Swipe (comics)

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Swipe is comics term that refers to the intentional or unintentional copying of a cover, panel or page from an earlier comic book or graphic novel. Most commonly it is a form of homage but may also constitute plagiarism. Swipes often occur when a comic is rebooted to demonstrate continuity with earlier volumes. A common target of swipes is the first edition of a particular comic (see list below).

[edit] List of swipe targets

Covers that have been frequently swiped include:

Amazing Fantasy #15 - first appearance of Spider-Man; Spidey swings across the page carrying a crook
Fantastic Four #1 - where a giant monster emerges from the below a street.
Action Comics #1 - where Superman holds a car over his head.
Superman #1 - where Superman stands with a bald eagle on his left arm.
Justice League #1 - members of the team standing in ranks looking upwards to the 'camera'.
Giant-Size X-Men #1 - where the new team of X-men seamingly burst out from the cover while the older X-men team looks on horrified from above.
The Incredible Hulk #1 - Bruce Banner is over shadowed by the Hulk.
Superman #199 - Superman races the Flash in a foot race (cf. Superman #463).
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (cf. Dragon Fall #4)
Legion of Superheroes #1
Avengers #1 - Best known for the heroes charging towards the reader, particularly Captain America holding his shield on one arm, with his right arm pointing backward.
What If? #1
Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 - A weeping Superman holds the dead Supergirl in his arms. This cover itself was an homage to Michaelangelo's Pietà. [1]