Since Day 1, I bought comics based on the covers. They’re kind of like a hot chick. It’s what catches my attention, but sometimes, what’s inside is not so good. But I don’t care. I still enjoy looking at it.
That's how I buy my books if the cover catches my eye I'll buy it. I like the covers from the Carnage Black, White, and Blood series, got issues 3 & 4.
I think a lot of people are cover lovers now, and I think that's gonna have a huge impact on the different types of artists getting debuted, and of course more variants in the future, but these vintage covers are forever immortalized.
That's absolutely insane that there is a 9.8 Crime SuspenStories out there. How could it survive for that long? How was it stored for all these years? It sounds like a Tales from the Crypt plot---the ageless comic, haha. Love that Johnny Craig cover though. Such a disturbingly iconic image.
That Deadman cover is absolutely gorgeous. I know that I have bought quite a few books myself even if the content is crap, just for the cover. I can definitely relate to some of these cover buys
Cool, I have 4/10 of these that I bought in the 80's. Just looked through my "cool cover" box and I think these are all non-keys: Doom Patrol 7, Fantastic Four 258, Marvel Age 90, punisher armory 2, punisher war journal 9, Spectacular Spider-Man 101 and 148, x-men 214, 216, 227. Worth checking out for sure. :)
Great stuff! Now I have my favorite characters/series that I collect, but I certainly love a great looking cover. A few of my favorites include: The Incredible Hulk #379; Alien 1 Greg Horn Retailer Exclusive Virgin Variant; Dark Nights: Death Metal - Stanley Artgerm Lau Green Lantern John Stewart Cover; Wolverine, Vol. 2 #23; Predator Vol. 1 #2, Aquaman, Vol. 8 #63B; Voltron (Dynamite) #1D, Batman: Black & White, Vol. 3 - Jason Fabok Variant Cover and Legends of the Dark Knight, Vol. 2 #1C.
As a kid, seeing issue 27 of Marvel's Bizarre Adventures at the newsstand was pretty mind blowing. The cover presented X-Men Jean Grey, Iceman and Nightcrawler as real as they were going to get in 1981, just ready to leap off the cover. That kind of art was a major factor that drew me into collecting the Savage Sword of Conan magazines.
ASM 347 was the first ever comic book I bought and man, I love just looking at that cover. It may actually be my favorite cover of any title with my sentimental value being a big part of it I am sure.
funny about the Fury #4 cover, talking to Steranko about it saying his style was one of the reasons he didn't get hired for a bit. Apparently, Lee liked his style, but told him his covers shouldn't have been on comic books but movie posters and stuff like that. He's really interesting to talk to about comics from back then.
I will always pick up a cover if the art is great. I have started collecting a few series because that one book caught my interest and it became a really good read. This was a really good list and I was happy to see several books I own on it!! Some notable recent books that I think are stunning - Daredevil #21 (Vol. 6), Deadly Class #37, Department of Truth #1. There are 3 recent variants that I HAVE to put on this list because they are so stellar - Venom #19C (Vol. 4) Jeehyung Lee Mary Jane Cover, Something is Killing the Children #1 Variant Jenny Frison Cover, and Killadelphia #13B Variant David Mack Cover. THANKS for sharing James!
I love covers with lots of blurbs! Promising all sorts of things! Like "See Thor lose his hammer!""Watch the watcher watching Saturn!" "Don't miss all the action!" "32 pages! No ads!" 🤣🤣
I am an X-Men fan and I'll say there aren't tons of covers I love that aren't keys. X-Men 101 is a key for the first Phoenix and X-Men 137 is her last appearance. And another fav X-Men 28 is a minor key for Banshee's first a-scream-ance. But if I had to choose two non-key covers I love: X-Men 111 - I love that one - Banshee as a Carnival Barker with circus posters of the X-Men X-Men 138 - Another good use of a monotone background with past X-Men covers and Cyclops walking away
Avengers 223 was always a favorite of mine. Picked it up as a recent back issue as a kid, and even picked up multiple copies when i found it cheap. Loved it since Hawkeye was my favorite character. My favorite Avengers cover of all time tho is issue #230. That cover was so dramatic for me as a kid. Reading the stories and seeing a hero's fall from grace was surprising as an 11 year old. Of course now that's a common trope, but for me back then it was pretty shocking
That Ant-Man and Hawkeye cover for Avengers was my first Marvel Comics comic book! Found another one a while back; that and Firestorm #6 ( first DC Comics comic book). Thinking about sending those two in to CGC to get graded.
