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.
Nightwing #106
Cover by Bruno Redondo
Thanks to the mostly great Knight Terrors event, it’s been a minute since Nightwing’s solo series got a chance to further razzle and dazzle readers. But now the book’s swinging back into action as issue #106 features that thing that everyone loves: high sea adventures! Specifically, as a follow-up to issue #99, Nightwing and Batgirl seek out whatever combination of treasure and terror may rest within The Hold’s secret vaults. And, sure, more pirate-themed imagery would certainly be cool, but what Bruno Redondo has done with this latest cover is still interesting. There’s a lot of overt tension and a sense of peril, but the unique angle here really makes it feel all the more intriguing. Plus, the choice of simple, flat colors over the robustness that is usually depicted in such nautical scenes also adds to the slightly surreal quality of this cover. It’s as if this is like some pirate’s tale as written by Jim Steranko, and that energy not only makes the slightly silly gimmick here ring a little more true, it’s also very much in line with the rest of this book’s whole approach. As long as there’s plenty of diving and maybe a giant squid getting punched in the face, everything’s going to be a real blast.
Uncanny Spider-Man #1
Cover by Tony S. Daniel and Sonia Oback
In case you’re not up-to-date after the Hellfire Gala this year (boy, you missed a lot), things have gone a little sideways for Nightcrawler, whose already sort of dealing with big enough stuff in general. So he does what everyone would in his two-toed shoes: galavant around New York City as the Uncanny Wallcrawler. Yes, you don’t have time to deal with your “mutant angst” if you’re busy saving kittens from trees and battling baddies. And while ignoring his “duties” is inevitably going to complicate things for Kurt Wagner, I love that artists Tony S. Daniel and Sonia Oback opted for a decidedly simple approach to issue #1’s cover. I love the way the costume feels close to the Spidey “canon” while adding in new depth and colors (that also reflect Kurt’s own ongoing emotional issues). Kurt’s all but nailed the perfect Spidey-centric pose — a mid-air thrust kick is always badass. And the rest of the image — the gritty NYC landscape, the deep hue of his teleportation vapors — adds a vaguely ’90s sheen and subtle grit that pairs nicely with the story’s goals and larger vibe. It’s so good, in fact, it’s the only time I don’t regret more involvement from this adorbs Bamfs.
Hexagon Bridge #1
Cover by Richard Blake
OK, Hexagon Bridge is one of those slightly undersung titles that feels like it’s going to be very special. Here, artist-writer Richard Blake has crafted a story about a clairvoyant girl named Adley and her robot buddy Staden who must rescue her parents, Elena and Jacob, from “a strange parallel dimension of elusive landscapes and shifting architecture inhabited by mischievous entities.” If that premise weren’t already enough, Blake makes sure we all know what magic to expect with this extra powerful, bare bones cover to issue #1. Immediately, it hits with some powerful sense of familiarity, as if it’s some city we’ve all spent a million years in. But just as quickly comes the sense that things are very wrong, and our understanding of perspective and spatial relations quickly comes undone with the landscape itself. It’s something that feels both utterly compelling and just a tad bit unsettling, a truly deceptive blend that uplifts and unnerves in equal measure. And because there’s not much else going on, you mostly have to sit with that feeling for a while and mull over what exactly it all really means. So, if the book’s even one-third as effective, it’s going to be a properly mind-melting experience for sure.
Rare Flavours #1
Cover by Filipe Andrade
Currently, Ram V is writing Detective Comics and unleashing all sorts of gothic horror on Gotham. Meanwhile, last we saw of Filipe Andrade around these parts, he was making the end of the world seem cute and quaint. Now, the pair have joined forces for Rare Flavours, a story about a man named Rubin Baksh who is actually a “demonic Rakshasa with a down-to-earth dream of becoming the next Anthony Bourdain.” And in terms of capturing that very premise, I could have gone with David Mack’s unsettling appetizer of a variant cover, or Fabio Moon’s playful take on the concept. Rather, it’s Andrade’s own cover for issue #1 that has me thinking there’s a bit of wonderful spice to this book. It begins, of course, with the eyes — nothing overtly menacing, but the sheer white landscape is deeply, deeply uncomfortable. And, sure, the blood on his hands is a little too on the nose, but that could be from cooking, and that creates a little bit of disbelief and uncertainty in the reader. Even the expert use of shadow here makes it feel like Rubin’s rocking some black cape from the depths of hell, and that also creates a really novel pocket for the reader to mull over. This cover’s nearly a four-course meal of expert story teasing, and I won’t drop the fork till I’ve had every last crumb of it.
Jack Kirby’s Starr Warriors: The Adventures of Adam Starr and the Solar Legion #1
Cover by Tom Scioli
You may recognize artist Tom Scioli from a lot of projects, but there’s one in particular that matters most here. After helping to write his version of the kingpin’s life story, Scioli gets to team with the iconic Jack Kirby on a brand new comic. And by “team” and “brand new,” it’s a deluxe remix of Kirby’s 1940s story starring “the pirate hunter Adam Starr.” Now, does Scioli’s own cover match the Kirby-created tale that features “giant man-eating space worms, gargantuan alien killer fish, and planetary nuclear annihilations”? Maybe not — but that’s like someone trying to recreate the Sistine Chapel or improve on the Double Down Sandwich. Instead, what Scioli has done is given us a kind of preview of the Kirby space magic, a snapshot of the whimsy and weirdness that defined that genius’ take on universe itself. Scioli’s outlook is a little more gritty and slightly DIY, but it reminds us of Kirby’s ability to show the world something relatable that nonetheless retains some truly out of this world qualities. It also balances a hefty dose of nostalgia, and that feels like a powerful way to further pay homage to the essential work of Kirby. Not everyone gets to work with their heroes (even in a roundabout sort of way), but Scioli’s more than skilled to keep pace with the comics king.
