Thursday, June 26, 2008

The 90s-est Comic Cover Ever!

Both Phil Looney and Chris Sims have contributed their entries in the contest to pick the 90s-est comic cover ever. Both Phil and Chris have made excellent selections that are hard to beat, hitting multiple points of 90s excess, including enhanced covers, gritted mouths full of teeth, unnecessary jackets added to costumes, and an arrangement of figures designed to hide those hard-to-draw feet.

But for me, nothing says "90s" better than foil-enhanced covers, and this one from Avengers 363 is the most egregious:

If Cap and the Black Knight aren't careful, they're going to swallow some bugs!

My problem with this cover also has to do a bit with context, in that it followed so closely on the heels of this pointless cover from Avengers 360.

Each of these issues cost more than twice the normal cover price, which in 1993 was $1.25. But other than serving a year-long "30th Anniverary Celebration," the enhanced covers and additional cost don't have a real excuse for existing. The foil, though, sure makes all those teeth shiny. So, my idea of the 90s-est cover is the ridiculous and unnecessary enhanced cover.

3 comments:

rachelle said...

Oh man...I am so entering this contest...just you wait...

Anonymous said...

Wow, those are some ugly covers...

Austin Gorton said...

Also, that Avengers cover hits two very important 90s tropes:

1. Character Rage
2. An attempt to make superhero costumes "cool" by covering them up with leather jackets.

Though I do have to admit to a fond place in my heart for the Harris/Epting "Leather Jacket" Avengers...