I recently won a copy of the recent Venom Tyler Kirkham variant homage to that Web of Spiderman book and it reminded me that I needed to get the original for my collection. Luckily it's a fairly affordable book.
Thor Corps 4 is a gorgeous cover that no one mentions. I don’t expect sales to be crazy for it. I remember going to a flea market as a kid and picking it up for only a dime. The cover called to me. EDIT: I also got Deathblow and Wolverine 2, Thunderstrike 1 and some large X-Men issue I can’t remember the name of on that same day. Possibly an annual or 80 page giant? I know Gambit played a part of the story and Apocalypse and Holocaust was in it.
I'm definitely a sucker for variant covers that are not keys. Any J Scott Campbell that has Black Cat in it. Also any convers done by Lucio Parillo , his art is beyond beautiful and striking he is the reason I got back into comic collecting.
All of these are great selections, but a particular favorite of mine is Batman #497, mostly for nostalgia, but the painful grimace on Batman's face is perfection
Justice League #1 & 5 by Kevin Maguire are iconic and homaged often, but surprisingly affordable. Lobo #1 by Bisley has been nearly forgotten, but was on numerous posters and tee shirts back in the day.
There are so many covers I love. I really think Batman 366 has a classic Joker cover. It's considered a minor key (1st Jason Todd in Robin Costume) but I can't get enough of that cover. Definitely underrated in terms of memorable Joker covers. I have two 9.6's and I'm still looking for a 9.8.
Great video. Been enjoying your content for the last few weeks as I've moved beyond my large trade collection and onto starting to be interested in individual issues.
Gotta agree with you on the James Bond-esque feeling with the Nick Fury: Agent of Shield cover. Especially when the third issue for James Bond: Agent of Spectre does a homage to the Steranko cover (really like the arc as well)
Non-key great covers that I never really searched for. However, you bringing to light I may start looking at back issue bins for a mid grade copy. Liked vid 😃👌
Great video. That classic Steranko Hulk Special cover has been homaged a ridiculous number of times! Almost ALL Steranko Nick Fury covers are spectacular! Kirby's classic FF 72 cover is finally being recognized for the great piece of art it is. Even the Gemstone REPRINT of Crime SuspenStories 22 has gotten ridiculously expensive. Jungle Action 23 is actually a reprint (of Daredevil #69) so I didn't even buy it when it came out. And all those faces in the background of that great Neal Adams Deadman cover are actually various DC staffers and writers and artists. Adams was absolutely brilliant at capturing likenesses!
I think Hulk 340 is more than just a cool cover. It has one of the best & most brutal Wolverine vs Hulk fights ever. There were letters to the editor printed complaining that McFarlane's artwork was too violent. Combine that with quality prose from Peter David and it's a stand out issue
I collect awesome covers. Im not a big cameo or key person because eventually everything will become a key. Here are a few of my favorite awesome covers. Catwoman 51,Thor 337, Batman 423, Marvel Feature #11, x men 133, Tales from.the crypt 24, Action comics 300,swamp thing 7, Marvel team up 15, wonder woman vol.2 97,Bone 39,Detective comics 571,Gi joe 21,Black Panther 21,Asp 174,The losers 152 , xmen 150, Sgt. Rock 395, superman 75, Teen titans 42 ,Doom patrol 103 , Vol 2 X men 25 and Fantastic four 252. Thank you. I love your channel. HI from northeastern Pennsylvania .;)
Steranko drew many classic covers, as you eluded to, but my favorite is still Captain America 110. That shot of the Hulk coming out of the shadows may be the most menacing image of the green goliath ever to grace a cover!
