5. Doctor Strange, Vol. #2, Issue #4

If ever there was a scary cover, this is it!  Dr. Strange is about to be sucked in and devoured by a giant cosmic skull.  The cover title promises that he will meet Death!  Brunner at his best!  I also like the drip on the bottom edges of the word Strange.  How will our hero escape this terrifying dilemma?

4. Silver Surfer,  Vol. #1, Issue #1

The first time I saw this cover was in Stan Lee’s Son of Origins of Marvel Comics.  It was years later that I was able to see the original.  I like this cover because the Surfer seems in command, calm and powerful.  Here comes the herald of Galactus to usher the planet devourer to his next “meal”.  May the world below beware!  There’s something otherworldly and spectacular about a silver coated man who can soar the spaceways on a silver coated board.  Long live the Power Cosmic!  Long live the Silver Surfer!  And the cover is by Big John Buscema, too!

3. Thor #245

Time travel, Zarrko the Tomorrow Man, The Time Twisters, The Servitor, The Warriors Three, Jane Foster and Thor, the God of Thunder!  What a story!  John Buscema and Joe Sinnott have always been my favorite artists on the Mighty Thor.  On this cover, they really deliver!  Dynamic is the word that comes to mind when I look at this cover!  And when Mjolnir connects, watch out Servitor!  CRUNCH!  One of things that always impressed me about Thor is that he was never afraid to fight a foe who was much larger than himself.  This cover, and especially the Servitor’s right hand brings that thought home!

2. Dreadstar #8

I love Oedi!  I love cats!  Mrrrowww!  Oedi’s got raking cat claws and laser blaster in hand!  Ready to pounce!  ‘Nuff Said!

It finally comes down to cover #1.  The Fantastic Four is and always will be the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!  A brilliant scientist, his best friend, the woman he loves, and her fiery tempered kid brother!  Together, they braved the unknown terrors of outer space, and were changed by cosmic rays into something more than merely human!  MR. FANTASTIC!  THE THING!  THE INVISIBLE GIRL!  THE HUMAN TORCH!  They are the Fantastic Four, and the world will never again be the same! The cover of FF #159 is my favorite for many reasons.  Blue is the color of the FF, the background to this cover, and my favorite color!  FF #159 is also a transitional issue.  This is the last time we would see this logo and corner circle of the Thing.  This is the last time that Medusa would fight as the fourth member of the FF.  This issue features the return of Susan Richards to the FF.  The ramifications and consequences of Reed and Sue’s split (near divorce) have been healed and reconciled.  Johnny is finally over Crystal and is able to accept that she is the wife of Quicksilver.  And Xemu of the 5th Dimension loses the battle to the combined efforts of the FF and the Inhumans.  All in all, a very satisfying issue to read.  Oh . . . and then there’s the cover!  The Thing’s stance and fists indicate he’s ready to yell, “It’s Clobberin’ Time!”  The Torch is so hot, I can hear the flames sizzle as he speeds to his destination!  Black Bolt, the regal monarch of the Inhmans glides through the air with majesty!  Plus the rest of the FF and Inhumans are charging forward, ready to save the day!  Outstanding cover by Buckler and Sinnott!