Most comic book fans have a solid idea about what they’re going to buy every week as they descend upon 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, funny, scary, etc. 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. This is Judging by the Cover.
The Flash #787
Cover by Taurin Clarke
In his long and often blurry career, Flash has been through a heap of weird enemies. Heck, some of his oldest foes use tops and mirrors to rule the world and/or knock-off various Central City banks. But pitting Wally West against an intergalactic wrestling champion somehow seems like the most bizarre move of all. (Again, there are both rainbow and turtle-centric baddies.) But that’s just what happens in issue #787 when Wally now must contend when “a new alien with a penchant for golden belts and trucker hair has added a new sting to the life of the Flash.” And everything about this cover says it’s going to be a battle for the ages. Whether it’s the mutant Randy “Macho Man” Savage ready to bash the Scarlet Speedster; the screaming crowd of freaky alien wrestling fans; or the fact that it seems like Wally wants to tag you (yes, you) directly into the ring, it all just screams bloody good fun. If the Flash had a finisher, what would it be? I’m thinking like a superkick — that he throws at the speed of light.
X-Force #33
Cover by Dean White and Joshua Cassara
Marvel fans, are we ever in luck this week. I’m not talking about more sweet X-Men action — I mean dinosaurs galore. Both Avengers #61 and X-Force #33 prominently feature everyone’s favorite scaly beasts. But, like the Indominus Rex in that one mostly blah Jurassic Park movie, only one can be the dominant species in these parts. Sure, the Avengers cover, from David Curiel and Javier Garron, is pretty sweet — what with the maelstrom of Avengers crowding the page and yet somehow that most nasty T-Rex still takes center stage. Yet I’ve got to give the nod to Dean White and Joshua Cassara’s cover for X-Force. For one, we get more dino variety, and that’s good even when it’s not dino nuggies. Secondly, it pretty much infers that we’re about to get a dinosaur vs. Wolverine battle, and I can’t think of a way to improve that unless you added “in space” somewhere. And the fact that I didn’t even mention that Kraven the Hunter’s involved just shows you how amazing this cover truly is.
The Bone Orchard Mythos: Ten Thousand Black Feathers #2
Cover by Andrea Sorrentino
If you’re not aware of The Bone Orchard mythos, let us catch you up real quick. The long and short is that it’s a brand new horror universe from writer Jeff Lemire and artist Andrea Sorrentino, aka the duo behind titles like Primordial and Gideon Falls. There’s going to be all sorts of titles and spinoffs in this shared universe, and one of the first is Ten Thousand Black Feathers, which tells the story of two friends, Jackie and Trish, who must deal with an otherworldly evil who “blurs the line between reality and their fantasy world” (of video games and not, like, D&D). As if you needed proof regarding the overall quality of both the universe and these titles, Sorrentino’s cover for the first two issues have been spectacular. Issue #2, in particular, feels like a powerful statement about the aforementioned blurring of fantasy and reality, and that uneven sense really feels both compelling and unnerving. Plus, the minimalism and the expert splatter just makes this feel like a primo movie poster for your brand-new favorite horror movie.
Mindset #4
Cover by John Pearson
I don’t know if this came off in our recent-ish interview, but I was really taken aback by how artist John Pearson approached the work of Mindset. He showed both a deliberate knowledge of the world in this story, in which developers create an app that can control people’s minds (and then, as you might guess, things get real dark and real heavy pronto). But he also showed a kind of curiosity about things, and he seemed open to the idea of playing with the imagery and aesthetic confines of this title. I think that’s been best demonstrated in his covers so far — and that’s doubly true for issue #4. Even if you knew nothing of the book thus far, the cover image feels especially stark, like an extra psychedelic take on the already trippy world of A Scanner Darkly. It’s a bold image that speaks to the themes and motifs of the book without having to say anything so directly — or even in those pesky word things. It booth soothes and confronts in the best ways, and I can’t wait to see what Pearson and co. have left in their playbook.