I personally love Detective comics 566 (rogues gallery cover). I have a jam piece recreation of this book 10 years in the making that has some amazing artists on it (Perez, Neal Adam’s, Finch). I just have two more villains to do
I've always loved Green Lantern 52's cover it's probably my favourite Green Lantern cover. I saw a pretty good copy of the issue a while ago for like $20 but, I didn't get it, wish I had. Anyways, good video as always.
Falling in Love 99 made me a romance fan by the cover alone. Also, by going gold with CSS 22 you have opened pandora's box. The era is full of great cover/non-keys: Phantom Lady 17, Spirit 22, Teen-age Romances 43, and many others. Don't forget X-Men 251
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Sometimes I get books just for the cover
Heck I've given up on acquiring most keys, just looking for cool covers now.
Agreed. It’s pretty crazy out there
I'll buy a record if it has kool cover like iron maiden albums
You know something is popular when you have a shirt of it!
I've made a few buys with that thought exactly.
The Spectre volume 3 series has 63 issues and every single cover is amazing. That series is severely underrated in the cool factor.
This is so true, ive been rereading it actually, im up to like issue 20
Man, that Hulk 340 is gonna stand the test of time, such a fantastic cover!
Fantastic Four 112 is one of my all time favorite covers( Hulk vs The Thing)Can't believe you left this one out.
Bro, that is such a good Bane voice.
Secret Wars #10, Dr Doom in a shambles is EPIC! Also Alex Ross always comes to mind. All of the Kingdom Come series covers were amazing.
Since Day 1, I bought comics based on the covers. They’re kind of like a hot chick. It’s what catches my attention, but sometimes, what’s inside is not so good. But I don’t care. I still enjoy looking at it.
That's how I buy my books if the cover catches my eye I'll buy it. I like the covers from the Carnage Black, White, and Blood series, got issues 3 & 4.
Same, awesome looking books.
Asm 55 web head would have to be the newest “classic “cover
A variant cover showing a close up of Thrawns face with those red eyes staring back at you. Can't wait to see him on screen in The Star Wars universe!
I think a lot of people are cover lovers now, and I think that's gonna have a huge impact on the different types of artists getting debuted, and of course more variants in the future, but these vintage covers are forever immortalized.
...such cool creativity in comics... an outlet for artists who would never have had a chance to create new ideas and extend them throughout the world.
I need to pickup hulk annual 1 , absolutely great covers! Steranko's work is simply amazing
He really was the man
Great covers!! Reminds me that the cover should capture me and the story and art keep me!! I knew you were going to do a great job on this series!!
Thank you so much!!
I’ve really like that dark knights death metal #7 cover. It’s so simple yet so impactful
That Wonder Woman cover is great and I love that Deadman cover.
That's absolutely insane that there is a 9.8 Crime SuspenStories out there. How could it survive for that long? How was it stored for all these years? It sounds like a Tales from the Crypt plot---the ageless comic, haha. Love that Johnny Craig cover though. Such a disturbingly iconic image.
That Deadman cover is absolutely gorgeous. I know that I have bought quite a few books myself even if the content is crap, just for the cover. I can definitely relate to some of these cover buys
You and me both! I still don't own it but I massively want to some day
Those old DC covers with the hero being a scumbag are my favorites.
One that comes to mind for me is Superman #9 with the Joker in Superman's costume. Always loved that cover
You could probably stock this entire non-key list with just Steranko covers and nobody would complain.
Some of my favourite covers are from Gold Key silver age comics.Fully painted and look like paperback novel covers of the time. Just amazing.
That Crime SuspenStories is WILD!! Always love those classic Kirby and Steranko covers, classics!
Amazing Spider-Man 347. That cover got me back to collecting comics in the early 90s. Love the Hamlet-modified quote!
I love it!
