Gimmicks of Yesteryear – The 13 Variant Covers of Gen 13 #1
I don’t know what it is about the 1990’s, but there seems to be an overload of special-edition/limited-edition stuff overflowing from that decade. One that reared its head in the 90’s comic industry, were Variant Covers.
It used to be that one would buy a comic book, and that was it. That was all you got. But somewhere in the early 1990’s, the gimmick of specially bagging comic books with extra incentives (like promo trading cards), or giving them alternate covers came into play.
In February 1994, the Wildstorm Productions arm of Image Comics released the beginnings of a 4-issue miniseries titled Gen 13 (originally titled Gen X, until Marvel Comics came knocking on their door).
The comic dealt with a group of super-powered teens, who after their powers manifest at a secret training facility in the desert, go on the run from the group I.O. (International Operations). Joining them is former I.O. member John Lynch, who has defected, and becomes the group’s mentor as they work out their life and new powers in La Jolla, California.
The series proved to be a surprise hit, and even ended up adding a 5th part to the storyline, and serving as a launching pad for up-and-coming artist J Scott Campbell (also known these days for his art on Danger Girl, and Wildsiderz). As it neared the end of its run in 1994, word spread that Wildstorm would make Gen 13 into an ongoing series, with the first issue released in March 1995.
I remember eagerly walking into my local comic shop, only to be greeted by a surprise. Along with 2 regular cover variants, I noticed 4-6 different covers for issue #1 sitting behind the counter (with much higher price tags, courtesy of the shop owner). Now, I had encountered variant covers before (they were a staple of the whole death/return of Superman saga DC Comics did), but Image had taken the promotion of this new release to insane levels.
According to the comic shop owner, as well as Wizard magazine, a total of 13 different covers had been released. Even though I salivated over these covers, they cost much more than a 15-year-old like myself could afford (my Dad also wouldn’t pay the $25+ per issue they were asking). Though somehow, over the course of the next year, I did manage to obtain all 13 of the covers. Nowadays, pricing on the variant covers is not as extreme as it was in 1995 (I attended the San Diego Comic-Con for the first time that year, and a couple sellers were asking upwards of $70 for a couple!!), but still, it can take a little jumping around to find these. So, let’s take a little stroll down memory lane, and look at the 13 different variant covers, and a few other odds and ends. Also, if you want to see what the covers look like at a higher resolution, simply click on the image.
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I never did find one of the super-rare Do-It-Yourself variants, but over the years, I have been very fortunate to get a couple Do-It-Yourself covers drawn on by several members of the original Gen 13 crew:
But wait, that’s not all!
Btw, in case anyone is wondering, no, these are not for sale!
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Now that we’ve blown through 13 covers, it may surprise you to know that there is an unofficial 14th cover. This cover was never released on retail shelves, but is part of a collected box set. Adding more wood to the collecting fire, Wildstorm released a slipcase box set containing all 13 variant covers.
The incentive to purchase these box sets was the 14th cover, signed by either Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, J Scott Campbell, or Alex Garner. Each signature set for each of the creators was limited to a numbered edition between 1500-2500. Unknown to a lot of people, there was a super-rare ‘Artists Proof’ red-box of the variant cover set that was released. If you were looking to get that exclusive 14th cover without a signature, this was where you’d find it.
Through an online source, I was able to obtain one of these rare treasures, though I was surprised that unlike the black box set, the red one does not give a number of how many were produced (mine just has the number “294” on it). I have a vague recollection of the comic store owner I used to go to in Iowa, telling me that he heard one was going for $500 (and this was in 1995!). Since then, I’ve never seen a proper price guide amount for the ‘Artists Proof’ set, which I guess just goes to show that these sets are incredibly rare.
I will admit even with the promise of an unsigned Chromium Cover inside, I have not been able to bring myself to open my set. I’ll blindly trust that the “legends” are true (and that possibly, there may be a drawn-on Do-It-Yourself cover inside too!), and keep my set sealed.
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But, the fun doesn’t stop there.
Later the same year that Gen 13 was released as a regular series, Image released the trading card set Wildstorm Archives I, which was a 99-card set showcasing cover art from various comics under the Wildstorm Productions banner. These included art from comics like Wildcats, Stormwatch, Deathblow, and more. Every card series needs some chase cards (aka special incentive cards) to make people keep buying, and that’s where Gen 13 came into play. 1 out of every 6 trading card packs contained 1 of 11 holofoil cards that showed one of the variant covers.
Over the years, I have often wondered which of the covers is the most popular, as I’m sure everyone has their favorites (mine is Cover 1J!). Sometimes when I visit random comic shops, I’ll leaf through the Gen 13 back issues to see what’s sitting around. Aside from covers 1A & 1B, I often found cover 1F to be the one that would pop up most often. Of course, sex appeal does sell, and that explains why covers 1G & 1H are almost never seen in back-issue bins. Sometimes, you can get a good deal on a set selling on eBay, or in some shops (I saw a 1C at a shop the other day going for just $2!).
