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.
Carnage #1
Cover by Paulo Siqueira and Rachelle Rosenberg
The big story around Carnage is that Marvel had to bump the age rating up to 15+ just a few weeks before the book’s arrival. And, yeah, those sort of things are mostly suggestions (at least in my experience), and there’s been a war against these ratings since the days of Tipper Gore vs. Frank Zappa. But there’s no denying that tinge of excitement that the “controversy” generated — it makes it feel like you really shouldn’t want to read this, and that only makes you want to fully and enthusiastically read it all that much more. And, perhaps in some mostly unintended way, cover artists Paulo Siqueira and Rachelle Rosenberg have reflected these “sentiments” in their excellent debut cover. Maybe it’s the eyes, and how both sets reflect some deep layers of anger and darkness. Or the teeth, which are either covered in layers of blood or are violently red themselves (I don’t know which one I’d prefer). Or even that vaguely grindhouse-ian text of “Carnage.” All or some of it creates not just feelings of terror but something that’s filthy and confrontational — the sort of thing you should look away from and yet you can’t move your gaze even one millimeter. Maybe ratings are mostly random, but if they reflect like this in the “real world,” then let’s embrace them as a path for what’s really worth reading.
Nightwing #108
Variant cover by Dan Mora
A few weeks ago, we got the latest slightly kooky storyline from Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo’s Nightwing: pirates in Bludhaven. And, sure, I get that this turn just represents the latest bizarre move by this series, and maybe why some folks just can’t keep investing in the title. At the same time, I’ve routinely had the exact opposite experience across this series, and this pirate turn is just another moment that captures something weird and quaint about old-school comics while blazing a novel little path forward. Plus, we get great covers like this variant from Dan Mora. The man’s got talent coming out of every pore, and seeing him tackle this feels like a proper use of said expertise (especially because I think the prompt was, “Sexy Nightwing pirate who could also star in an Off-Broadway musical version of Blade Runner“). And even if pirate versions of your favorite heroes aren’t exactly the most compelling, I think most of us can agree that getting to do new weird, slightly cheesy things is both a strength of DC and a nice salve to some of modern comics’ overly serious tendencies/nature. Yes, pirates are weird, but then isn’t that the point of comics, to embrace the weird in life and integrate it accordingly? If you’re not on board, there’s always the plank.
The Holy Roller #1
Cover by Roland Boschi
I get that after my whole “give the pirates a chance” spiel, that even a hint of uncertainty might read a little misplaced. Yet there’s no denying that when Image Comics announced The Holy Roller, I was a little hesitant (bordering on being lowkey jaded). Because how else do you react to a comic co-written by Andy “Lonely Island” Samberg and Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman (even if it’s lead up by a proper comics big-wig in Rick Remender)? Luckily, there’s this debut cover from series artist Roland Boschi, and while it hasn’t mitigated all of that hesitation, it’s certainly made me a little more excited for what’s coming down the lane. The use of bowling bowl as crimefighting weapon smacks of Mystery Men, and that’s always a good thing for this fella. Plus, the design of our actual hero feels a little deliberately weird, like he pulled his suit from the closet of The Gimp, and that’s another decidedly important move for cutting to the heart of this book. Even the balance of those bright colors, and that choice of Las Vegas-esque font, feels like a really solid decision from this book to unveil a little more of itself. Yes, famous folks can totally come and make comics, but only if it hints at this specific color of truly weird goodness.
Somna #1
Cover by Becky Cloonan
After months and months of hype, DSTLRY continues to roll out new series. After the mostly great Gone by Jock, now we get the tag team of Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay in Somna, which follows “one woman’s descent into an erotic escape from the confines of her puritanical world.” Sure, the cover itself (from Cloonan) isn’t exactly overwhelming in the most immediate sense, but there’s some real layers here. Like, that sense of grace, bordering on absolute peace feels like a novel way to capture and encapsulate the core of eroticism of this book. Or, the coloring of our drowning woman furthers that sense of uneven peace as it also hints at some deeper level of horror. And speaking of hinting at, the flower bits coming from her mouth add a sheen of fantasy to this “bedtime story.” All of those ideas and energies together work really well together, and it gives us a certain sense or feeling about this book even as it maintains that air of uncertainty and mystery. And that’s what I think has made these DSTLRY books so effective so far: you get to explore these stories layer by layer, and that makes for a proper experience. I can’t wait to dive further into this one.
