NOTE: This post originally displayed 24 covers. I came to update on April 30 2020, and decided to just enter three covers so the reader gets the original intent. Thank you for your understanding. -Doug
JalRod, yep, it was an alien, and a story not quite as racy as the cover would suggest. If you're interested, our friend the Groovy Agent posted the whole story a while back.
Otherwise, I have to say I love these covers. The last four in particular bring back some great memories. Otherwise, it seems like Frank Miller was really fond of this format. I also remembered that he did this one for Marvel team-up #102.
Byrne also did a few of these during his run on FF: there's the one from his famous Galactus story, another from his equally well-remembered Negative Zone saga and this particularly striking cover.
And just so it doesn't look like I'm favoring Marvel, there's also this really great cover from New Teen Titans #4.
I recall seeing Hulk #200 on the spinner racks. I'm not sure what kept me from buying it (other than the fact that I was not a Hulk reader at the time), as it's a wonderful anniversary-type cover.
Some of the samples today are from scans of faded comics, aren't they? I should have said "white or cream" when I set out to do this!
And by the way -- a fun time is in store coming up in about another 10 days when we will revisit the guest-star covers.
Funny, Doug, I wasn't a Hulk reader at the time, either, but I do remember having that particular issue. Something about the cover just grabbed my attention (and it's a pretty good story, too, if I recall correctly).
One problem I noted with white covers, sometimes the interior cover would show through. Perhaps that is why I generally prefered bla k backgrounds. Nonetheless, there were many classic white covers. Seems like John Romita had a fondness for them, in addition to the ones shown above:
Amazing Spiderman 66 ( Spidey 'hanging around' with Mysterio)
Amazing Spiderman 68 (classic pose of Spidey swinging over the campus protesters)
I assume that issue of 'Alpha Flight' is the infamous one which had pages and pages of blank panels supposedly taking place in a snowstorm - I've never seen it but I have read about it. And I guess that issue of Spider-Man features Medusa still in her evil phase before she turned good with no explanation for her former behaviour (or maybe there was ?)...but #62 would have been early '68 thereabouts and I thought she'd given up her wicked ways by then...?
Colin, that is definitely the Alpha Flight issue with blank panels and just text or sound effects. I thought it was clever and it was done well. I like that Byrne was paid in full for those pages.
On that Alpha Flight cover though, did it come before or after the Miller Daredevil pictured? They are similar in an obvious way, and I remember really liking the single figure on a field of white when I saw them on the stands. They had to be in close proximity, but not sure which came first.
I would include Avengers 195 with the Wasp captured by Taskmaster's goons. And also Avengers 161 with Ant Man's attack. Both are Perez covers and very busy, but the background was white and I liked those a lot.
Martinex, all of the Daredevil covers by Miller precede the Alpha Flight covers, since Miller's first run on DD ended about a half-year before Alpha Flight was even launched.
Thank you Edo. That makes sense; I couldn't remember the timing.
I also remember a very nice cover of Captain America with the Punisher standing on his shield. That had a white background. But as Redartz mentioned with some of these, the interior advertisement bled through on this one from what I remember. It was hard keeping the white white. Between interior art and smudges or scuffs, it was hard to find a nice copy in my area.
Kirby's cover to Thor 156 - the one with all the Asgardians and the Odinsword - is a good one too. Same goes for the first issue of Forever People. (And yes, I should maybe have thought for a bit longer and just made the one comment)
Martinex, I like that Captain America cover, too (also by Miller by the way). However, the background isn't entirely white - a part of the city is drawn onto the lower part of the background.
Sean, good call on Thor #337. I can't believe I forgot that one, it's a real personal favorite.
Colin- that Medusa story in Spiderman did indeed take place long after she abandoned her villianous days. As I recall, the story was rather humorous, actually. Medusa was tricked into confrontation by some Madison Ave. advertising agent who wanted her to sell hairspray. Yes, seriously...
I always preferred that outfit for Medusa, too. Her old Inhumans togs were just dreadful. Looked like she was wearing a purple sanitation workers uniform or something. . .
