Set Description:
Without a doubt, Adam Hughes is my favorite modern cover artist. Possibly my favorite artist of all time. I'm not sure there's anyone better at capturing just the right facial expression or body language to tell a story in a single image. His covers are often bold, and his style is always distinct.
His covers are often sexualized, a characteristic that is causing more and more ire in modern readers. There's more to these comic characters than their beauty and sex appeal, no doubt about it, but it's that sexiness that is most likely the first thing you see when spotting a Hughes cover. For me, however, there are a lot of other reasons to like Hughes' art. While most people might just see sexy pinup art, I'm drawn to Hughes' covers for two main reasons.
First, Hughes captures emotions like no other. For example, he showcases fury with the best of them. But his use of facial expressions and body language set him apart from the crowd. It's the subtle smirk or the droop of the shoulders that encapsulate the true emotions of the moment. With just one image, I know what the character is thinking and feeling. I'm pulled into the action with a simple glance. That's a rare talent in the comic book world.
Second, Hughes isn't afraid to change his style slightly to match the tone of the comic or character. He never loses his bold, unique style, yet he's often willing to try something new. Or he's willing to add a dose of humor, an easter egg, or to do something fun and original with his signature.
That's why I like Hughes' art so much. I would love to one day own a copy of all of his covers, but I don't picture myself ever having a full set of Adam Hughes covers. Certainly not graded in 9.8 or better condition. Not on my budget. But I've been picking them up here and there when I can. While I'm collecting, I plan to also update this registry by adding general thoughts about a particular cover. These comments are simple musings of a comic book fan, typically just my opinions on a particular image. When I can, I'll also include images of the original art, or "virgin" covers that Hughes has shared online. I'm not an artist, but I do know what I like, so I'm hoping I'll be able to shed some interesting bits of info as I go along. I hope the images I add and the comments I offer will provide a glimpse into what I love about comics in general, and Adam Hughes covers in particular.
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| Slot: |
Barb Wire v2 #1 |
| Item: |
Barb Wire v2 #1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0266182026
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Owner Comments
This is a classic Adam Hughes cover. Sure, it's not going to win the "classic cover" designation any time soon, but it features a bad ass blonde who's sexy, tough as nails, and clearly ready to cause trouble. If nothing else, it features the classic big boobs no hips body type that Hughes seems to like so much.
Using the bright neon signs against the wall is a nice touch. Barb Wire is a bar owner, so it speaks to her character. I particularly like that the Hughes signature is mixed in with those signs. Unfortunately, the blazing signs make it so the main figure is backlit, which makes it a little difficult to make out some of the details. Sure, the background pops, which is what Hughes was going for here I'm sure, but I think it's unfortunate. Check out the original art (see Image #2) to see the full detail, or check out the cover on Hughes' site, which seems to have brightened the cover, letting some of that detail show (http://www.justsayah.com/art/20813/barb_wire_/).
About the gun: At first glance, it's easy to wonder where the barrel of that gun might be. After Dark Horse revealed solicitations for the book, Hughes said it was a snub nose pistol. That's probably the only solution to getting such a gun into those tight pants. Personally, I think it detracts from the image, and I wish Hughes had found another way to include the gun or had just left it out altogether.
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| Slot: |
Barb Wire v2 #1 Variant Cover |
| Item: |
Barb Wire v2 #1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0264136013
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Owner Comments
There are so many cool things to say about this cover, but easily the best has to be the looks on the bikers' faces. Absolutely fantastic! From the expression on the guy on the right, you can almost feel the pain of getting kicked in the tenders. The guy on the left, meanwhile, is wide-eyed from astonishment, as if he's thinking that they just messed with the wrong blonde, but he's also got a look that says he can feel the same pain in his own crotch.
Barb Wire herself is pure fire. She's a cornered animal that is fighting back, and her face shows that she's not holding anything back. If her body language didn't tell you that, just check out the guy who's flying into the sky from the force impacted between his legs.
Check out the original art shown in Image #2 (the art was done in mixed media; including marker, pencil, ink, colored pencil and white paint.). Barb Wire's boot is more detailed in the original, and it just emphasizes the pain these bikers are gonna feel in the morning.
Personally, I like this version much more than the bloody audacity variant version, where you see blood all over her white shirt. I like the idea of her being able to fend off these bozos before she's actually been hurt herself.
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| Slot: |
Barb Wire v2 #2 |
| Item: |
Barb Wire v2 #2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0267152013
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Owner Comments
This isn't my favorite Adam Hughes cover. I like the idea of it, but it doesn't feel quite right. There are two things that don't work for me here.
First, the motorcycle. Using an outline instead of full detail means the image doesn't come together in a meaningful way. Or rather, it lacks impact. I sometimes like the cartoony mixed with the serious, but not here.