A good cover is like a painting these days with a cgc slab ,throw it on the wall to show it off
Cool, I have 4/10 of these that I bought in the 80's. Just looked through my "cool cover" box and I think these are all non-keys: Doom Patrol 7, Fantastic Four 258, Marvel Age 90, punisher armory 2, punisher war journal 9, Spectacular Spider-Man 101 and 148, x-men 214, 216, 227. Worth checking out for sure. :)
Love when a video hits my notifications right as I get on my work break, or I remember that I have one to watch on my break
Great stuff! Now I have my favorite characters/series that I collect, but I certainly love a great looking cover. A few of my favorites include: The Incredible Hulk #379; Alien 1 Greg Horn Retailer Exclusive Virgin Variant; Dark Nights: Death Metal - Stanley Artgerm Lau Green Lantern John Stewart Cover; Wolverine, Vol. 2 #23; Predator Vol. 1 #2, Aquaman, Vol. 8 #63B; Voltron (Dynamite) #1D, Batman: Black & White, Vol. 3 - Jason Fabok Variant Cover and Legends of the Dark Knight, Vol. 2 #1C.
As a kid, seeing issue 27 of Marvel's Bizarre Adventures at the newsstand was pretty mind blowing. The cover presented X-Men Jean Grey, Iceman and Nightcrawler as real as they were going to get in 1981, just ready to leap off the cover. That kind of art was a major factor that drew me into collecting the Savage Sword of Conan magazines.
I have purchased numerous books just because of the cover, and still do it.
Hahaha same!
ASM 347 was the first ever comic book I bought and man, I love just looking at that cover. It may actually be my favorite cover of any title with my sentimental value being a big part of it I am sure.
I love the mid 350s era - an underrated spidey time
funny about the Fury #4 cover, talking to Steranko about it saying his style was one of the reasons he didn't get hired for a bit. Apparently, Lee liked his style, but told him his covers shouldn't have been on comic books but movie posters and stuff like that. He's really interesting to talk to about comics from back then.
Wow that's really interesting! sounds like you know your way around comic history!
That McFarlane cover is just too good. It still gets cover swiped.
I will always pick up a cover if the art is great. I have started collecting a few series because that one book caught my interest and it became a really good read. This was a really good list and I was happy to see several books I own on it!! Some notable recent books that I think are stunning - Daredevil #21 (Vol. 6), Deadly Class #37, Department of Truth #1. There are 3 recent variants that I HAVE to put on this list because they are so stellar - Venom #19C (Vol. 4) Jeehyung Lee Mary Jane Cover, Something is Killing the Children #1 Variant Jenny Frison Cover, and Killadelphia #13B Variant David Mack Cover. THANKS for sharing James!
I love covers with lots of blurbs! Promising all sorts of things! Like "See Thor lose his hammer!""Watch the watcher watching Saturn!" "Don't miss all the action!" "32 pages! No ads!" 🤣🤣
Anything Adam Hughes! There was a time when I was collecting his Catwoman and Wonder Woman run. Those covers are awesome!
Same here!
The one book I show to my friends and they are just flip out because of our younger years collecting is Wolverine #50. Great cover.
Oh no doubt!
Best way to start collecting comics imo is just buying comics with cool covers and stories. So many great batman and other covers that arnt keys.
Totally agree!
Man,I love Sterankos art. I feel like batman-3 jokers will be popular cover buys in the future since the artwork is so striking.
I am an X-Men fan and I'll say there aren't tons of covers I love that aren't keys.
X-Men 101 is a key for the first Phoenix and X-Men 137 is her last appearance. And another fav X-Men 28 is a minor key for Banshee's first a-scream-ance.
But if I had to choose two non-key covers I love:
X-Men 111 - I love that one - Banshee as a Carnival Barker with circus posters of the X-Men
X-Men 138 - Another good use of a monotone background with past X-Men covers and Cyclops walking away
Uncanny x-men 509 is probably my favorite non-key cover of an x-men book. It's the best psylocke cover ever in my opinion
@@oxsolo Hadn't seen that one before. It is an amazing cover.
