CoverLineage.
A family tree for comic covers.

BEYOND THE WOODSHOP · BY JEREMY DARTY

Following a cover’s creative lineage.

The project began with my personal collection of more than 80 Spider-Man #1 homage covers. That collection is one starting point for an archive whose scope extends much further. Todd McFarlane’s art made a lasting impression on me growing up in the 1990s. I kept noticing the visual conversations that followed: a familiar pose returning decades later, a different character stepping into the composition, or an artist making an established image their own.

CoverLineage grew from that collecting habit into an independent editorial archive—a family tree for comic-cover ideas. Each collection starts with an influential original and follows the published covers that quote, revise, or parody it. The goal is to make those connections visible, including obscure editions and small-run variants that can be easy to miss.

The site combines a catalog with editorial exploration. Entries document titles, artists, publishers, editions, images, and sources. Artist Profiles recognize the people behind the work, while Lineage Notes explore how cover imagery travels into movies, merchandise, memes, and public memory.

What began with Spider-Man now reaches across publishers and generations. Collections explore the descendants of covers such as Amazing Fantasy #15, Batman #423, The Incredible Hulk #340, The Dark Knight Returns #1, Uncanny X-Men #141, and Absolute Batman #1. Together, they reveal how a memorable composition can keep finding new meaning long after its first appearance.

A collector watchlist also follows recent releases and announced homages, including retailer variants and crowdfunded projects. It keeps the archive looking forward as well as back, while treating upcoming artwork, dates, and credits as provisional until they can be confirmed.

I research the entries, develop the editorial features, and work with fellow collectors to fill gaps and correct the record. Clear attribution and traceable evidence are at the heart of the project. It is fan-created and independent, with no affiliation to the publishers or rights holders represented.

This is a passion project in every sense: a place to share a lifelong interest and keep discovering where one powerful image can lead. Like my workshop builds, it rewards curiosity, close attention, and the joy of making something personal.