So take a look at these covers. Some are obvious and others a little more subtle. Some lend a helping hand while others aim to squash. DC seemed to use the convention quite frequently; both Batman and Wonder Woman had their share. Superman even lost his head over it (you will see what I mean). In some cases the heroes employ the method but for the most part it is a threat. Sometimes it is allegorical or an artistic flourish or just a trick of perspective; in other cases it clearly represents the story within. Do we owe the theme to King Kong or the hand of the creator?
Choose your four favorites - or perhaps this time make it a full handful at five - and share your thoughts about the best (and the worst).
I leave you with the immortal words of the Violent Femmes - Big hands I know you're the one...
,
12 comments:
Those are all amazing covers!
I remember the Defenders and Micronauts covers well, and that Worlds Finest with Superman's head popping off has been burned into my memory for decades.
Honestly the first cover to pop into my head was the Austin X-Men #142 ,with Storm being held and Wolverine getting blasted by a Sentinel.
The very first cover that popped into my mind's eye was TALES TO ASTONISH #38- although I did have to look up what number it was. It's a seriously perspective-and-proportioned challenged Ant-Man vs Egghead cover by Jack Kirby, and I think the fact that it's so hinky-looking is what's made it stick in my head. Ant-Man, of course, would lend himself to that sort of cover image. . . as would the Atom, I assume. A much better cover example would be TtA #36. Boy, Kirby's hands were just about the oddest structures ever, weren't they? His men's hands tended to look like they were made out of carefully-hinged 2x4's. . .
But to our FIVE (yay!) for a dollar challenge:
I have an awful lot of those Marvel books as it turns out, so this time I'm not gonna take them out of the equation, and assume that I'll be purchasing doubles for investment purposes. Also because:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #67 is one of my favorite covers of all time, I shan't be denied the opportunity to claim it here!
Ditto AVENGERS #64-- great cover right in the heart of my favorite run ever on that title.
But then I'll take STRANGE ADVENTURES "Hand From Beyond" totally because that hand is so beautifully and effectively rendered. It makes me want to Buy This Book.
ADVENTURES INTO THE UNKNOWN-- 'cause the cover makes it look like Sam Spade has somehow fallen into a Lovecraft story.
And-- ha! Give me Charleton's HAUNTED LOVE for the win, even though there's no WAY the inside story could live up to the WhatTheHeckIsGoingOnHere?? promise made by this cover-! This would have been a strong contender for clandestine reading at the spinner-rack. . .
HB
Tough call b/c too many emotions tied up in the 60s - early 70s issues.
My first thought, when I understood the theme, was if JLA/JSA Cross Over Issue # 101 was there since I recall buying it off the spinner. And voila! There it was! I'll take 5 of those and a Charleston Chew for a nickel more!
If you're out of JLA 101, I'll take 5 of the ASM 67 with the hands of Mysterio. One of my all-time favs too... the mood from the colors, an amusement park, no word balloons, it is special... ominous... lonely... really draws me in!
HELP! The one with Spidey in the hand of Thanos... what was the title to that comic? Is it simply "Spider Man?" (No way I am going to try and figure it out from Overstreet with all the titles, relaunches, etc. over the last 30 years!)
If I recall, doesn't Avengers #250 have both East and West coast teams tangled up in Maelstrom's hand bursting from the ground? That's a good 'un! (a good story, too).
-david p.
I will echo the sentiments on ASM 67, the silence of it hits just the right tone. There's a copy of it hanging on the wall of my LCS, which I've thought of buying, but I've been spending enough there as it is. (Just bought the new Overstreet yesterday, my first time in hardcover). I have several of these also, but my picks based on cover hands alone would be:
Marvel Family - Love me some Marvel Family, and this looks to have some kind of Asian menace/Cold War thing going on
Master of Kung Fu - Again there's a classic Sax Rohmer feel to it, which isn't surprising as I think he's supposed to be Shang Chi's father in the book.
Action Comics "Eterno" (can't make out the issue number) Looks very Monty Python/Terry Gilliam-esque in a wry smile sort of way, what with the fist smacking him out of nowhere.