I've never been quite as in love with white-back covers as I was with black ones. Honestly, I felt like they were a shortcut for the artist-- leaving the image looking sort of unfinished. At least w/ all-black there's an inherent dramatic theatricality in play-- the image is automatically in a "spotlight". That being said, Alpha Flight 6; DD 187; and Hulk 116 are longtime favorites for me. Oddly enough, the "white" background for the Hulk issue is pretty much a depiction of the plasticene/plastithene cell that the Leader had managed to capture and subdue the Hulk with. And then it still incorporates a couple of old favorite tricks: Floating Heads and Crumbling the Logo. Yep.
I always appreciate everyone's additional contributions to these covers posts.
Tomorrow Martinex1 presents an essay analyzing what works/doesn't work for him in terms of comic book cover lay-outs. It's really a nice extension of posts like today's. Tune in!
I was HOPING you would include Avengers #53...I had a copy in great condition, still very white background, but alas, it was one of the VERY FEW comics I have sold off. Wish I hadn't.
I've always had a fondness for that Hulk #200 cover, even though I never got to read that particular issue.
As for the one with Medusa and Spidey, Colin & Redartz, yeah I did read that one and it's kinda a fun tale of Medusa being used by ad execs to fight ol' webhead just to sell hairspray! Oh, the situations and predicaments Stan puts our favourite webslinger sometimes!
- Mike 'future Bosley client' from Trinidad & Tobago.
I remember that hulk 200 issue never thought much about. Nicely laid out, but the fact its issue 200 and it has a headshot of just about every villian he ever fought just reeks of a flashback or dream sequence issue. Which it was, if i remember right. The iron man covers are okay,i just was never a big bob layton fan,his inks are fantastic,but his characters always looked stiff to me. How can you go go wrong with those early kirby and buscema covers? WOW!!!!
Can someone please tell me who the "mystery woman" on the cover of Superman is?
ReplyDeleteI think it was some alien. I'm not sure she ever appeared again.
ReplyDeleteAvengers 314's another stark-white cover.. Great selection here.
ReplyDeleteYes, actually all the Supes covers here look pretty awesome, some of the best listed.
JalRod, yep, it was an alien, and a story not quite as racy as the cover would suggest. If you're interested, our friend the Groovy Agent posted the whole story a while back.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I have to say I love these covers. The last four in particular bring back some great memories. Otherwise, it seems like Frank Miller was really fond of this format. I also remembered that he did this one for Marvel team-up #102.
Byrne also did a few of these during his run on FF: there's the one from his famous Galactus story, another from his equally well-remembered Negative Zone saga and this particularly striking cover.
And just so it doesn't look like I'm favoring Marvel, there's also this really great cover from New Teen Titans #4.
I recall seeing Hulk #200 on the spinner racks. I'm not sure what kept me from buying it (other than the fact that I was not a Hulk reader at the time), as it's a wonderful anniversary-type cover.
ReplyDeleteSome of the samples today are from scans of faded comics, aren't they? I should have said "white or cream" when I set out to do this!
And by the way -- a fun time is in store coming up in about another 10 days when we will revisit the guest-star covers.
Doug
Funny, Doug, I wasn't a Hulk reader at the time, either, but I do remember having that particular issue. Something about the cover just grabbed my attention (and it's a pretty good story, too, if I recall correctly).
ReplyDeleteOne problem I noted with white covers, sometimes the interior cover would show through. Perhaps that is why I generally prefered bla k backgrounds. Nonetheless, there were many classic white covers. Seems like John Romita had a fondness for them, in addition to the ones shown above:
ReplyDeleteAmazing Spiderman 66 ( Spidey 'hanging around' with Mysterio)
Amazing Spiderman 68 (classic pose of Spidey swinging over the campus protesters)
I assume that issue of 'Alpha Flight' is the infamous one which had pages and pages of blank panels supposedly taking place in a snowstorm - I've never seen it but I have read about it. And I guess that issue of Spider-Man features Medusa still in her evil phase before she turned good with no explanation for her former behaviour (or maybe there was ?)...but #62 would have been early '68 thereabouts and I thought she'd given up her wicked ways by then...?
ReplyDeleteColin, that is definitely the Alpha Flight issue with blank panels and just text or sound effects. I thought it was clever and it was done well. I like that Byrne was paid in full for those pages.