Avengers 223 was always a favorite of mine. Picked it up as a recent back issue as a kid, and even picked up multiple copies when i found it cheap. Loved it since Hawkeye was my favorite character. My favorite Avengers cover of all time tho is issue #230. That cover was so dramatic for me as a kid. Reading the stories and seeing a hero's fall from grace was surprising as an 11 year old. Of course now that's a common trope, but for me back then it was pretty shocking
How I started off my collecting was just cool covers! Always fun 🤘🏻
Same here!
pretty sure some of my 1st unpure thoughts were of Vamperilla
I have always LOVED any and all covers made by Todd Mcfarlane. He is by far my favorite cover artist
That Ant-Man and Hawkeye cover for Avengers was my first Marvel Comics comic book! Found another one a while back; that and Firestorm #6 ( first DC Comics comic book). Thinking about sending those two in to CGC to get graded.
That's a solid first book!
For some reason, Wonder Woman’s knees are strangely arousing on that cover. Lol
Awesome vid man and some great choices, love that spidey ressurection cover!
Same here!
I recently won a copy of the recent Venom Tyler Kirkham variant homage to that Web of Spiderman book and it reminded me that I needed to get the original for my collection. Luckily it's a fairly affordable book.
Thor Corps 4 is a gorgeous cover that no one mentions. I don’t expect sales to be crazy for it. I remember going to a flea market as a kid and picking it up for only a dime. The cover called to me.
EDIT: I also got Deathblow and Wolverine 2, Thunderstrike 1 and some large X-Men issue I can’t remember the name of on that same day. Possibly an annual or 80 page giant? I know Gambit played a part of the story and Apocalypse and Holocaust was in it.
Oh ya, one of the grand daddy's of non key covers has to be Silver Surfer 4!
Some consider it to be a minot key that's the only reason I didn't include that, that was one of the first ones I thought of!
Starts right off with 340. Mega iconic....that is Wolverine.
Iron Man issue 126!
Cover by John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton.
I have a reproduction of this cover on my wall!
Great list! Keep the outstanding work!
And #100 . My 2 favorite Ironman covers
@@eriknieves8137 agreed! Jim Starlin classic!
Wow, thanks for bringing the comics world to me
I'm definitely a sucker for variant covers that are not keys. Any J Scott Campbell that has Black Cat in it. Also any convers done by Lucio Parillo , his art is beyond beautiful and striking he is the reason I got back into comic collecting.
So many great underrated overs out there - great video!
I love Uncanny Xmen 268 with Wolvie, Cap and Black Widow on the cover. Uncanny 256-258 are fire as well.
Oh absoLUTELY!
My LCS always had a poster hanging of The Hulk 340 issue on it’s wall.
a picture poster for any LCS!
All of these are great selections, but a particular favorite of mine is Batman #497, mostly for nostalgia, but the painful grimace on Batman's face is perfection
I love avengers/invaders #9 cover (by Alex Ross ) i love the red used in the cover, with the realistic style for the characters and nothing else.
Justice League #1 & 5 by Kevin Maguire are iconic and homaged often, but surprisingly affordable. Lobo #1 by Bisley has been nearly forgotten, but was on numerous posters and tee shirts back in the day.
Steranko. Kirby. Adams. ‘Nuff said!
GREAT artists
There are so many covers I love. I really think Batman 366 has a classic Joker cover. It's considered a minor key (1st Jason Todd in Robin Costume) but I can't get enough of that cover. Definitely underrated in terms of memorable Joker covers. I have two 9.6's and I'm still looking for a 9.8.
That Wonder Woman cover is a must have for me
I’ll take that mr freeze statue in the back haha
Hahaha that's one of my grails
I love buying new comics I've never heard of based on the cover alone. Great video!
Great video. Been enjoying your content for the last few weeks as I've moved beyond my large trade collection and onto starting to be interested in individual issues.
That is awesome!
Gotta agree with you on the James Bond-esque feeling with the Nick Fury: Agent of Shield cover. Especially when the third issue for James Bond: Agent of Spectre does a homage to the Steranko cover (really like the arc as well)
Very cool video, started me thinking about different covers over years.
The Wonder Woman comic still surprises me that it’s so popular
X-Men 251 is a gorgeous cover that's sold for over $350 recently. 250 and 252 sell for about $60.
