Judging by the Cover – 10/04/23 new releases

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.

X-Men #27

Cover by Joshua Cassara and Guru-eFX

OK, I get it that just last week I took a ride on my hater-cycle for Cyclops. But I’ve seen this cover from Joshua Cassara and Guru-eFX teased for weeks, and I can’t refuse a chance to talk about it. (Especially because the solicitation is just so dang pun-tastic.) But maybe I’ll surprise you when I say that the appeal of this cover is less the overt suffering of Scott Summers and more the skill of the artists. Because I’ve seen a ton of X-Men stuff from Cassara, and while it’s almost always dang compelling, this one feels like a singular achievement. It’s the sheer depth and intensity — there’s a life energy here unlike even some of the best X comics have ever mustered. It’s a unique angle, too, and playing with Scotts’ eyes in such a way that it feels like a really intriguing commentary and also another way to mess with his mind. It’s one of those moments that exemplifies what X-Men comics have been doing so well in recent years: telling these really intense stories that strip our heroes to their core and generate new ideas and understandings. The fact that Summers is actually suffering may be a good thing this time for everyone — at least that’s what I’ll tell myself.

Blue Beetle #2

Cover by Adrian Gutierrez and Luis Guerrero

And speaking of brutally torturing and/or killing our beloved childhood heroes, we arrive at issue #2 of the latest Blue Beetle series. Here, Jaime Reyes is out for blood after Ted Kord’s been injured and hospitalized. If you’re a long enough reader of DC, then that bloody mask may take you back to a big-time DC event, and I have to think artists Adrian Gutierrez and Luis Guerrero did that on purpose. (And because they also sort of teased this for a few weeks or so already.) Because that moment from Infinite Crisis is emblazoned into the very psyche of anyone who read it, and it stands as this instance, “Oh, man, they actually did it and murdered a beloved hero.” Even if they don’t actually do that here, this mask creates that link, and that’s all it takes to bring back perhaps the most visceral level of shock a DC fan has felt since Death of Superman. Is it a little bit of cheap heat, like some pro wrestling match? Sure, but I for one am here for when we get a little dark and dirty with our heroes, and Blue Beetle is sort of primed for that. And none of that’s even hinting at how this might push young Mr. Reyes.

G.O.D.S. #1

Cover by Mateus Manhanini

I feel like trying to talk about G.O.D.S. #1 would be like coming up to you midday and saying, “Hey, have you heard of the Sun?” Because it’s sort of been everywhere in recent weeks, and rightfully so. Jonathan Hickman did big things with the Krakoa stuff, and there’s no denying that even if this is a “miss” somehow, it’s still going to be a pretty big deal. But if we can talk about anything for now, it’s got to be this cover from Mateus Manhanini. Because where artist Valerio Schiti and colorist Marte Gracia are killing it with the interiors, this cover is still just as magical. I think it captures the air of mystery and profundity that the series has been emphasizing since day one — it feels familiar but also with a depth and sheen we haven’t really seen before. It captures the heft of the series’ intended status as a blockbuster, and does so with a certain subtlety and minimalism. And that feels like a cool way to underplay while hyping up this book up to the Moon. It draws you in really well, and when you’re too busy staring at the details, this book may drop a barn on your face.

DC’s Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun #1

Variant cover by Hayden Sherman

I want to go on record now and say that nobody does Halloween stories like DC. They may have other flaws or whatnot, but their delightfully cheesy Halloween books are always a winner. I mean, this year’s offering is a winner for the title alone. Then you add in creators like Javier Rodriguez, John Arcudi, Adam F. Goldberg, and Dexter Soy, among many others, and you’ve got more of a reason to consume this like a pillow case of candy. But for me, the real achievement of this book will be the variant cover from up-and-comer Hayden Sherman. They capture ever member of the League so brilliantly — never have we gotten such a stoic Batman with a Superman that’s so delightfully vintage/old-school. The ghosts are great, and their robust intensity and vaguely psychedelic quality really add a new and strange layer to this tale. And the fact that it also glows in the dark is only, like, the third or fourth coolest thing about this whole cover. Halloween is a time to be weird and dumb and a little theatrical, and this cover screams that louder than 1,000 wailing severed doll heads.

