10 Awesome Marvel Comics Covers
Most of my fondest Christmas memories revolve around Star Wars, and one of my very favorite gifts was something that kept on giving! It came in a plain brown paper sleeve about the size of a piece of lined writing paper, with MY name and mailing address in faint blue print on the long side. I had slid the contents out and was stunned into geeky ecstasy by the fabulous cover to Star Wars #57, Battle on Bespin! After a few minutes of gushing appreciation to the giver, she had further explained that it was a subscription! I was to get the next 11 issues MAILED DIRECTLY TO ME! I was 11 years old - I had no idea that was even possible!
For the next 50 months, I eagerly checked the mailbox for the latest issue. I cut my comic-loving teeth on the Shira Brie storyline. Issues #60-63 still stand as one of the best Star Wars stories ever written. I, too, sought the meaning of the word ‘pariah’ from the cover of issue #62. The search for Han Solo, issues #68 and 69, featured Mandalorians and the first incarnation of the origin of Boba Fett. Issue #68? Best. Cover. Ever.
The later issues, especially after #100, devolved into iconographic jingoism. Because the series ended with #107, the extra-galactic invaders storyline was forced to be elucidated far faster (and far shoddier) than in the New Jedi Order series so many years later. This ending, however, led me to another comic that I greatly enjoy to this day. I still had issues left on my subscription when the title was cancelled, so I selected a comic called ElfQuest to finish my paid subscription. (ElfQuest is a beautiful fantasy story and a shining example of a successful independent comic publisher, but not truly part of this essay!)
The Star Wars subscription also propelled the parallel fandom of my uncle and me. In an effort to complete the collection, which was about 56 issues short, we would go to comic book shows at the mall, check out flea markets, and peruse all sorts of rummage sales.
Forever-thanks go out to my Aunt Pete. This gift was one of the chief points in the development of my appreciation of family and the generous people around us who made Christmas so special for me, my brothers, and all my cousins. I have fond memories of Christmas Eve gatherings at my grandparents’ house next door, when everyone would come to visit, before “everyone” became true hyperbole.
Editorial:
This essay wavered between RSWR and tripe-ish gushing. Ultimately, I’m not sure if I just settled in order to have something done, or if I truly edited this effectively. And there has to be a better word for ‘forever-thanks’.
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