ReplyDeleteOn that Alpha Flight cover though, did it come before or after the Miller Daredevil pictured? They are similar in an obvious way, and I remember really liking the single figure on a field of white when I saw them on the stands. They had to be in close proximity, but not sure which came first.
I would include Avengers 195 with the Wasp captured by Taskmaster's goons. And also Avengers 161 with Ant Man's attack. Both are Perez covers and very busy, but the background was white and I liked those a lot.
Martinex, all of the Daredevil covers by Miller precede the Alpha Flight covers, since Miller's first run on DD ended about a half-year before Alpha Flight was even launched.
ReplyDeleteThank you Edo. That makes sense; I couldn't remember the timing.
ReplyDeleteI also remember a very nice cover of Captain America with the Punisher standing on his shield. That had a white background. But as Redartz mentioned with some of these, the interior advertisement bled through on this one from what I remember. It was hard keeping the white white. Between interior art and smudges or scuffs, it was hard to find a nice copy in my area.
Thor 337 - Simonson's logo smashing Beta Ray Bill cover is really great.
ReplyDelete-sean
Come to think of it, Thor 338 had a white background too. Maybe not quite as striking, but still not bad...
ReplyDelete-sean
Kirby's cover to Thor 156 - the one with all the Asgardians and the Odinsword - is a good one too. Same goes for the first issue of Forever People.
ReplyDelete(And yes, I should maybe have thought for a bit longer and just made the one comment)
-sean
Martinex, I like that Captain America cover, too (also by Miller by the way). However, the background isn't entirely white - a part of the city is drawn onto the lower part of the background.
ReplyDeleteSean, good call on Thor #337. I can't believe I forgot that one, it's a real personal favorite.
Colin- that Medusa story in Spiderman did indeed take place long after she abandoned her villianous days. As I recall, the story was rather humorous, actually. Medusa was tricked into confrontation by some Madison Ave. advertising agent who wanted her to sell hairspray. Yes, seriously...
ReplyDeleteI always preferred that outfit for Medusa, too. Her old Inhumans togs were just dreadful. Looked like she was wearing a purple sanitation workers uniform or something. . .
ReplyDeleteI've never been quite as in love with white-back covers as I was with black ones. Honestly, I felt like they were a shortcut for the artist-- leaving the image looking sort of unfinished. At least w/ all-black there's an inherent dramatic theatricality in play-- the image is automatically in a "spotlight".
That being said, Alpha Flight 6; DD 187; and Hulk 116 are longtime favorites for me. Oddly enough, the "white" background for the Hulk issue is pretty much a depiction of the plasticene/plastithene cell that the Leader had managed to capture and subdue the Hulk with. And then it still incorporates a couple of old favorite tricks: Floating Heads and Crumbling the Logo. Yep.
HB
The Alpha Flight cover was the first one that came to mind for me. And New Teen Titans #39 is mostly white.
ReplyDeleteOf course, there's Whiteout...or is that TOO obvious?
http://www.comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=1451
Mike Wilson
I always appreciate everyone's additional contributions to these covers posts.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow Martinex1 presents an essay analyzing what works/doesn't work for him in terms of comic book cover lay-outs. It's really a nice extension of posts like today's. Tune in!
Doug
I was HOPING you would include Avengers #53...I had a copy in great condition, still very white background, but alas, it was one of the VERY FEW comics I have sold off. Wish I hadn't.
ReplyDeletestafoxxx
I've always had a fondness for that Hulk #200 cover, even though I never got to read that particular issue.
ReplyDeleteAs for the one with Medusa and Spidey, Colin & Redartz, yeah I did read that one and it's kinda a fun tale of Medusa being used by ad execs to fight ol' webhead just to sell hairspray! Oh, the situations and predicaments Stan puts our favourite webslinger sometimes!
- Mike 'future Bosley client' from Trinidad & Tobago.
I remember that hulk 200 issue never thought much about. Nicely laid out, but the fact its issue 200 and it has a headshot of just about every villian he ever fought just reeks of a flashback or dream sequence issue. Which it was, if i remember right. The iron man covers are okay,i just was never a big bob layton fan,his inks are fantastic,but his characters always looked stiff to me.
ReplyDeleteHow can you go go wrong with those early kirby and buscema covers? WOW!!!!