Cyberpunk 2077: XOXO #2
Cover by Jakub Rebelka
I don’t know how popular these Dark Horse-published Cyberpunk stories have been to the public at-large. (I’d imagine that, after the game’s recent “mega-upgrade,” there may be more interest than ever.) But I can say that, if absolutely nothing else, the covers for a lot of these books have been super great. (Like this one, for instance.) That’s especially true for the cover of issue #2 for Cyberpunk 2077: XOXO. In a story that’s basically about the war between the Maelstroms and the Moxes, the choice of covers by Jakub Rebelka feels a little novel and thus all the more interesting. It doesn’t exactly scream “futuristic gang warfare,” but rather like I took a trip through Night City while on way, way too much mescaline. Or that this book was somehow written by Hunter S. Thompson — who was also on way, way too much mescaline. Either way, it’s silly and whimsical and really affective and super psychedelic, or a potent mix of emotions and aesthetics that capture something sinister and silly. And from that, I get the sense that this book is about so much more than a mere continuation of the game. Also, that use of that many blues will always work for me.
From the World of Minor Threats: The Alternates #3
Cover by Scott Hepburn
If you’ve kept up with my reviews, you’ll know that The Alternates has been solid across its two first issues. And as we get ready for the grand debut of issue #3, I have a feeling we’re in for a really big issue. Not only are we getting something “starring” Tripper — who has been the psychedelic lynchpin of this decidedly psychedelic series — but there’s supposed to be 1) insight into The Ledge (where the team was “stuck”) and a big-time visitor from the first volume of Minor Threats. And this Scott Hepburn cover does a fantastic job of trying to encapsulate some of these ideas and energies. I love Tripper being (mostly) front and center, and how he represents the uncertain movements of this narrative. And, sure, there’s lots of psychedelic magic infused into this piece, but there’s also that noticeable undertone of overt darkness, and that really exemplifies how wholly engaging and affective this book’s visual identity is across the board. It’s an experience that seems to uplift and delight just as much as it’s outwardly terrifying — and it’s about never pulling punches and bashing readers with as many expertly-crafted big ideas as possible. Keep up the candy-coated nightmares!
The Incredible Hulk #6
Variant cover by Mr. Garcin
If your solicitation begins with, “Attack of the Zombie Ghost Rider,” that’s more than enough to get my immediate attention. And while there’s plenty of that action on the main cover from Nic Klein, I went ahead and went with this variant cover from Mr. Garcin. Because, this issue is about more than sweet zombie action but a reminder of how multifaceted the Hulky truly is, and how above all, he will always be a hero through all the changes and resulting madness. And that’s exactly what Garcin has done here — create a really powerful patchwork portrait of Big Green with his various depictions over the years. And more than just being really impressive from a logistical standpoint, I think this cover is memorable for just how involved and layered it feels across its various depictions. Not all of them are just “super mad Hulk” but they run the emotional pantheon from quiet dignity to snarling radioactive demon. In that spectrum, we can reflect on our connection with and relationship to Hulk, which allows for a personalized exploration of his uneven lineage/history as a hero. It puts different moments together in a new and interesting way, and forces the reader to rethink the value of and development of these many Hulk iterations. It ain’t easy being green, but it sure is hella interesting.
Superman #8
Cover by Jamal Campbell
Isuse #8 of Superman is meant to be an interesting moment in the already interesting career of the Man of Steel. Here, Clark Kent is giving up his powers to stop The Chained, which isn’t inherently interesting or especially novel in and of itself. Rather, it’s the way that it’s all breaking down and playing out that’s been compelling, and that continues with the excellent cover to #8 from Jamal Campbell. On the one hand, the whole chain thing is a pretty heavy-handed device, even as it does prove especially effective. (It also smacks of ’40s Superman covers, and that’s a really good thing.) But what I really love is the poised stoicism of Supes’ face, in which he clearly grapples with his circumstances of this arc while trying to express the true strength of the Man of Steel. The ability to hold massive chains is nonetheless impressive, but it’s the unassuming confidence and the sheer commitment and integrity expressed that makes this arc feel really outstanding. We assume that Superman will always win out in the end, but this cover shows the mix of struggle and perseverance that makes his adventures so rich and engaging. You can’t keep a good hero down, right?
Hack / Slash: Back to School #2
Cover by Zoe Thorogood
I once watched an interview with a metal band called Rotting Out, and how they often ripped off other bands for their t-shirt designs. And in their defense, the frontman said some version of, “If you’re going to bootleg, you’ve really got to bootleg.” And that feels like a sentiment shared by Zoe Thorogood in Hack / Slash: Back to School, who has basically given us a legally distinct version of Juliet Starling from Chainsaw Lollipop (even down to the tinge of accent and the penchant for caring the craniums of ex-/current boyfriends). And I’m not mad at all — the whole series is just an excuse to remix/reference/recycle/etc. horror tropes, and having a version of Juliet makes perfect sense for this “chapter” of Hack / Slash. And Thorogood does a damn fine job of “recreating” our chainsaw-wielding heroine, effortlessly mixing super cute, borderline kawaii vibes with some real blood and heft for a character that defines the whole Hack / Slash aesthetic to a tee. It’s sweet and creepy in equal measure, and the kind of characterization that tells you everything you need to know about a book in one singular image. So, yeah, it’s a bootleg in the best ways: overt and high energy as it embraces what’s essential about its “influences.”
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