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 2001 and Uncanny X-Men 2008. 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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The Flash 2002
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Uncanny X-Men 2009
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The Speech Bubble 
I really like Flash # 189.
As you know, I love covers which give us a neat idea of what we’re going to see in the interior pages without spoiling too much, and Flash # 189 perfectly meets this requirement: in fact, it shows 5 questions that give us some clues about the content of the issue, but it doesn’t spoil anything, because all these 5 questions have an unpredictable answer.
Secondly, I love the fact that some of these questions refer to the Flash’s activity as a superhero, while some other ones refer to his private life, and therefore they foreshadow some slice – of – life scenes.
Thirdly, I love the Flash’s facial expression. Superheroes usually show either raging or serious faces on these covers: well, the cover artist decided to break this habit and to draw a large smile upon the Flash’s face. He definitely did the right thing, because that smile and the one of the lady next to the Flash create a light – hearted atmosphere I absolutely adore.
Special mention for Flash # 191, because it’s an extremely rich and beautiful cover.
As for the X – Men, I pick UXM # 504.
First of all, the outfit of the ladies makes us understand that the scene is taking place in a nightclub: I don’t attend them in real life, but I highly appreciate them as a setting for a fictional story, so this cover instantly won me over.
Secondly, I love the 4th wall breaking detail of Rogue inviting us to walk into the nightclub.
Thirdly, I love the sumptuous background. I especially appreciate the golden flight of stairs.
The cover you chose got very close to the 1st prize, because it has a huge aesthetic value and also because I love steampunk.
Bronze medal for the Annual. Emma Frost is one of the sexiest comic book characters ever, and this cover proves it in a very effective way.
I also love the apple she’s holding: it’s a clear reference to Eve’s sin, so maybe by putting that apple in Emma’s hand the cover artist wanted to suggest that she may have committed a sin that will have serious consequences on the X – Men’s lives.
Also, notice that she’s holding that apple with her left hand. The devil has been associated with the left hand for thousands of years (in fact, he was always portrayed as being left-handed in religious art), so by putting that apple in Emma’s left hand the cover artist probably wanted to underline the sinful nature of this character in a delightfully subtle way.
“I really like Flash # 189.”
I came ever so close to choosing this cover but the pull of that Captain Cold image was too much. It is because of this that I was extremely happy you chose it just so it could get its due. You hit every topic that I would have covered perfectly. With those five questions, we can’t help but be excited. How on Earth are they going to cover all of this in one single issue? This is for sure the opposite of decompressed storytelling and I couldn’t be happier about it. 3rd Place goes to Paul Bowler’s top pick (#181). A stupendous image that incorporates the main title creatively and seamlessly.
“As for the X – Men, I pick UXM # 504.”
And once again you choose my runner-up. Seeing the various X-Woman dressed up is quite a breathtaking sight. Rogue being dressed-up in an outfit similar to that of a bellhop is an interesting choice and makes me wonder what type of event is going on here. A simply gorgeous image overall. 3rd Place goes to UXM #511. Jean Grey rising from the graveyard, engulfed in Phoenix flames as Cyclops looks on in shock deep in the background is great.
“Also, notice that she’s holding that apple with her left hand. The devil has been associated with the left hand for thousands of years (in fact, he was always portrayed as being left-handed in religious art), so by putting that apple in Emma’s left hand the cover artist probably wanted to underline the sinful nature of this character in a delightfully subtle way.”
WOW! You just blew my mind. Great job wwayne! I can honestly say that never would have occurred to me. Also, thanks for sharing your selections. 🙂
“3rd Place goes to Paul Bowler’s top pick (#181).” And my 3rd prize goes to Flash # 180: I like the setting, and I liked that girl straightaway.
“3rd Place goes to UXM #511.” This cover got close to my bronze medal, but UXM # 507 got even closer: Colossus showing a raging face, his costume being in shreds, his body exhaling smoke, a gorgeous red – coloured background… it’s such a pity that this stellar image couldn’t get a spot on my podium.
“Also, thanks for sharing your selections.” Thank you as well for your compliments and for your reply! : )
“And my 3rd prize goes to Flash # 180: I like the setting, and I liked that girl straightaway.”
After you mentioned that this woman grabbed your attention, my curiosity was piqued and I had to learn more about her as I was unfamiliar with her. Here’s what I found: http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Lashawn_Baez_(New_Earth)
That page says “7 Appearances of Lashawn Baez (New Earth)”: she definitely is an underexploited character, so I hope that a DC writer reads these lines and decides to dust her off. Thank you for the link! : )
Really like The Flash vol 2 #181 with the Flash running down the middle of a road where the logo of the comic has become part of the road itself. Very clever design. Uncanny X-Men #509 is a stunning Psylock cover, really like how it features both aspects / versions of the character. Awesome cover!
I agree whole-heartedly with #181. It takes third for me with wwayne’s question inducing cover (#189) taking 2nd. Overall, this batch of Flash covers were really great. Thanks for providing your picks. 🙂
You’re welcome, some great covers, always fun to see them. Have a great weekend 😀
Man, half of those Uncanny X-Men covers are good, but then the Greg Land covers show up and ruin the streak – especially that Psylocke cover which has been proven to be almost exactly the same as 3 or 4 other covers he’s done. And why do Emma Frost and Madeline Prior appear to be grinning while they’re strangling each other on Uncanny X-Men 510? I agree with the cover you picked for the best of the year though – it really stands out as something unique and actually kind of genius.
The flash covers on the other hand all have something going for them and yes, the Captain Cold cover is pretty good. I have to admit though, not knowing much about DC beyond Superman, Batman and maybe a few Justice League villains, the first thing I thought when I saw that cover was, “Mole Man’s not a DC villain, is he?”
“Man, half of those Uncanny X-Men covers are good, but then the Greg Land covers show up and ruin the streak ”
Sometimes I really have to feel for poor Greg Land. The amount of hatred that goes towards him would break a lesser man. That you have to admit.
“I agree with the cover you picked for the best of the year though – it really stands out as something unique and actually kind of genius.”
The greatness of Yanick Paquette cannot be denied.
“The flash covers on the other hand all have something going for them and yes, the Captain Cold cover is pretty good.”
That cover of Captain Cold always seems to be used when DC does some type of documentary/feature on villains or the Flash. It will certainly stand the test of time.
“The first thing I thought when I saw that cover was, “Mole Man’s not a DC villain, is he?””
Ha ha. Yeah, I can totally see that. Hopefully the villain will become more prominent with the general public thanks to the TV show and movie. My fingers are crossed as he is an excellent and layer character that is much more than another bad guy who freezes stuff.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It is much appreciated.