Abbott: 1979 #1

Cover by Taj Francis

I for one am rather glad that Saladin Ahmed is continuing with his Abbott series. After the original in 2019, and its sequel (Abbott: 1973) in 2021, Ahmed and artist Sami Kivela have reunited for the grand finale. As its numerical title indicates, this chapter seens Elena Abbott battling the evil Umbra one last time amid the “eve of the 1980s and the Reagan Administration.” (And you thought nasty sorcerer types were the worst!) It’s hard to really encapsulate what makes these books so compelling from a visual standpoint, but cover artist Taj Francis nails it with this cover . There’s Ms. Abbott looking as fierce as ever (while hinting at the ocean of sadness she grapples with daily); the pseudo-psychedelic vibes really play nicely with the promised grit and heft of the late ’70s/early ’80s; and we get a proper balance of the real world and the mystical to drive home this book’s dueling motifs and perspectives. It’s not the most immediately impactful cover, but it captures the essence of the title, and it does so with true grace and power. I hate to see it end, but this could be one final, super crazy assignment.

Howie the Hellhound #1

Cover by Carlos Trigo and Simon Robins

I’ve said before that if you feature a dog on your cover, I’m likely going to talk about it. And if it also happens to be a Halloween/horror story, then I really and truly can’t help myself. But, seriously, who can beat the story of a hellhound leaving the pit to find a nice human owner, only to have to then battle the forces of Hell in order to truly “earn the fresh start at life that they both crave.”  I love that this version of hell feels like an early form of World of Warcraft — it adds a layer of a very specific mix of heart and humor. Meanwhile, the fact that our titular hellhound is basically a normal dog with wonky demon eyes feels like a really solid choice and thematically more accurate than a flaming, snarling beast. And the fact that this gives me vibes of my own dog — blissfully unaware of most things around him — is both important and indicative of why we really care about dog-staring stories. I hope this story has a good ending, because all dogs deserve it. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t really want some hell on Earth in the meantime.

Transformers #1

Variant cover by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

Daniel Warren Johnson handling Transformers is like someone telling you, “We resurrected your grandpa — oh, and BTW, he’s now Batman (and owns a water park).” It feels like a match made in over-the-top, subtly nostalgic heaven, and DWJ is clearly about to bring it with another Earthbound clash between the Transformers and the Decepticons. While there’s been a slew of great images for the book so far, this variant cover (by DWJ alongside frequent colorist Mike Spicer) really drives home how badass this series will be once most of the hype subsides. Every Transformer feels a little different, and yet united by a shared aesthetic. DWJ nails the whole ’80s vibe but it doesn’t feel overbearing here — it’s just the right shade of retromania. And because he’s got such a kinetic art style, the robots here feel vaguely human — there’s a hint of being adorably startled across the face of Optimus Prime, which makes me feel like this was snapped while they were deployed or something. Even the subtle color choices here feel really vital in celebrating something familiar and novel about this book. Sure, transforming robot warriors is a no brainer, but this one feels like it’ll be more epic than Unicron.

The Plot Holes #2

Cover by Sean Murphy

I almost picked the cover for The Plot Holes #1 back in late August. Yet while I loved Sean Murphy’s whole concept — fictional warriors jump into books to save the plots from exploding or sucking outright or whatever — the first issue’s front just didn’t pop the right way. But with #2, I can really see the scope of why this could be another winner from Murphy (who, in addition to Batman: White Knight, co-created Tokyo Ghost). It’s nice to see these characters in proper action, and that helps drive home the scope and feel of this book (like the clearly weaken human hero/companion possibly falling to his death). Or, the way these characters feel familiar (is that little child some misfit from the universe of Calvin and Hobbes) and distinct enough that they feel novel (and perhaps not annoying as if it were trying to treat them like some old fave). It’s also a solid reminder that Murphy has a really inventive take on stories that reference or engage fantasy and anime — there’s just so much force and oomph here. I’m clearly paying attention to this series now, and it’s proof that if you want someone’s attention, a giant blue warrior tiger will always do the trick.

The Devil That Wears My Face #1

Cover by Alex Cormack

The mere fact that the phrase “Equal parts Face/Off and The Exorcist” exists, and we’re not all tearing away at our flesh in bonkers joy, is something of an accomplishment. But that’s just what the team of David Pepose, Alex Cormack, and Justin Birch are promising with their new series in which a 1740s Catholic priest must engage in holy war with the demonic entity Legion. And, sure, it’d be enough to pick this cover because, given the description and the actual piece from Cormack, it reminds me (no matter how tangentially) of the church scene from Face/Off. But I must also admit I chose it because it feels super visceral — if we’re to have a priest vs. demon battle royale, it only makes sense for things to get this profoundly physical. You can feel the anger and the desperation practically beaming off the page — it makes this feel more intimate, which is a nice direction compared to some other exorcism stories. You want to see and maybe even feel some of that dark energy translated in a more approachable and “human” manner, and I think this book is taking steps to make it as confrontational and wonderfully uncomfortable as possible. But, seriously, “Equal parts Face/Off and The Exorcist.”