bears a noticeable similarity to that issue.

Avengers #314 February 1990 Paul Ryan

Dark Avengers #12 February 2010 Mike Deodato

On Ebay: Avengers
On AtomicAvenue: Avengers

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.

What If? vol. II #105 is most famous for debuting Spider-Girl but, it was also the first appearance of A-Next. When Spider-Girl got her own ongoing series in 1998, A-Next got theirs as well! This next generation of Avengers included Bluestreak, J2 (the Juggernaut’s son), Jubilee, Mainframe, Speedball, Stinger (Ant-Man II’s daughter), and Thunderstrike II (Thunderstrike’s son). The cover to the final issue of the series paid homage to the first one.

A-Next #1 October 1998 Ron Frenz

A-Next #12 September 1999 Ron Frenz

On Ebay: Avengers | A-Next
On AtomicAvenue: Avengers | A-Next

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.

Avengers #70 featured the first major appearance of the Squadron Sinister (and their first cover appearance). It was a team of villains meant to be analogous to DC’s Justice League. Hyperion = Superman. Whizzer = the Flash. Doctor Spectrum = Green Lantern. Nighthawk = Batman. An alternate universe version of the team, the Squadron Supreme, has since been more prominently featured in the Marvel Universe and included even more heroes that were derived from DC characters.

Avengers #70 November 1969 Sal Buscema

A-Next #10 July 1999 Ron Frenz

On Ebay: Avengers | A-Next
On AtomicAvenue: Avengers | A-Next

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.

This is less a swipe than it is an easy way for Marvel to publish two variant covers while only having to pay for one. The story inside is pretty fun, though. Ms. Marvel takes on the new “Ms. Marvel” of Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign: Moonstone!

Ms. Marvel vol. II #46 December 2009 Sana Takeda

Ms. Marvel vol. II #46 December 2009 Sana Takeda

On Ebay: Ms. Marvel
On AtomicAvenue: Ms. Marvel