Second, Barb Wire's expression doesn't quite work for me. It seems too playful. I'm sure that's what Hughes was going for, and normally, I like the look. But I think I would've preferred a little more menace in that expression. (Plus, her nose seems overly red, which is often a symbol for being a drunk, which, come to think of it, maybe she is.)
I think the style works much better in the original art (see Image #2). The motorcycle better matches the series logo in the original art, making the cover feel a bit more cohesive. Plus, the sepia toned images blend a little better with that motorcycle. Don't get me wrong, I think the coloring is fantastic, but a fully realized character on top of an outline of a motorcycle doesn't work as well.
With that said, you've got to love that hair. And the fact that the punks hands are all torn up indicates he's already been toughened up a bit, and he's only in for more.
I also like how Hughes added his signature to the license plate on the bike.
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| Slot: |
Barb Wire v2 #3 |
| Item: |
Barb Wire v2 #3 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0269440002
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Owner Comments
I absolutely love this cover. You'd think that it would be the naked Barb Wire that makes this such a great image, and yeah, let's be honest, that's a huge selling point. But for me, what sets this apart is the incorporation of the series logo on her arm. The logo is a tattoo. Frickin' brilliant. I love the barbed wire tying back her hair, too.
Her expression is great. It's as if she was woken up in the middle of the night, and she has to go fend off some burglars. Her expression behind that snub-nosed pistol says it all, as if she's thinking, "You woke me up and now I'm going to bleeping kick your bleeping bleep."
It's unfortunate that Dark Horse printed these comics so dark. Check out the original art (Image #2). Her expression is much more prominent, and her anger is so much more pronounced, even when hidden behind the gun. In the printed version, the light hits her shoulder and the shadows obscure her face. I think that's a mistake that hurts the overall look and feel of the image. (Also note the sketchy/chalky white of the background to the right of her face...it adds a sense of frantic, barely-controlled tension that's missing from the final cover.)
The original image also shows more of her back and elbow area, showing off her muscular body a little more than the published comic. I think that only adds to the tough-as-nails vibe Barb Wire has going on.
I still love the cover, but it does pale in comparison to the original art.
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| Slot: |
Barb Wire v2 #4 |
| Item: |
Barb Wire v2 #4 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0272017021
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Owner Comments
I dig the feeling of this cover. Lots of energy, and the colors really pop. And I absolutely love her hair here. Damn Hughes can create amazing hair.
As you can see in the original art (see Image #2), the original plan was to include Ghost in this issue. Ultimately, that didn't happen, so the final image sees her cropped out. Personally, I think the final cover works great, but the original has better composition. That's pointing out the obvious, but it's unfortunate he had to do cropping because the two characters work well together to form a nice, cohesive image. (That's easy for me to say, I've seen the original image. Without seeing that original, I'd never have any reason to think the cover wasn't designed that way.)
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| Slot: |
Barb Wire v2 #6 |
| Item: |
Barb Wire v2 #6 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0299728025
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Owner Comments
Once again, Hughes creates a Barb Wire cover with the character interacting with the title logo in some way. I don't think it works quite as well as some of the others, but I must admit, the use of the words HOLD STILL SO BARB WIRE CAN BEAT YOU SOME MORE makes for a bold cover.
It's interesting to see that Hughes added blood to her right hand in the final cover. And that's a substantial amount of red, too, indicating she's been beating someone for quite some time. I don't mind the addition of blood here, but I still wish it wasn't quite so blatant.
I love the details in her pants and belts. You can't see it all that much in the final version because of the words, but the color does seem to call more attention to it where it's visible.
Although it's more pronounced in the original, this is another example of Hughes' penchant for drawing women with small hips.
Note that the cover lacks his typical AH signature.
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| Slot: |
Betty and Veronica #275 Hughes Variant Cover |
| Item: |
Betty and Veronica 275 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1222398019
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Owner Comments
Check out Betty's denim overalls. You can almost feel the texture and weight of the denim. And you can almost hear Betty's sigh and sense her eye-roll as Veronica tries to maintain her looks instead of getting to the job at hand. There's a surprising amount of communication between Betty and the audience with that simple look of playful disdain.
Hughes often makes his signature a part of the image. I like how he made his trademark AH! a part of the paint splatter on the floor. It's a nice touch that the girls are painting the issue number on the wall, too.
There was a small, brief internet kerfuffle about Hughes' portrayal of the teen girls when the cover solicitation hit the web. It didn't gather much steam. Is Veronica too sexy? Are the girls too well-endowed? Possibly. But the cover isn't overly sexualized and has a playful feel to it. At least the girls are the focus of the cover image, unlike a couple of the other 275 variants.
