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 1993 and Uncanny X-Men 2000. 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 1994
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Uncanny X-Men 2001
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The Speech Bubble 
It was a really hard task to choose the best Flash cover. On one hand we have Flash # 87, an eye – widening image that shows some crooks wearing a very strange outfit and shooting in our hero’s direction with submachine guns; on the other hand we have Flash # 89, with our hero being so full of rage and so determined to catch the crook he’s following that he decided to break a glass of a subway train to get him. After long consideration, I decided to give the gold medal to Flash # 89.
As for the X – Men, UXM # 388 was a much easier choice for me. A giant gun in Mystica’s hands, a smaller gun at her left side, cartridge cases at her right side, the marvellous lighting on the phone under the cartridge cases, Mystica’s face partially swathed in shadows, the ominously pierced poster in the background… this cover has so many eye – pleasing details that, each time I look at it, I find one more reason why it deserves the gold medal.
“After long consideration, I decided to give the gold medal to Flash # 89.”
The Flash “hulking out” and taking his aggression out on the crook is very uncharacteristic of our hero and makes us wonder what did this bad guy do that was so bad. The way the artist drew that kick was really well-done as we can feel the sheer force of the blow in our living rooms by just looking at it. For me, my silver medal would have to go to The Flash #0 though. I love looking back at all those classic moments and the mere hint of time travel has me riveted.
“As for the X – Men, UXM # 388 was a much easier choice for me.”
I had a pretty good feeling this was going to be your pick due to the very reasons you listed. My runner-up award goes to #396’s eye-catching cover. I love the spiral design and all the various silhouetted X-Men that are strew about. It draws me completely in!
Thanks, as always, for sharing your selections!
“My runner-up award goes to #396’s eye-catching cover.” And mine goes to UXM # 394.
Bronze medal for the Annual: I don’t like homage covers very much (I prefer when a cover artist creates something totally new), but in this case the tribute to Apocalypse Now is too beautiful from an aesthetic point of view to be left out of the podium.
“Thanks, as always, for sharing your selections!” Thank you as well for your replies! : )
“And mine goes to UXM # 394.”
And that is my third place cover.
“Bronze medal for the Annual: I don’t like homage covers very much (I prefer when a cover artist creates something totally new), but in this case the tribute to Apocalypse Now is too beautiful from an aesthetic point of view to be left out of the podium.”
How can you do an Apocalypse Now homage without classic X-villain Apocalypse on it? 🙂
“How can you do an Apocalypse Now homage without classic X-villain Apocalypse on it?” I didn’t realize it was Apocalypse.
UXM # 389 and # 390 could have won the bronze medal as well, but at the end I decided to exclude both of them, because they are too saddening for my taste.
No, no, no. You misunderstood me. I was saying how could they not include him, not that he was on the cover. 🙂
I think the cover for The Flash Vol 2 Annual #7 is really effective as well. With Wally now confined to a wheelchair, breaking down, with the image of the poster peeling and fluttering in the breeze behind him. A very powerful image. I like Uncanny X-Men #338 as it features Mystique in a killer pose, armed to the teeth, and ready to strike. A great edition of retroactive 😀
You and I agree on Flash, you and wwayne on X-Men. Both are great selections.
Thanks for providing your picks. It is much appreciated. 🙂