Last night, Sports Illustrated unveiled their 2010 Swimsuit Issue with hottie Brooklyn Decker on the cover, which basically shut down the Internets and made men wish they were Andy Roddick. Sure we're big fans of SI's Swimsuit Issue, and it's a party in our pants every year a new one drops, but you may not know that other magazines have tried to beat the O.G at their own game in the past. Everyone from Spin to National Geographic has tried doing a Swimsuit-themed issue, and since you may not be up on all the imitators, we compiled a batch of 15 titles that tried to dethrone the kings. Check 'em out below...
TITLE: Spin
YEAR: 1988
COMPLEX SAYS: If the cover for Spin's 1988 Swimsuit Issue was plain old boring, the cover for Spin's 1989 Swimsuit Issue was plain old awful. Instead of a hot chick, they used a throwback Elvis Presley photo on the cover. It's no wonder Spin decided to can the whole idea after that.
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TITLE: Inside Sports
YEAR: 1998
COMPLEX SAYS: There's no way to be a Sports Illustrated knockoff without having a Swimsuit Issue of your own. We should appreciate Inside Sports putting Carmen Electra on the cover, but they had already used the Baywatch girls in their '96, and '97 Swimsuit Issues. Lazy.
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TITLE: National Geographic
YEAR: 2003
COMPLEX SAYS: It only took National Geographic 100 years to figure out that readers were more interested in boobs than nature.
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TITLE: Smooth
YEAR: 2004
COMPLEX SAYS: Every issue of Smooth is the Swimsuit Issue. But this issue is the Hollywood Swimsuit Issue and not the Video Vixen Swimsuit Issue.
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TITLE: Austin Fit
YEAR: 2008
COMPLEX SAYS: When you're in such good shape, it's only right you flaunt it. Consider this the very poorwomen's SI.
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TITLE: Heeb
YEAR: 2008
COMPLEX SAYS: When Heeb magazine asked director Brett Ratner to guest edit an issue, he came up with an idea as bright as the Star of David: The first ever Jewish Swimsuit Issue! Heeb Covergirl Bar Refaeli then went on to cover Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue in 2009.
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TITLE: Transworld Surf
YEAR: 2008
COMPLEX SAYS: When Transworld Surf debuted in the late 90s, surfing was undergoing a major transformation as new styles of surfing emerged. When Transworld Surf went on to debut it's Swimsuit Issue, we underwent a major transformation...in our pants.
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TITLE: Swimming
YEAR: 2008
COMPLEX SAYS: Rather than just sit on the beach, some of the girls in this magazine have actually been in the water. Micheal Phelps might have to worry about shrinkage, these ladies certainly don't.
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TITLE: Maxim
YEAR: 2009
COMPLEX SAYS: Not only did Maxim swaggerjack SI, but they had enough balls to call their Swimsuit Issue the Real Swimsuit Issue. Shots fired!
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TITLE: Man's World
YEAR: 2009
COMPLEX SAYS: Anyone who feels SI's Swimsuit Issue doesn't have enough brown skinned ladies, Man's World--India's classiest men's magazine--has got you covered.
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TITLE: Pop
YEAR: 2009
COMPLEX SAYS: This Australian skate/snow/surf magazine put out their first ever Swimsuit Issue last December and if it's debut issue with cover girl Alyse-Co'cliff is a sign of what's to come, they might be serious contenders.
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TITLE: Revolt In Style
YEAR: 2009
COMPLEX SAYS: Covers of this San Diego-based magazine remind us why they call it "America's Finest City."
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TITLE: Surfing
YEAR: 2009
COMPLEX SAYS: We don't surf, but this magazine has us grabbing our long-board. In our eyes, it's the only other magazine that consistently has a Swimsuit Issue that can give SI a run for it's money.
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TITLE: Triathlete
YEAR: 2009
COMPLEX SAYS: We're not big fans of women who look like they can beat us up, but we might need to make an exception here. Hopefully these triathletes are tri-sexuals: Willing to try anything.
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TITLE: V
YEAR: 2009
COMPLEX SAYS: V Magazine's Swimsuit Issue attracts big names like Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Gisele Bundchen. Let's just hope they don't invite current covergirl Gabourey "Precious" Sidibe into the mix anytime soon.
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