Keep in mind that this was not the only variant cover gimmick that Image took part in. There was an 8-cover variant set that came out in the fall of 1994, with each of Image’s main titles getting a special issue that showed all of Wildstorm Production‘s main characters front-and-center, creating a connecting image that spanned across all 8 covers. In August 1996, a spin-off from Gen 13 was created, with the series DV8. This series followed a second set of super-powered teens, although moreso a bad-guy version, and led by John Lynch’s former partner, Ivana Baiul. The release of the DV8 series was heralded with 8 variant covers. Along with a group-shot, the remaining 7 covers featured one team member partaking in one of the seven deadly sins. Unlike those from the Gen 13 release, prices for the extra covers barely reached above $10, and it was pretty easy to obtain a full set at release time from local comic shops.
After leaving Gen 13 to pursue greener pastures, J Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell then created the Indiana Jones/James Bond homage comic series titled Danger Girl, which continued the trend of multiple variant covers. However, collecting the Gen 13 #1 variants was a cake-walk compared to all the exclusives that were released for Danger Girl (from merchant-exclusive releases, to foil-tinted cover-art, and even one cover release that was recalled!). I almost got into the hype, when my pre-order for the issue #1 Chromium cover netted me one on that issue’s release date. I held onto it for a couple years, before selling it to fund part of my trip to Comic-Con 2000. In the end, I didn’t really regret it, as my heart wasn’t quite into this new series like it had been with Gen 13.
All these years later, Gen 13 has been the only comic series in my collection that I was there for the start of. Though I can vaguely recall some of the story points all these years later, it was mainly Campbell’s art that kept me coming back for more, and by the time his art duties began to wane around issue #20, I began to pull away. It was a fun part of my teenage years collecting the series, and I still have a fondness for this little Variant Cover gimmick that Wildstorm pulled during the 1990’s.
Tags: 13 Variant Covers, Alex Garner, All Dolled Up, Art Adams, Barbari-Gen, Bobby Lane, Brandon Choi, Burnout, C2E2, Caitlin Fairchild, Charge!, Chuck Gibson, Comic-Con, Do-It-Yourself Cover, Fairchild, Freefall, Gen 13, Gen 13 #1, Gen 13 Boxset, Gen 13 Boxset Artists Proof, Gen 13 Goes Madison Ave, Gen 13 Holofoil, Gen 13 Holofoil Chase Cards, Gen 13 Variant Covers, Gen-et Jackson, Gen13, Grunge, Holofoil Chase, Image Comics, J Scott Campbell, Jason Pearson, Jim Lee, Joe Dunn, John Cleary, John Lynch, Lil Gen 13, Lin-Gen-Rie, Lisa Nation, Michael Golden, Michael Lopez, Percival Edmund Chang, Picto-Fiction, Puzzle Cover, Roxy Spaulding, San Diego Comic-Con, Sarah Rainmaker, Scott Campbell, Simon Bisley, Sofia Dominguez, The Gen 13 Bunch, Thumbs Up, Tom McWeeney, Variant Covers, Verti-Gen, Wildstorm, Wildstorm Archives, Wildstorm Archives 1, Wildstorm Archives Chase, Wildstorm Productions, Your Friendly Neighborhood Grunge
About MWH1980
Growing up in the state of Iowa, one would assume I'd be enamored with pigs and corn. Well, I wasn't. Instead, I grew fascinated by many things that were entertainment-related. Things like movies, animation, toys, books, and many more kept my attention. This blog I hope to use to express myself regarding my varied obsessions. (P.S. There's no Photoshop involved in that Gravatar-I really am holding an Oscar)17 responses to “Gimmicks of Yesteryear – The 13 Variant Covers of Gen 13 #1”
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On the artist drawn Do-It-Yourself, I was able to buy one when the came out from a store in RI. I’ve always wondered what it was worth.
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Gauging the value of an artist-drawn DIY is tricky. I don’t think a comic appraiser could give you a definite answer on that one.
I’ve seen a couple pop up on eBay, usually with art done by non-Gen 13 artists, and I don’t recall those taking off.
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Would love to see pics / descriptions for your whole Gen 13 collection. Be cool to see the hardcover edition that you have. Basically be sweet to see a complete breakdown of your collection. I’m in the same boat as you – started collecting this series when I was 15 and been trying to complete it ‘on a shoe string’ ever since.
Thanks!
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I have been considering some more posts regarding my J Scott Campbell collection, along with some other Gen 13-related material.
Aside from Campbell, I also was entranced by Adam Warren’s work on his 3 issues for ‘Gen 13-Bootleg,’ and ‘Magical Drama Queen: Roxy.’ Warren was one of the few guys whose art was entrancing, and his pop-cultural takes were fun as well (plus, he captured landscapes and places from San Diego that I saw when I went on vacation there at the time!).
