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 The Flash 1978 and Uncanny X-Men 1986. 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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The Flash 1979
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Uncanny X-Men 1987
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The Speech Bubble 
It was a really, really hard task for me to choose the best Flash cover. On one hand we have Flash # 271, which shows a marvellous slice – of – life scene and also has a really nice horror vibe that makes this image really impressive and eye – catching; on the other hand we have Flash # 274, which shows one of my favorite situations in superhero comics (a gunfight in a dark alley) and also has a really enticing and question – raising thought bubble. I love dark comics sligthly more than slice – of – lice ones, so I pick Flash # 274.
The cover you chose gets the bronze medal. As you know, I love murder mistery plots, so I really couldn’t leave this cover out of the podium. Also, the cover artist chose to cover the name of the character who is about to die with a thumb, and this stroke of genius worths a medal alone.
I also love the setting (formal dance parties are great!), the presence of Green Arrow (if he’s not the real Emerald Archer, Oliver should hire that cosplayer as his stuntman), the noir – movie – like outfit of the murderer… this cover has so many marvellous details that I think it would have won the gold medal with ease in any other year.
As for the X – Men, I pick UXM # 214. The cover artist combined light and shadow in a very skilful way, and he also drew the hair of the 2 characters in the foreground very meticulously. I usually don’t give the gold medal to a cover that hasn’t a real background, but in this case I make an exception to the rule.
P.S.: I’m not surprised that Storm is acting like a villain in the cover I chose, because in that period she had become quite nasty. In the 80s Charles had 2 vipers in his bosom: Ororo started being more and more ruthless, and Rogue betrayed her allies and went over to the enemy (not Magneto, I’m alluding to the Hellfire Club). The Academy wasn’t a nice place to live in at those times! : )
“I love dark comics slightly more than slice – of – lice ones, so I pick Flash # 274.”
Upon seeing that cover I knew instantaneously that would be the one you would select and this is my personal runner-up as well. Barry Allen potentially sacrificing his secret identity to save this stranger is the epitome of a heroic decision though I think the gunman was too busy shooting at the man then to notice meek Barry Allen’s super speed transformation. 🙂
“The presence of Green Arrow (if he’s not the real Emerald Archer, Oliver should hire that cosplayer as his stuntman)”
Ha ha! No, I don’t think that is Oliver but I know that during the issue Barry catches Iris dancing with a man dressed as Green Lantern who turns out to be Hal Jordan.
“As for the X – Men, I pick UXM # 214.”
I agree that it is a gorgeous cover. Storm has never looked so sinister and I wonder who this woman is that she is apparently torturing with her powers? It earns my bronze medal but 2nd place has to go to #213’s up-close shot of two mortal enemies engaging in battle.
“In the 80s Charles had 2 vipers in his bosom: Ororo started being more and more ruthless, and Rogue betrayed her allies and went over to the enemy (not Magneto, I’m alluding to the Hellfire Club). The Academy wasn’t a nice place to live in at those times!”
I was not aware. Thanks for the info and, as always, for providing your selections!
Thank you as well for your reply! : )
P.P.S.: Not to mention all the troubles Jean Grey had in that period, of course.
Wow, some great covers to pick from here. I liked The Flash #269 as is features Flash and Kid Flash, also there are dinosaurs stomping around! What a fun cover this is!! For Uncanny X-Men I chose issue #213 with Sabertooth and Wolverine fighting on the cover. Wow, this issue is awesome! Look how furious and savage these two look up close! Psylock also features in this issue and she defends the entire X-Men mansion against Sabertooth, alone!!! Yes, this is after the Mutant Massacre, and Betsy has just joined the X-Men, its a brilliant issue, and real;y action packed and I’d highly recommend this issue to anyone.
” I liked The Flash #269 as is features Flash and Kid Flash, also there are dinosaurs stomping around! What a fun cover this is!!”
A situation we never dreamed would occur is on full display before our very eyes!
“For Uncanny X-Men I chose issue #213 with Sabertooth and Wolverine fighting on the cover. Wow, this issue is awesome! Look how furious and savage these two look up close!”
As I mentioned to wwayne, this was my runner-up. I very nearly selected it as my #1 but in the end that Forge cover drew me in. Can we have a tie? 🙂
“Psylocke also features in this issue and she defends the entire X-Men mansion against Sabertooth, alone!!! Yes, this is after the Mutant Massacre, and Betsy has just joined the X-Men, its a brilliant issue, and really action packed and I’d highly recommend this issue to anyone.”
Sounds awesome!
Thanks for sharing your choices!