Yes this is awesome great challenge and thank you for the insight on this comic books.
Wow that bane statue is amazing.
Hahaha it really is
Non-key great covers that I never really searched for. However, you bringing to light I may start looking at back issue bins for a mid grade copy. Liked vid 😃👌
Great video. That classic Steranko Hulk Special cover has been homaged a ridiculous number of times! Almost ALL Steranko Nick Fury covers are spectacular! Kirby's classic FF 72 cover is finally being recognized for the great piece of art it is. Even the Gemstone REPRINT of Crime SuspenStories 22 has gotten ridiculously expensive. Jungle Action 23 is actually a reprint (of Daredevil #69) so I didn't even buy it when it came out. And all those faces in the background of that great Neal Adams Deadman cover are actually various DC staffers and writers and artists. Adams was absolutely brilliant at capturing likenesses!
Man I love your content keep up the good work!!!
Glad you enjoy it!
My all time favorite is amazing spider-man annual #6 ! I like to root for the bad guys sometimes...
The Adams deadman cover is great. I think in the future we will be talking about Jenny Frisson on Something is killing the Children the same way
Kind of crazy the price increase in the 9.8 Hulk 340s. Decent list for sure. Several I forgot existed.
Another great subject. That Deadman cover is incredible.
No bed cover joke? Ha. Cover art is the big thing in common with my old hobby, collecting vinyl records. The cover means everything.
I think Hulk 340 is more than just a cool cover. It has one of the best & most brutal Wolverine vs Hulk fights ever. There were letters to the editor printed complaining that McFarlane's artwork was too violent. Combine that with quality prose from Peter David and it's a stand out issue
It's a frigging killer issue I agree
I collect awesome covers. Im not a big cameo or key person because eventually everything will become a key. Here are a few of my favorite awesome covers. Catwoman 51,Thor 337, Batman 423, Marvel Feature #11, x men 133, Tales from.the crypt 24, Action comics 300,swamp thing 7, Marvel team up 15, wonder woman vol.2 97,Bone 39,Detective comics 571,Gi joe 21,Black Panther 21,Asp 174,The losers 152 , xmen 150, Sgt. Rock 395, superman 75, Teen titans 42 ,Doom patrol 103 , Vol 2 X men 25 and Fantastic four 252. Thank you. I love your channel. HI from northeastern Pennsylvania .;)
Just got into comic collecting because of you! Keep up the good work!
Great covers, thanks for sharing...very cool.
Steranko drew many classic covers, as you eluded to, but my favorite is still Captain America 110. That shot of the Hulk coming out of the shadows may be the most menacing image of the green goliath ever to grace a cover!
Yassssss so goood!!!!
Great choices! Certainly an under the radar modern cover, but I love the Mitch Gerads Batman 62 with Professor Pyg.
That bane impression though. Nice! 😁
I personally love Detective comics 566 (rogues gallery cover). I have a jam piece recreation of this book 10 years in the making that has some amazing artists on it (Perez, Neal Adam’s, Finch). I just have two more villains to do
I always felt Superman flash race was Iconic looking . love your channel!
Great video! Thank you for sharing! I love that Hulk 340!
I love Thor 127 - Cool Kirby cover of a broken Thor. And just about any cover done by Gil Kane.
Yes.ive been known to get a book solely on the cover art alone
I am always digging through back bins looking for great covers.Alex Ross, Francesco Mattina and Steve Rude just to name a few.
I've always loved Green Lantern 52's cover it's probably my favourite Green Lantern cover. I saw a pretty good copy of the issue a while ago for like $20 but, I didn't get it, wish I had. Anyways, good video as always.
I usually buy things that are not keys with amazing covers
The give away is a pretty sweet cover itself
Falling in Love 99 made me a romance fan by the cover alone. Also, by going gold with CSS 22 you have opened pandora's box. The era is full of great cover/non-keys: Phantom Lady 17, Spirit 22, Teen-age Romances 43, and many others. Don't forget X-Men 251
Those Brian Bolland's Wonder Woman covers (including #72) from that period are awesome 👌.