There were five covers (regular plus four variants) associated with this issue. Adam Hughes' was labeled Variant Cover C.
Personal Note I: My first CGC Hughes book. Purchased on eBay, already graded.
Personal Note II: The issue's interior pages poke out beyond the edge of the cover on top and bottom. It's apparent in almost every copy of the book I've seen. It's unfortunate, but doesn't detract from the art as much as it might have.
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| Slot: |
Catwoman (2002) #51 |
| Item: |
Catwoman 51 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1230918014
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| Slot: |
JSA: Classified (2005) #1 |
| Item: |
JSA: Classified 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0002617022
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Owner Comments
Hughes captures a serene moment in the clouds with this cover. I'm not a big Powergirl fan, but I absolutely love this cover. We've all seen plenty of images of superpowered beings zipping through the sky as fast as can be. But here's this hero taking a moment for herself, floating lazily through the sky and relaxing amongst the clouds, her cap billowing around her. This is a classic!
There are two covers for this first issue, one by Amanda Conner and one by Adam Hughes. They were available at a 1:1 ratio. Comichron estimates 58,303 copies sold for this issue, which means the Hughes version had 29,151 copies. (A second print sketch version also exists.)
Personal Note: This is one of many books that I sold prior to a move to another city. It was a raw, 9.8 candidate that I sold as part of a lot in which each issue sold for about $5 each. D'oh. It's nice to have it back in my collection, but buying it pre-graded cost me a lot more than I had hoped. (Purchased on the CGC message boards; letsgrumble)
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| Slot: |
Wonder Woman (1987) #156 |
| Item: |
Wonder Woman 156 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0767612014
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Owner Comments
The colors really make this cover stand out for me. The original art, as shown in the Reverse image, has clean lines as you might expect. But when Hughes adds the green to Devastation, her anger becomes palpable. Her eyes are mad and filled with hate. She's about to go off, and there's nothing to stop her. Meanwhile, despite not seeing her face, Wonder Woman's emotions are readily apparent, too. She's on the verge of giving up, frustrated that she's in chains and powerless to do anything about it. Hughes captures that moment when our hero realizes that there's so much stacked against her, that it would be much easier to quit. But we all know, just by looking at her tightened fists, that she's about to tear those chains apart.
Despite the emotion that Hughes captures here, I sometimes look at this cover and wonder just how Diana keeps her costume on.
Notice that Hughes' signature AH! is missing in the final cover, but is readily apparent in the original art.
Personal Note: Purchased pre-graded on the CGC message boards (letsgrumble).
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| Slot: |
Wonder Woman (1987) #164 |
| Item: |
Wonder Woman 164 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0767612020
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Owner Comments
Wonder Woman in Gotham? I'm in.
I've seen plenty of clips or images of woman or child releasing a dove, or maybe a butterfly. They're typically cute or heartwarming, or they capture some other feel good moment. Here, Wonder Woman releases a bat. There's a gentleness to her expression. Not quite motherly, perhaps, but there's definitely a feeling of calm despite Diana being surrounded by bat. A lot of that feeling comes from the eyes, but also the warm lighting reflected off of her chest and face.
I particularly like the detail in the bat's wings.
Personal Note: Purchase pre-graded on the CGC message boards (letsgrumble).
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| Slot: |
Wonder Woman (1987) #166 |
| Item: |
Wonder Woman 166 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1234984005
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Owner Comments
I've got a love/hate relationship with this cover. Okay, not love/hate maybe, more like love/sort of dislike. I totally dig the almost cartoony vibe the art is giving off. And Batman looks bad ass. I love his pose, and how it (and his color scheme) play off of Wonder Woman's. But c'mon. Batman's foot is, what, splashing in mud? Kicking up dust? I know drawing feet can be difficult, but that plume of dirt doesn't work when Diana's standing on a rock and there looks like there are other rocks right in front of Batman (yes, I know that dirt/dust can exist right next to each other, but you know what I'm saying here.)
I also love Wonder Woman's pose here. And those boots. Love 'em. Sure, they've got more of a go-go boot vibe than a superhero feel, but I like 'em. And Wonder Woman is clearly ready for action...I think. There's something about her eyes here. Is she startled? Is she confused at what's she's seeing? Is that a WTF look? I can't quite tell. And that's the crux of my problem with this cover. Hughes is typically fantastic at letting the audience enter the mindset of the characters on his covers. And the inked cover, as shown in the Reverse image, doesn't help out either. So with this one, I'm not quite sure what to think.
Note: Signed by Hughes, in gold market, on 11/13/15.
Personal Note I: Purchased pre-graded on the CGC message boards (letsgrumble).
Personal Note II: My first signed Hughes cover. I didn't get it done in person, so it's not as special as it could be, but still damn cool!
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