Trve Kvlt #3
Cover by Liana Kangas
I haven’t seen nearly enough press or discussion around the great Trve Kvlt. I deeply enjoyed the first issue from back in August, and how it felt a lot like like some dark(er) take on Clerks (and maybe a dash or two of Reservoir Dogs and a sprinkling of Stranger Things/another dark magic thang of your liking). And the second cover was a mostly enjoyable follow-up — and yet all that pretty much changed with the cover for issue #3. I get it’s not the most initially compelling piece, and it certainly lacks giant robots or, like, flaming alien swords. But it tells you so much about the scope and the shape and the overall vibe of this story in one pretty stark image. All of that negative space is just brimming with tension and emotion, and it’s somehow even more intense than the bleeding guy laid out in front of our very eyes. Plus, all that color and light almost makes this feel serene, and that notion just complicates an already complex narrative. This is one cult you might actually want to consider joining.
Crashing #2
Cover by Morgan Beem
I spoke pretty fondly of Crashing‘s debut cover late last month. Namely, that it felt like the best sort of instance of every HBO or similar medical drama — albeit with just the right amount of superhero action to boot. The second cover, though, feels like something else entirely — something that both plays up those same energies and also manages to transcend them entirely. The robot-looking fella clearly proves that we’re knee-deep in the world of superhero insanity. But placing our “hero,” Dr. Rose Osler, center stage in a pill bottle plays up some old “damsel in distress” tropes while further emphasizing just how much her personal addiction remains a vital part of this story. I think that latter element getting more “screen time” is an extra smart choice, and ties together some of the motifs and larger discussions at the heart of this book (namely, things like how complicated the morals in these stories can be, and what that ultimately means). For only its second cover, Crashing already has the cure for what ails ya.
Crypt of Shadows #1
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Call me weird, but I’m not feeling Halloween this year. Maybe it’s because it’s hard to find joy in the season when reality is a an infinitely bloodier horror show than anyone could’ve ever imagined. Or maybe I’ve just reached that age where Halloween no longer appeals to me (beyond buying half-off candy the next day, of course). The only thing that maybe sort of does the trick is that now’s the time when both Marvel and DC start rolling out their jam-packed Halloween anthology issues. And Crypt of Shadows seems like a spooky enough start, with contributions from Al Ewing, Danny Lore, Geoff Shaw, Karen S. Darboe, and Ryan Stegman, among many others. And based on this first little morsel of comics candy (that’d be Leinil Francis Yu’s cover), this year’s festivities are more ghoulish than a graveyard in Silent Hill. Whether it’s that odd combination of heroes (so bizarre it’s scary — but effective!); the subtle atmospherics; and/or that nice touch of framing spiderwebs, it’s silly and scary in equal measures, and exactly what Marvel does best. That, of course, and giving us plenty of Man-Thing.
Black Adam #5
Cover by Irvin Rodriguez
If you’ve read my reviews thus far, you’ll know I’ve been a big fan of Black Adam‘s first four issues. It’s been a compelling way to recontextualize and explore the magical dictator and to show us more depth than he’s had in some time. But the same hasn’t always been true for the covers, and I think this is the first such piece that really struck me in any kind of big or even grandiose way. Does that have anything to do with the inclusion of Batman? Sure, that couldn’t hurt. But then that’d also just be downplaying the otherwise excellent work of cover artist Irvin Rodriguez. I think this is the first time I actually get his sort of photo-realistic style, and see that line work for having a lot of robust emotion while fostering a sense of mystery and/or intrigue. And I think even that specific shade of red just somehow makes this all pop while bringing together every character and their respective themes and story tidbits together. All that, and I’m sure the actual story’s going to be a big leap forward for Captain Widow’s Peak.
Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E. #3
Cover by Filya Bratukhin and Jason Wordie
Way back in June, I highlighted the first issue of Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E. It was the sort of cover that expertly encapsulated my own aesthetic when it comes to great sci-fi — which is to say, a little ramshackle and DIY-ish and with plenty of color and weirdo vibes to boot. I felt the same, and maybe even more strongly, about August’s cover for issue #2 — that laser fire bit set my nerd brain on fire in the very best possible way. So, then, it would make sense that I’d be equally in love with the cover to issue #3 — which is mostly the truth. Do I think it’s the best of the three? Not quite, as the two previous issues just have that little something extra that make them stand out. That said, however, I love three because it feels far more psychedelic, like I’m starring at some lost Beatles album. Plus, there’s something about that extra chaotic text of the creative team credits that just enhances the madness and chaos swirling across this piece. If you’re going to do sci-fi, may as well get triple kooky with it, folks.
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