And just as an aside, I loved that Micronauts issue with "Bug's Army." One of my favorites from a very good run by Golden(?) as artist.
Thanks for sharing!
Selenarch - If I may ask your opinion of the new Overstreet? I like to get one every few years just to read on the "status of comics, the marketplace, etc." Worth it?
(I really miss the Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom and it's weekly, biweekly print format. I really loved to just take an hour, every week or two, and see what's happening with the hobby.)
ALso, thank you for using the word "silence" to describe ASM #67, I was wracking my brain for that word! Perfect!
I'll go with:
Mystery in Space- I see there's a new Adam Strange omnibus coming out next week.
Batman- "The Man Who Quit the Human Race!" Mystery here.
Adventures Into the Unknown- I like this cover with the skeleton hand grabbing the couple, red background.
The Marvel Family- King Kull! I have a fondness for Captain Marvel, even though I haven't read many good stories with him.
@Charlie27: I'm like you, I buy a new Overstreet Guide (in softcover) every few years. My latest one is from 2010/11 and the comic you're talking about is listed under "Spider-Man" (it's right after "Spider-Girl"). Apparently, the cover title was changed to "Peter Parker Spider-Man" with issue #75, but the indicia always just said "Spider-Man".
As for today's challenge: I'd probably go with JLA Year One (I love that miniseries); Amazing 67 (great Mysterio story); King Kong (because I love apes); and Shang Chi's first appearance in Marvel Special Edition 15.
And here's one you missed. Living Monolith's hands aren't huge, but they sure are prominently placed!
Charlie - I just got it yesterday afternoon, so I've yet to delve! But yeah, state of the market is always interesting. I got my copy in part because my LCS had a special, and in part because I haven't bought one since 2013 and I just felt that the time was right. So for me, it was worth it.
Since today is the 48th anniversary of man walking on the Moon, allegedly, I will limit my choices to ones dealing with Space and Marvel (yes, I'm that guy):
Spider-Man 17: Thanos, you can't get any more spacey than Thanos
Avengers 64: We learn more about America's favorite archer, Clint Barton
Avengers 339: Avengers caught in the middle when Nebula clashes with THE COLLECTOR
Defenders 14: Defenders Vs Nebulon, not to be confused with Nebula from above
And with my fifth and final choice...
Captain Marvel: Marvel's SPACEBORN Super Hero.
Nuff said...
Or not, because I'm still typing...
For most of us, we grew up with The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Team Up and Marvel Tales. In 1976, Marvel added Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man. When they decided to discontinue Marvel Team Up, that title was relaunched as Web of Spider-Man, mid 80s or so. When Todd McFarlane became hugely popular on The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel decided to let my draw AND WRITE his own Spider-Man title. He was given Spider-Man!!! The title debuted in June of 1990 with somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000,000 variant covers, roughly. McFarlane was involved in the first 16 issues before taking his toys and storming out of Marvel... allegedly.
(Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa gozar
Mulata
Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa gozar
Mulata
Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa gozar
Mulata
Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa gozar
Mulata
Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa gozar
Mulata
Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa gozar
Mulata).
PS: The McDonald's of the future opened in Missouri. No, it's not owned and run by robots; they bring your order to your table... again, by people, not robots...
OK lessee here - I'd pick Black Goliath #1 (for its significance), FF #16 with Doc Doom, such an iconic cover, Avengers king size annual #6 with Nuklo; never read it in its initial run but that Kirby cover still stands out in my memory even after all these years. Finally, Spidey #67 with those large Mysterio hands, which I read a few years back.
- Mike 'small guy with big hands' from Trinidad & Tobago.
Sharing everyone's love for ASM 67! A Romita masterpiece. But since I already have it, I'll grab:
Fantastic Four 16- A Silver Age jewel.
Strange Adventures: for the cover. Just a grabber ( pun intended).
Both Micronauts issues- because I'm trying to pick those up anyway...
And bonus comic five: Avengers 64. It's Avengers, and it's vintage.
Post a Comment