Swipe File: The Infinite Vs X-Force

[Rich Johnston]

The Infinite #8, cover by Rob Liefeld (2012)



X-Force #22, cover by Greg Capullo (1993)



In Swipe File we present two or more images that resemble each other to some degree. They may be homages, parodies, ironic appropriations, jokes, coincidences or works of the lightbox. We trust you, the reader, to make that judgment yourself. If you are unable to do so, please return your eyes to their maker before any further damage is done. The Swipe File doesn?t judge, it?s interested more in the process of creation, how work influences other work, how new work comes from old, and sometimes how the same ideas emerge simultaneously, as if their time has just come. The Swipe File was named after the advertising industry habit where writers and artist collect images and lines they admire to inspire them in their work. It was swiped from the Comic Journal who originally ran this column, as well as the now defunct Swipe Of The Week website.

[thekeith82]

So, anyone who insisted people were "bullying" him yesterday fancy leaping to the defense of this one?

[ShadowMax]

I remember that issue! Loved Capullo from his very first X-Force cover.
Wow. This is pretty sad for Liefeld though...

[zehgnomo]

Of course he added a red-eyed ninja cyborg with the biggest gun. OF COURSE.

[myakoopa]

...maybe it's less a swipe and more an homage? It's seriously incredibly close to the original, mouths and all.

[Arlnee]

mouths, hair, guns, hands... Rob Lightbox strikes again...

[Adam]

I remember that issue! Loved Capullo from his very first X-Force cover.

Oh,

yeah!

I honestly forgot this was his early work, but yeah, me too.

...maybe it's less a swipe and more an homage? It's seriously incredibly close to the original, mouths and all.

Review a few of Rob's other swipes; this is SOP.

[Timberoo]

lower right - is that the evil queen/mayor from Once Upon A Time?

[irrg]

Proofreader… “Capello”?

[Wallabee Champ]

So, anyone who insisted people were "bullying" him yesterday fancy leaping to the defense of this one?

Sure. It's not bullying to present an image that's practically a mirror image of another one and say, "Hmmm, seems like a swipe...." It's a bit old news at this point, but whatever, it's just two images juxtaposed, so it's not like any work was put into the critical assessment.

It is bullying to make fun of or continue to deride Liefeld for it. Every variation of every creative joke has been made by this point, so making further jokes is just mean spirited.