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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