In Retroactive I’ll take you on a visual comic cover tour of the past covering all the covers for a particular series. Each entry will cover an entire year and I’ll always have one comic from DC and one comic from Marvel. At the end of each edition of Retroactive I’ll select my overall favourite cover for that year for each series. Last time on Retroactive we covered Detective Comics 2008 and Daredevil 1983. If you need a refresher, just click HERE. Below you’ll find the two series that I’m currently covering. Click on that specific logo to be instantly taken directly to that series. The last section is reserved for my Top Picks from each year. Click the logo or travel to the third page to view them.
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Detective Comics 2009
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Daredevil 1984
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The Speech Bubble 
Detective Comics # 853 has many details that really please my eye: a gunfight in the foreground, a detailed background, the leading character shown in a very dynamic pose, amazing light effects… despite my admiration for J.H. Williams III, I really can’t prevent myself from giving the gold medal to one of the few covers not drawn by him.
Special mention for Detective Comics Annual # 11, because I love when a writer decides to dust off an old character – especially if this character is as interesting as Azrael is.
As for Matt, Daredevil # 204 has a lot of eye – pleasing details as well: Daredevil’s body partially swathed in shadows, the contrast between the warm colours of his costume and the cool colours of the sky and the buildings around him, a villain whose outfit is clearly inspired from Green Arrow’s costume… yes, this cover definitely deserves the gold medal.
Also, notice that the man the villain is trying to shoot has the Van Dyke goatee, which is exactly the same kind of beard Green Arrow used to have before the reboot. This cover has 2 undeniable Easter Eggs concerning Green Arrow, and I really appreciate that.
P.S.: While writing this comment, I’m listening to this wonderful song:
Hope you dig it! : )
“Detective Comics # 853 has many details that really please my eye: a gunfight in the foreground, a detailed background, the leading character shown in a very dynamic pose, amazing light effects”
It is a fitting cover as this would be Batman’s last appearance on the title for some time. What better way to mark his last appearance than to pay tribute to the original cover that started it all: Detective Comics #27? For me, my runners-up would have to be #856 (the second best JH cover) and Nguyen’s drop-dead gorgeous and very dramatic Detective Comics #850 cover. All said, you couldn’t pick a bad cover in the entire year!
“As for Matt, Daredevil # 204 has a lot of eye – pleasing details as well: Daredevil’s body partially swathed in shadows, the contrast between the warm colours of his costume and the cool colours of the sky and the buildings around him, a villain whose outfit is clearly inspired from Green Arrow’s costume… yes, this cover definitely deserves the gold medal.”
I love the layers on this cover. First we have the romantic scene of the couple, then our eyes go back further and we see that they are in major danger, until we go back even further and see a fairly angry Daredevil about to pounce on this knock-off villain. A cover that is a perfect example of colouring and shadows done right. For me, my runner-up would go to #206: Daredevil fighting the villain in the snow, Kingpin and his men appearing almost like spectres in the background. Quite a “chilling” cover indeed!
“Hope you dig it!”
Dig it I did! Also, thanks for sharing your choices as well!
Thank you too for your reply! : )
I agree with your choice for Detective Comics #855 featuring Batwoman, J.H. Williams III amazing art and work on Batwoman led to so many stunning images, just love this cover. For Daredevil I choose #213 as its kinda unnerving, with DD on train tracks and hands reaching out of the darkness to grab at him. A very dark and unsettling cover. Great instalment of retroactive!
“For Daredevil I choose #213 as its kinda unnerving, with DD on train tracks and hands reaching out of the darkness to grab at him. A very dark and unsettling cover.”
Exactly! I really wonder what is transpiring here. Are they hands belonging to a group of villains? Hands of ordinary citizens that are desperate for something? Or…zombies. Zombies? Nah, scratch that last one. Right? 🙂
Thanks for providing your selections!
Think this is part of DD’s battle against Micha Synn, where DD manages to find a information / proof of Synn’s crimes, but its at the cost of someones life. Can’t remember all the details, but think DD got info from the Kingpin. Still think your Zombie idea would have been good though! LOL
Never heard of this Micha Synn character before but your summarization has me intrigued. Thanks for that!
He was a savage warrior and former ally of the kingpin. Think DD and Kingpin even teamed up at one point to strike back against Mica and his forces, as it even threatened Kingpin’s empire at one point.