They were exciting the second or third times, maybe the fourth time, but not so much now.

They need some new issues with new characters.

It's not gonna happen, though.

I agree. The state of the industry is really bad these days. Has been for a while now. I mean occasionally something good filters through, but mostly it's crap. Real shame, I like the medium, just not too happy about the subject matter.

Of the five Avengers first issues that Linda has posted, I own the first in reprint and the last one, for JRJR. I never bought into the reboot idea and I didn't bother with Spider-Man #1 by Todd McFarlane, one of the most hoarded comics of all time.

I think that its clever for them to restart with #1, but when it comes to a big anniversary like Superman 700 they have a big celebration and it sucks me back in, then they go back to the previous numbering. Marketing geniuses.

I do sometimes wonder how a current-looking comic would have sold
back in 1963 if it were marked 12¢.

That Liefeld cover sure stands out, doesn't it? Like a turd in the swimming pool?

Look at those five covers.

Kirby's is right there. Active design, distinct colors contrasting the figures against the background. No extra "fill".

The other four covers? They're a blur. That's what you mostly see on comic shop shelves today. A blur of washed out covers with figures blending in with the background.

The Liefeld was the most exciting.

The Kirby and Perez ones both look pretty good to me. The worst is a tie between JRjr's and Liefeld. That Thor in jr's looks like a Macy's parade float.

I liked the Heroes Return by Busiek & Perez, New Avengers by Bendis and Finch I didn't get past the first story arc. Sadly, it's looking like I won't get past the first story arc in the Bendis/Romita Jr. run, which is a shame since I like Romita Jr. on the art. Secret Avengers by Brubaker & Deodato is excellent so far(at least the first issue was).

New Avengers lost me when the clearly male Ronin finally unmasked only to reveal a female was Ronin all along.

I like the Kirby nad Perez ones, too. I think the JRjr was going for sonmething different then Finch's cover but it didn't quite work. I can't put it on the level of Liefield's however.

I know some people like Perez because he draws lots and lots of stuff as in these two consecutive pages from Avengers 1, but it just makes my head hurt.

They really should have gone with a "Spider-Man" build along the lines of Bagley's SM if they wanted the character to appear androgenous.

I dunno... if Marvel suddenly announced that they were rebooting The Incredible Hulk with Frank Miller writing it, I would so fucking be there.

Those two in the upper right corner came out within about 3 years of each other didn't they? One was the Heroes Reborn Avengers and the other was the Heroes Return Avengers.

With a guest appearance by She-Hulk calling men "sperm bank" as she rips their heads off.

Well, the character Marv is one of my favorite FM creations and he's basically the Grey Hulk without gamma rays. I actually think a tough guy man-monster character would be right up FM's alley. I would certainly give such a title a shot, given a lot of what we've seen over the last 20 years of Hulk stories.

Yeah, two or three years of each other. The Busiek & Perez is the better of the two. I think the only Heroes Reborn titles I followed was Iron Man & Fantastic Four(although I did have to buy Avengers & Captain America for the two crossovers that ended Heroes Reborn).

Haven't they kept the old numbering for all four flagship titles, Superman, Action, Batman, and Detective?