I think in displaying my collection, I don’t know how I could display such a post. Then again, I could revisit the series, and go over the various story arcs, let alone several areas where the art was passed off from person-to-person. I know I was a little surprised to open issue #9 and find Humbertos Ramos’ artwork inside. Or reading issue #14 and seeing Ryan Odagawa’s art that made him a ‘Campbell Clone’ (not that different than Stephen Platt at the time being hailed as a Todd McFarlane clone).
Wow. I really must be pining for the past. I remembered a bit too much there.
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Regarding the #1M Variant. I can confirm positively that these do exist. I was in a comic store while they were unpacking their box that day. They had ordered 300 copies. While sorting through the unopened case from Diamond, the owner came across the normal variant every 13 copies but one was different. It was the #1M but was signed in highlighter by Jim Lee, J Scott Campbell and Alex Garner. He quickly put it in a hard case and then into his file cabinet in the back of the store. I scoured price guides about this issue and I believe it was Comic Buyers Guide monthly price guide that actually listed it as a rare run of 200 copies. Rumors had run around for years that the books were inserted 1 in every 13 CASES of books. I have asked J Scott Campbell and Jim Lee to try to clarify the circumstances about the book but all that they can remember is that they did do some autographs and possibly sketches on that cover. As luck would have it, I was around when the store was going out of business years later. The owner asked if there was anything I wanted, he would make me a good deal on it. I told him of the Gen 13 comic in the forgotten file cabinet which he sold me for $20 as a thank you for my business over the years. If you ever would like to see a scan of it I would be more than happy to send one to you. I hope this helps some.
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Might be fun to see, and that is an awesome price find.
I personally doubt that Lee or Campbell would have full specifics (or remember them after so many years) regarding how many they signed. I didn’t know about those until I read the back of the chase card for the do-it-yourself variant cover. I pulled it out to reread what it said:
“Hundreds of these covers were “enhanced by Wildstorm’s top artists, including Jim Lee, J Scott ampbell, Alex Garner, Travis Charest, and more. (And those are the ultra-rare variants!)”
This post is one of my favorites, because it makes me feel young again, remembering when my eyes were entranced by Campbell and Garner. Nothing after this quite caught my attention (not even Danger Girl, or the short-lived Wildsiderz).
I’m still hoping one day, I can get Alex Garner to draw Fairchild on a Do-It-Yourself cover. I do wonder what became of Brandon Choi.
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i have one of the red artist proof box sets #293, i couldn’t find any info online about it other than your article. Do you know what it would be worth roughly?
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I have no clue. The information regarding the artists proof/red box are as much a mystery to me as anyone.
I have no idea just how many were made (as I’ve never seen a sealed one, or if there are stickers on them that tell how how many of them were made, like the black-boxed variations).
I’ve never seen one pop up on eBay, and it’s hard to tell just how many Gen 13 or other comic collectors out there would be interested in the set. Though if it’s still sealed, that could be something to assist in its pricing.
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I’ve listed my Gen13 AP red box on ebay. i put a link to this article as it was the only credible info i could find on the subject, i hope that was alright? You can see the listing here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231241714958&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123
I’ll be listing other Gen13 pieces from my collection this week, thanks for your help.
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It’s rather strange to think of myself as some sort of Gen 13 guru.
I’ll keep an eye on your Red Box auction…though the price on it is a little too rich for my blood.
FYI: As you have posted one of the first full red box scans I’ve ever seen, I updated my post with your image.
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Hi i have in my hands a Wildstorm Set 1 Alex Garner Autograph A9 VOID and is trying to get information on what they go for, does anyone have an idea?
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it seems like outside of the regular releases of the box sets, anything that may be rare or hard-to-find (like the red-boxed Artists Proof set) are very hard to price/place.
I was browsing through some comic price guides a few weeks ago, and there’s really nothing to say how to price alot of the really rare items like this.
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Hey, anyone know what Gen 13 0-23 would be worth, including all variant covers.
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Overall, the Gen 13 series from what I’ve seen, has been at bargain-level pricing (given what I’ve seen on eBay).
I often see quite a few large collections of the series going for below their cover price.
Probably a few of the variant covers, you might be able to get some more for (the Lin-Gen-Re and Gen-et Jackson covers are still very popular).
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These are sealed in plastic in my storage unit 🙂
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I had all of these, of course, including the black box set and dozens of copies of the same issue with myriad covers. This was the worst of the worst of the so-called “limited edition” cover craze that caused a glut that eventually crashed the industry and drove fans away. DC is now owned by Warner Bros. and Marvel by Disney. I wish I had use the money for vintage copies instead. I have a copy of The Flash #105 that I bought at a small-town bookstore for a tiny fraction of those 20 Spawn #1 issues I had.
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