The Peerless Power of Comics!: To Charge Again!

When we think of iconic comics covers, one that instantly comes to mind for me is the 1964 Avengers #4, which reintroduced Captain America to comic book readers after an absence of twenty years and all but formally made clear that the character would become the team's standard-bearer and come to embody its fighting spirit. Artist Jack Kirby's basic layout of the Avengers charging into the fray both serves to rechristen the team following the Hulk's departure as well as to reinvigorate the mag with a character whose abilities are not based on strength and whose reputation precedes him. Page One of the story spills the beans by making it clear that Cap is the newest Avenger--but Kirby leaves little room for doubt about that with the overall tone of his well-remembered cover.

Just as we've profiled other covers here at the PPC that have been paid tribute to by other artists, it probably comes as no surprise that Avengers #4 would also have its share of artists who would use Kirby's design as a template and pay homage to his cover with their own version of this historic lineup. Following are a few such recreations (with Kirby's original pictured first), followed by a brief index of the contributing artists. Kudos to all of the talent featured here!