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.
Infinite Frontier #0
Cover by Dan Jurgens and Mikel Janin
There’s a lot to look forward to in this 64-page extravaganza. For one, it moves away from the insanity of Death Metal, not to mention the what-ifs within Future State, and instead focuses on the state of the current DCU. Plus, there’s an entire A-list roster attached, including Scott Snyder, Becky Cloonan, James Tynion, IV, and Alex Maleev, among many others. But if nothing else, we can appreciate this epic cover from Dan Jurgens and Mikel Janin. It perfectly captures some big ideas, moments, and characters from across DC, distilling them in such a way as to show past, present, and possible futures with equal thought and importance. In that way, it hypes the book brilliantly and prepares the reader for what’s truly to come.
BRZRKR #1
Cover by Rafael Grampa
I’m a little torn when it comes to BRZRKR. Yes, I love Keanu Reeves, but the idea of him writing a comic doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence. (Luckily, Matt Kindt is in the mix, and he could help an old stone wall write a great comic.) Plus, the whole premise — immortal warrior seeks answers by working for U.S. government — could be equally amazing or slightly silly. But if absolutely nothing else, we have this totally badass cover to issue #1. Whether it’s the wall of blood mist, the expert use of shadows and textures, or just the look on the face of Berzerker/Keanu, this cover at least lives up to the “blockbuster” tag they’ve tossed onto this book. Fingers crossed, y’all!
Nocterra #1
Cover by Tony S. Daniel and Tomeu Morey
Hey, did you know Scott Snyder also does creator-owned books. (You know, that aren’t American Vampire.) For his latest, he’s teamed with Tony S. Daniel and Tomeu Morey for Nocterra, which is about a “ferryman” named Val who helps transport people across a world stuck in perpetual darkness. If that sounds like the premise for a Top Cow series circa 1999, then at least this cool cover backs that up and then some. It sort of screams Spawn meets Witchblade, with just a dash of The Darkness thrown in for good measure. Either way, it’s a compelling enough preview of what could be an entertaining read. Let’s just hope it’s not light reading.
Runaways #34
Cover by Kris Anka
I get that Wolverine is a badass. He’s a (mostly) immortal warrior who has carved a bloody path through the Marvel Universe. But the best moments are when we recognize his, um, colored past and still get to watch him do dumb and/or cute things. Like this cover, where we get a clear reminder that he’s such a widdle guy. But even if Molly Hayes has half a head on him, Wolvey is still gruff and tough, and that dichotomy is what really makes him such a compelling hero and a great foil for some younger folks in the MCU. Seriously, he’s so adorably compact.
ENIAC #1
Cover by Lewis LaRosa
If you read any of our coverage on Bad Idea, you may already recognize ENIAC. It’s the new publisher’s flagship title, and as such, there’s a lot riding on its success and larger impact. Forget it’s another Matt Kindt title — featuring art from Doug Braithwaite, no less. Or that it’s about an alternate history U.S. where a malevolent A.I. has guided our post-WWII history. Instead, just take a gander at this cover from Lewis LaRosa, which is both the best kind of body horror and also screams “I’m a deleted scene from a Hellraiser sequel.” It’s more than just delightfully gross, and it expertly captures the whole vibe of this series. Which is, technology’s coming to get ya.
King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling #1
Cover by Jim Cheung and Alejandro Sanchez Rodriguez
The couple that slays together, stays together. Last year’s Empyre was a great moment for representation, as Teddy and Billy finally tied the knot. But the honeymoon can only last so long, and the MCU’s most compelling couple (take that, Gambit and Rogue!) have some alien space demons to destroy. And that’s why they’re a great couple: they work together to tackle even the most terrifying of odds, and their connection is what guides their core principles as heroes. That, and they always look cool no matter the grisly circumstances.
The Swamp Thing #1
Cover by Mike Perkins
There were a lot of great things to happen in Future State. (Perhaps you’ll read more about that tomorrow…) But undeniably one of those was the Ram V.-penned Swamp Thing, which has now spun out into a ten-issue miniseries. This time around, we have Levi Kamei becoming the next Guardian of the Green, and he instantly has to tackle murders surrounding a “supernatural desert legend.” What makes me so sure this series will be a great follow-up is the cover: not only is it some pretty decent body horror, but it plays up some great ideas about the human-nature connection and how we’ve reached a kind of tipping point in climate change. Plus, anyone else get real slight zombie movie vibes? IDK.
Demon Days: X-Men #1
Cover by Peach Momoko
As a member of Marvel’s Stormbreakers imitative, Peach Momoko has been tapped to write and draw Demon Days: X-Men. This five-part story is described as a “revolutionary reimagination of the Marvel Universe,” focusing on a “wandering swordswoman with a psychic blade” battling demons. (That’s Psylocke, yeah?) And from the look of the cover alone, it’s going to be brim with the majesty and beauty of some ancient Japanese art mixed with the sheer gore and insanity of a good anime. Either way, it’s a gorgeous and unsettling cover, and I for one applaud more inventive re-tellings like this. Especially if they’re just so darn gorgeous looking.
Transformers: Beast Wars #2
Cover by Josh Burcham
I get gate-keeping is a crime worthy of being locked in the stockades, but Beast Wars is my jam. I obsessed over that show in real-time, and it’s a cornerstone of my pop culture preferences. Which is why I think it holds extra weight when I say this comics adaptation seems like a mostly worthy follow-up to what I think is one of the best chapters in this entire canon. While it cultivates its own aesthetic and tone, it also pays homage to the overall style of the original in a very specific way. (That “very specific way” is in things like having a giant bat’s head on an actual robot, or giving said robots actual teeth.) What a way to celebrate 25 wonderful years.
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