Mom Breaks The Internet #1
Cover by Liana Kangas
I think when I saw the title Mom Breaks the Internet, I had flashbacks to the infamous Kim Kardashian photo shoot. And that’s less of a novel traipse down memory lane and more of an “ugh” -inducing moment. Luckily, the new book from Jay Sandlin and Patrick Mulholland doesn’t seem to have much to do with Kim K. Instead, it’s about a mom named Barbie Reed who, “fed up playing by the rules,” decides to rally “tech-savvy moms with a radical plan to force the world to change.” And thus we get Liana Kangas’ really great cover to issue #1, which paints the premise in an interesting light. We get the tumbler of wine, which feels like a solid indicator of Barbie’s previous approach to life and motherhood. The mask feels a tad too robust in its messages (makes me think of Mr. Robot for some reason), but then it wouldn’t be some hacker-adjacent media title without it. The real magic, though, is the sheer psychedelic colors and overall aesthetic; it makes me think of the actual ’90s Hackers film and the way that title tried to get all crazy and cerebral with computing culture. All together, these elements create a sense that this book knows itself and its place in the larger “genre,” and it’s willing to get weird and thoughtful to do something new and push a few buttons. If that’s the only kind of change that Barbie can facilitate, that feels like a victory in and of itself.
Wonder Woman #1
Variant cover by Julian Totino Tedesco
So, how have Tom King and Daniel Sampere opted to tackle this bright and bold new era for the Amazon Warrior? Why make her an outlaw, of course! And it promises to be a novel concept at that, with talk of an Amazon Extradition Entity removing all Amazons following the passing of the Amazon Safety Act, with Wonder Woman caught in the middle. So, then, with such a novel and inventive take — with heaps of modern relevance — why did I opt for this slice of old-school silliness from Julian Totino Tedesco? For one, it features Diana’s very old kangaroo friend/sidekick, Jumpa, and that’s a bit of comics lore that deserves more time in the sun. Beyond that, Totino Tedesco’s work is always great — there’s something playful and yet poised to his art, and that especially lends something powerful to Diana. But even more than those very good reasons, I loved how very old and slightly “dated” this image felt. That as we’re breaking ground for a new era in the long and rich history of Wonder Woman, it’s nice to revisit the past and see the character’s “beginnings.” That no matter how bleak things may get, Diana will always be a figure of great joy and grace, and a hero who wants to save people as much as she wants to make the world a little better of a place overall. She’s a hero for all ages, and one who brightens the world with her presence. But, seriously, more kangaroos in comics.
Captain America #1
Variant cover by Frank Miller
Back in May, Frank Miller caused something of an uproar online when he provided a variant cover for an issue of Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons Of Vengeance. Some folks thought the distinctly minimalist image was a joke, or it somehow tarnished Miller’s legacy. Others, meanwhile, enjoyed the novel approach, and felt as if Miller was having fun and trying to explore these characters from a new perspective. I’m firmly in the latter category, and that hypothesis makes more sense as Miller contributes another variant, this time to the new Captain America #1 from J. Michael Straczynski and Jesús Saiz. Does this version of Cap feel a little bulky and inelegant? Sure, but I feel like that plays up nicely with the idea that the book spans Cap’s whole career, and there’s this thread of rugged realism throughout it. Still, Miller does try to lend Cap some sense of grace — and making it seem like he’s flying is somehow both oddly amusing and a slight commentary on the superhero archetype (but mostly it’s just amusing). This approach shows that Miller may be getting older, and whether he’s capable of the same artistic feats or not doesn’t matter — he’s still generating reactions and making people reconsider their favorite heroes. Plus, it’s not like it’s the worst version of Cap that we’ve ever seen.
Junior Baker the Righteous Faker #1
Cover by Ryan Quackenbush
With a title like Junior Baker the Righteous Faker, this book doesn’t have to do much else to win my tiny heart. Fortunately, it features a story by the nigh-legendary Joe Casey and art from up-and-comer Ryan Quackenbush, who come together to tell the story of “a gonzo journalist chasing superhuman stories in a world that’s left superheroes behind.” (It’s also a sequel, FYI.) And it’s Quackenbush’s art that gives me the first solid indicator that Baker sure ain’t faking the magic. There’s some clear Gonzo vibes, for sure, but also something all the more surreal, like it was Hunter S. Thompson filtered through the lens of Gary Panter. There’s some nostalgic sci-fi elements and an accompanying feel, but it skews more chaotic and distressed than something that might reference those things with pure joy. Even something like the stars, which feel like they were done as some weird afterthought, add something manic and unpredictable to this piece. It’s a cover that I hope speaks directly to the identity of this universe, and that the people and places can somehow match that level of madness and longing, nostalgia and insanity, pain and vividness — at least in a way that captures that kind of broad intensity I feel with this cover. Mr. Baker, I think you’re doing just fine despite what the creative team might have to say.
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