When Firemen Fear The Man Without Fear

 

With crowds of civilians often playing a major role in comics stories, you'd think that comics covers would be just as generous in featuring spectators witnessing a battle, or a face-off, or even engaging in an occasional "Look! Up in the sky!" sighting. But as we found in the PPC's initial exploration of this subject, covers all too often have elbowed crowds out of the picture, given a cover's emphasis on sales and the presumption that the casual comics browser isn't going to be particularly interested in anyone on an issue cover but the story's main characters. In Part 2 of this impromptu series, we search out more of those covers where crowds were injected into the scene presented--and why not start out with two heroes who were often forced to confront a threat during what appeared to be a busy workday for the average New Yorker?

Having already covered the Thunder God in the prior installment, it seemed appropriate to set one cover aside and instead put it side-by-side with another cover that featured crowds in the background. In both of these covers, the landscape is tilted slightly (well, make that a lot in the case of Spider-Man), so much so that you don't know if it's the intensity of the battles or the slant of the ground which is causing these people to be unsteady on their feet. Despite the danger, our crowds look like they're not going anywhere, though keeping their distance; in fact, one guy on Thor's cover looks like he's wanting to lend a hand. ("All right, you Enchanters bozos--let's see what you're made of!")

Daredevil's adoring fans, on the other hand, apparently couldn't give a squat about what happens to him:

Neither do office workers, thanks to the Purple Man...

...nor, for that matter, does the Black Widow. (Unlike Natasha, this fall's witnesses are the model of composure.)

In fact, you don't even have to be human to be up in arms against Daredevil and the Widow.

So even Daredevil himself might consider it karma when the tables are turned on our bystanders.

Things aren't any better on the college campus, where crowds are either content to stay put or gently cajoling their hero to take part in their demonstration.

Fortunately, Iron Man has always enjoyed a good relationship with the man on the street, even when the villain has the upper hand.

Ditto for Captain America:

At times, crowds present at a scene can make for a dramatic cover image, as was evident in three covers of Amazing Spider-Man:

And if there's anything that can draw a crowd, it's the sight of Spider-Man. (Or Peter Parker, on occasion, who has had his own brushes with rabid office workers).

Though the cover is just a tad deceptive as to how things played out here.

In lieu of the wall-crawler, wads of free cash dropping from the sky are also acceptable crowd-pleasers.

Iron Man at times also falls into the crowd-pleasing category:

On the other hand, there are those who can't be too pleased that they don't have a suit of armor to help ward off a fatal attack.

More often than not, it seems that when Spider-Man or Daredevil is involved, the best advice for those in a crowd is to scatter like hell. (And if you're a fireman, keep your eyes peeled for a hero who will think nothing of toppling you to get to his foe.)

But if you do bolt, you may find yourself missing some unexpected entertainment.

Regrettably, if you happen to be in an office building or any form of transit (including being hoisted by web-swingers), you can only cross your fingers and hope that you don't end up as collateral damage.

And finally, it seems that even artists can phone it in when it comes to dealing with crowds.