I. Hate. Variant. Covers. They suck. There are the obvious reasons as to why one could look at them with contempt like being sold at prices higher than any collection of papers that size should ever be worth, and putting such a strain on the wallets of the loyal collectors such, as myself. Publishers know that there are plenty of folk like me and milk it to an outrageous degree. I have had to drop almost everything from my list because of the price hike and because of the stress variant covers cause for the zombie that I am.

But, that is not the reason I would stand behind for publishers to cease production of variant covers. When you think of Spider-Man's first appearance, what comes to mind? That image of Spider-Man swinging on a web with a flailing criminal tucked under his arm. The classic cover to Amazing Fantasy #15. The Fantastic Four? The family of heroes locked in combat with an enormous subterranean monster emerging from the street. The cover to Fantastic Four #1. The Punisher? Spider-Man in the crosshairs of a mysterious gun-wielding man with a skull on his chest against a sold yellow background. Elektra's death? Bullseye coming down with a flying kick on Elektra with and oversized Daredevil in the background. Daredevil #181. The Phoenix? Captain America socking Hitler? Venom's first appearance? The all new, all different X-Men? The Secret Wars? Significant milestones that can be connected to their iconic covers. In this new age of an abundance of variant covers, that iconic presence comic book covers once had is lost. There are so many images sold with any specific happening these days that readers can't grasp one and truly value it the way they once could. It's a sad loss for the medium, not having these powerful pictures that can be easily linked with a story that goes beyond nostaglia or a bleeding bank. Comic book covers were once worth so much more.