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 Nightwing 1997 and Daredevil 2010. 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 fourth page to view them.
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Nightwing 1998
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Daredevil 2011
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The Speech Bubble 
There are 2 Nightwing covers that really pleased my eye:
– Nightwing/Huntress # 1, because of the pouring rain (I especially love how it falls on Dick’s costume) and the beautiful gothic buildings. I also appreciate the fact that both the Huntress and Nightwing are looking down with an extremely careful glance, but we can’t see what they’re looking at: the artistic choice of not showing the scene they’re observing compels us to open the book in order to know what’s going on, and, as you always say, that is what truly makes a great cover.
– Nightwing/Huntress # 2, because of its immensely beautiful background.
At the end I decided to give the gold medal to an entirely different cover. Bronze medal for Nightwing/Huntress # 2, silver medal for Nightwing/Huntress # 1, gold medal for Nightwing/Huntress # 3. As you know, I love romantic issues, so this cover is right in my wheelhouse.
As for Matt, even in this case I decided to give the gold medal to a very simple cover: Daredevil Vol. 3 # 5.
Daredevil is the man without fear, and this image proves it in a very effective way: as you can see, he has a lot of firearms pointed on his chest, but he’s so brave that, instead of hiding himself, he opens his arms, which is a means to say “I’m not afraid of you, come and get some.” I also love how the shadows cover most of his body, giving him an even more ominous look.
“Bronze medal for Nightwing/Huntress # 2, silver medal for Nightwing/Huntress # 1, gold medal for Nightwing/Huntress # 3.”
Whoa. You threw me for a loop there. You talk in depth about two covers you really like and then POW! you pull the rug out from under me and choose an entirely different one. For three covers of a mini-series to capture all three spots on your podium speaks volumes. Good thing I included them, huh? For me, my runner-up goes to Paul Bowler’s #1 pick NW #16 with third going to NW #24’s investigative cover. Nightwing/Huntress just misses the Top 3 by capturing fourth. If you had to pick a cover form the main series of Nightwing, which one would earn your praise as being the best though?
“As for Matt, even in this case I decided to give the gold medal to a very simple cover: Daredevil Vol. 3 # 5.”
And this here is my runner-up. They even made a shirt up of it http://www.tfaw.com/More-Products/Apparel/Profile/Daredevil-Lazer-Blind-Previews-Exclusive-Blk-T-Shirt-XL___456720 but it is currently unavailable. I guess it was way too popular? Rounding out my Top 3 is the very first issue. I love the creativity here as to how the various sound effects take shape into the very objects and creatures making the noise.
Thanks for sharing your selections and providing your analysis. Always a pleasure to read. 🙂
” If you had to pick a cover form the main series of Nightwing, which one would earn your praise as being the best though?” No brainer: Nightwing Vol. 2 # 19! It’s a classic action packed image, one of those covers that make me want to get my hands on the issue right away.
“And this here is my runner-up.” And my runner – up is Daredevil Vol. 3 # 2, for the very reasons you mentioned in your conversation with The Telltale Mind.
“I guess it was way too popular?” You’re probably right. I would have bought that T – shirt without hesitation, if I had seen it on the Internet or in a comic shop.
“Thanks for sharing your selections and providing your analysis. Always a pleasure to read.” Thank you as well for your compliments and for your reply! : )
“No brainer: Nightwing Vol. 2 # 19! It’s a classic action packed image, one of those covers that make me want to get my hands on the issue right away.”
The vertical perspective is both claustrophobic and amazing at the same time. Those two children being held up by our hero, any moment either his strength giving out or him being knocked-out by falling debris also ratchets up the tension tenfold. Nice choice.
I knew for sure you would have loved it as well.
By the way, the other bronze medalist is Daredevil # 512. The masterful colouring makes this cover extremely beautiful from an aesthetic point of view. Thank you for your reply! : )
Daredevil #512 earns 4th Place for me. I love the haunting imagery of all the various suits of Daredevil that he has worn throughout the years consumed in flames. A fitting final cover for the original series numbering.
I like your pick for the Nightwing and Huntress book but for Daredevil, I like issue 2 with Cap on the cover.
The way Captain America and Daredevil are shown as haven swapped each other’s weapons is quite a sight to behold. It makes me wonder just how good Daredevil will be with that iconic shield. Add that to the dynamic action and you get a really great cover and a really nice choice by you. Thanks for sharing!
Dark, moody, Nightwing vol 2 #16 gets my vote. Really like how Nightwings new car dominates the cover without us really seeing much of it. The gleaming bright headlights dazzle us and throw everything into deep shadow, brilliant! Daredevil vol #3 #4 is stunning, with DD swinging over a cityscape made up of guns. This is such a clever cover & very eye catching. A great addition of Retroactive 😀
Nightwing #16 is a phenomenal cover and captures my runner-up prize. The use of shadows is brilliant and the realism of the light emanating from the car almost makes me want to shield my eyes. 🙂
Thanks for providing your picks!
Thank you, such a brilliant cover, glad you liked it as well 😀