Defenders #2 Cover by Kevin Maguire (2005 - Hulk! Umar’s hand!)

Wow, awesome cover and love how you love it!  Congrats, Michael!

Congrats on a fantastic nostalgia add!

Hey!  I thought we said no hitting below the belt ... and NO HAIR PULLING!   It is really wonderful to feel your excitement about this series and this beautifully drawn cover.  I read your other post, and you have definitely convinced me that I do need to read this series.  

This cover is SUPER memorable! The simplicity of it highlights how much Maguire can do with just his signature facial expressions (and veiny veins!!) Love that you get to call it yours, Michael!

You sure it isn't Batman's hand?? We all know dc is better! Great price btw lol 

The year 2005 in Marvel is a real sweet spot for me so now I'm going to have to check out this mini on your recommendation. Glad you landed your favorite cover from the series.

Co-Signing that this mini-series is wonderful. 2005 seems to be the era for shooting from the pencils, so that tracks, too!

Umar will Smash?

Umar will definitely smash.  It's a big theme in this mini.  I'm sure Ditko would have been annoyed by it.

Umar’s gon' make me lose my mind
Pull my hair, up in here
Umar’s gon' make me go all out
Up in here, pull my hair

Umar’s gon' make me act a fool
Up in here, up do hair
Y'all gon' make me lose my cool
Hulk in here, pull my hair

If I Maguire bring it to you pencilled then it's gonna be Hulked, aight
All your mens up in her tail before, suck my Rich
And all Defenders cats you run with, get done with, dumb quick
How the heck you gamma cross the Hulk when it’s published? Aight

This is what Umar would call music to get in the mood.

She dragging him back to her cave? Ha! Love that switcheroo. And what a clever cover. Definitely not something you see every day! And with pencils like that, who needs inks? Congrats on getting a personal fav. SNU-SNU TIME!

Maguire is so damn talented. Great looking piece, Mike. Congrats! 

Definitely an underrated series, with Maguire at the very peak of his powers. Smart to go with Maguire's pencils for this cover and the series as a whole--as much as I like Al Gordon, Terry Austin, or Joe Rubenstein inking KM.

Not a fan of the color "work" they did for the published cover, however. Garish comes to mind. What were they thinking?

Always loved this cover! Congratulations!

I remember this cover hitting the market way back when, but this is the first time I'm seeing it in a looong while. Such great expression work. I'm also gladto hear this was a great series. I didn't realize until now that the book was done by the entire 1987 JLI creative team!

Yeah, and the creative team very much did this book in the same tone as their JLI work.  I wish this series had been a bigger seller since the Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire team demonstrated with it that their style worked well with the right Marvel characters.  Sadly, the sales apparently weren't strong enough for a second series.

Maguire is so good! 

If I recall the issue correctly, it wasn't the "hands" that conked out the Hulk. "Sweet mystery of life at last I've found youuuuuu."

Quite the fun cover by Maguire. You can really tell Hulk is saying "ouch!".

very cool, remember this cover well!!!

Great cover, Michael.  Hulk does not look happy!

Ouch the veins!!! Great Cover Bud. 

Your excitement on getting this is clear in your description!  Perfect Maguire example, man - gotta love that mug.  Especially on the Hulk :)  Congrats - can't top great art paired with high nostalgia factor!

Fabulous Defenders cover by Kevin Maguire! Gotta admit, it's hard to imagine who could pull Hulk by the hair and get away with it. Haven't read the story, but just seeing this cover should inspire me to check it out. (And isn't that what covers are supposed to do?)

If you ever enjoyed Giffen & DeMatteis' Justice League work, then you need to read this series.  It's a fabulous blend of the usual superhero fare with sardonic comedy.  

What could possibly be better than a cover with a bunch of Kevin's trademark facial expressions?  A cover with what could possibly be his best face ever!  This is about as good as it gets from the master of expressions.  And I love that it's the original pencils (especially since the colors on the published cover are so atrocious).  It's absolutely brilliant, and I just can't stop looking at it.  Everything is done perfectly.  The intricate shading of his hair, the furrowed brow and angry squint, the scrunched nose, the snarling lips, and of course the veins on his neck.  It's perfect, just perfect.  This just might be my single favorite piece of art in your entire gallery.  WOW!!!!!  

Thanks!  I was just thinking yesterday that if and when the time comes for me to sell off my art collection, this cover and my related Defenders page by Maguire will likely be the last two pieces to go.

I love this series as well.  It had all the humor and action that made this legenedary team's run on Justice League so great.  Kevin Maguire is a singular talent and this cover shows why.  His pencils are tight, tight, tight and his facility with expression is unmatched.  Poor(?) Hulk is going to get smashed.  

That's a fun cover piece, nice find!

Such a fantastic cover from this underrated series!  I love the simplicity of the image, allowing for the viewer to focus solely on the Hulk's expression here, and knowing that trouble is coming (and then finding out inside the book that it wasn't at ALL what they thought it would be... :) ).  Sincere congrats for scoring like the Hulk on this one, Michael, and landing a great cover referencing the most enduring gag from one of your favorite series!  Doesn't get better than that!