Most comic book fans have a pretty good idea what they’re going to buy every week when they visit their local comic shop. With that said, there’s still a lot of fun to be had just glancing at the week’s new releases and taking a chance on a book that looks promising. That’s where covers come in. A fantastic image can make the difference between trying something new or saying, “Nah, not this week.”
In that spirit, here are the covers that captured our attention this week, with entries from comics editor Chris Coplan, writer Nathan Simmons, and event coordinator JJ Travers.
Chris’ Picks:
Daredevil #13
Cover by Julian Totino Tedesco
Thus far, Chip Zdarsky’s run has been, to some degree, about trying to break down one Matt Murdock, to see if the Man without Fear can become the Man without Sanity. But when you tell a good Daredevil story, you have to involve Wilson Fisk, and the “Through Hell” story is just as much about Kingpin and trying to understand that character, his sense of guilt, and emotional status now that’s he no longer Boss Don Elite. The cover alone encapsulates something deep and primal we don’t always see from Kingpin, this surge of animal confusion he’s more familiar wielding than experiencing himself. For that alone, this cover is a success — plus, it’s just so damn technically impressive.
The Infected: King Shazam! #1
Cover by David Marquez
If you haven’t much followed the whole “Infected” storyline spinning out of “Year of the Villain,” all you really need to know is that it’s about playing with our beloved heroes’ morality and seeing what happens when they’re made dark and poisonous. Shazam’s inclusion makes sense: he’s the purest of the pure, and Billy Batson represents that childlike devotion to truth and justice like few others. So to see him looking so gnarly, like he was meant for an Iron Maiden album cover, is a straight dropkick to the sensibilities. His perversion, presented so clearly with claws and tattered cape, is especially disconcerting — if he didn’t look so damn perfect as a baddie. Maybe crime does pay?
Crone #1
Cover by Justin Greenwood
OK, so technically I’m cheating, because I’ve read Crone #1 a few times and interviewed both writer Dennis Culver and artist Justin Greenwood. But even if I ignored all that knowledge, and that Crone is basically “Red Sonja meets Kill Bill,” I’d still want to talk about Greenwood’s epic cover. It’s the mound of dead bodies; the simple but effective use of color; the demeanor and physical details of Crone herself; and that slightly cartoonish quality that makes it all the more silly but then also wickedly badass. Sometimes a simple cover speaks volumes, and in this instance, it’s saying, “Read my book or I’ll make you 3 feet shorter with my iron sword.”
Nathan’s Picks:
The Amazing Spider-Man #33
Cover by Pat Gleason
Look, I’m an unashamed and ecstatic fan of Spider-Man 2099. I’ve gone on record as saying that Miguel O’Hara’s blue and red suit is my favorite Spidey outfit (next to the OG). In other words, it doesn’t take much for me to be unbelievably stoked to see this guy in action. The pose is simple and tells you everything you need to know about how Miguel operates when compared to Peter: this dude is a scrapper. You shoot at him, you’re gonna get a face full of talons and bad attitude. The ’90s kid in me is squealing over this cover.
Young Justice #10
Cover by John Timms
I also greatly enjoyed Naomi’s debut miniseries, so I’m excited to see what she brings to the established team dynamic in Young Justice. She spent so much of her series doubting herself and unsure of her abilities, so the highlight of this cover is not only seeing Naomi in an action pose, but smiling and leading the charge!
The Dreaming #15
Cover by Yanick Paquette
Wan is an almost unknowably powerful being at this point, so this cover really shows off the threat our leads are up against. It’s almost too much to take in — I love the streaks of code behind them and the fact that they are still moving forward, determined to save the Dreaming as we know it. It’s a striking cover that makes fantastic use of negative space and has me invested in the survival of Matthew and the gang.
JJ’s Picks:
Coffin Bound #4
Cover by Dani
Image
The story thus far is all about Izzy erasing herself from every place on Earth where an echo of her ever existed. From the looks of this, she very well may succeed. Our hero may be front and center, but all the horror, death, and weirdness that is Coffin Bound is still close on her trail. Dani switches styles between clean and a mess riddled with decay so seamlessly. Truly wonderful cover.
Strange Skies Over East Berlin #2
Cover art by Evan Cagle
BOOM! Studios
Are we looking at this man’s thoughts? A alien-borne projector messing with his mind? Or witnessing his fears manifest around him? Whatever it is, I’m into it. The use of yellow puts your eyes front and center, so it may take a moment to realize how incredibly detailed the bottom half of the cover is. But once you do, you’ll appreciate this piece all that much more.
Green Lantern: Blackstars #1
Cover by Liam Sharp
DC
If you haven’t read Liam Sharp and Grant Morrison’s Green Lantern run, perhaps this will convince you. But seriously, if you haven’t, it’s an absolute must. As he did during the 12-issue run with Morrison, Sharp once again brings that sweet sweet Silver Age feel to Hal Jordan, outer space, and the many aliens to be found there.
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