Judging by the Cover – 11/27/24 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.

Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #4

Cover by Michael Walsh

Admittedly, we didn’t need a comics series to tell us what Frankenstein is about. (Or, one of the core things it focuses on, as the story really explores a cornucopia of ideas around existentialism, religion, modern science, feminism, etc.) But as he’s done across a genuinely great run, writer-artist Michael Walsh has leaned into the source material in a way that keeps things tightly on the narrative as much as he uncovers news spaces/ideas/understandings. So, yeah, the whole idea of “who is the monster” between Dr. Frankenstein and his creation is generally old hat by the point, but we have to give it to Walsh in how he approaches and depicts this central idea-trope. For one, it puts the onus on the “good” doctor, and the idea that he’s facilitating so much of this really speaks to ideas about born innocence and original sin. Or, if that’s not your bag, you could also focus on ideas of childhood development, and how the “monster” is merely a receptacle for teachings and insights of former generations, and what that says about society nowadays. But maybe you just think it’s a really dope image, and that’s cool, too. Because Walsh has adapted this story in a way that there’s so many layers to explore as you see fit, and Frankenstein can be whatever you want it to be as this larger thought experiment. The only thing it can’t be, however, is a few issues longer. ::Sad-face emoji::

Nightwing #120

Variant cover by Dan Panosian

I certainly think that Dan Watters, Dexter Soy, and their whole team were off to a great start with Nightwing #119. That whole “Nightwing’s being targeted while seeking out deadly experimental weapons in Bludhaven” is a great way to pivot from the wild and layered story that Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo managed with their long-term run. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I was still a touch hesitant — that Taylor-Redondo run is just so dang great in my mind, and it’s a massive, layered story that expertly captured the essence of Dick Grayson (as man and hero) and will likely define the character for the next several years (if not more). So that’s why I’m extra fond of this Dan Panosian variant to Nightwing #120. It reminds me that Dick’s had quite the sordid run in recent years, and it’s easy to see everything he’s been through and how that’s formed who he is right now in canon. At the same time, as impossible as this journey may seem (does this pattern mean he’s done, like, a bunch of flips in sequence or something?), he’s at his best/most happy when he’s flying through the air. Things change and things remain dutifully the same, and Nightwing’s at his best when he’s working it all out on the fly.

Mystique #2

Cover by Declan Shalvey

And speaking of great debuts in recent months, writer-artist Declan Shalvey did some damn fine work with Mystique #1. Maybe it’s not as genius to some folks, but Raven’s perfectly suited to be the star of her own spy story, and it’s an especially dynamic tale when it involves both Nick Fury and the Brotherhood of Evil. Issue #2 will build on that as Raven continues to make her way through this plot by meeting up with a former BoE ally/friend. Based on Shalvey’s own cover, we can already tell it’s Avalanche, which should make for some prime action in this little slice of espionage, but even if it’s not obvious, there’s heaps I truly like about this cover. For one, dual wielding while escaping a giant avalanche is a pretty neat little party trick, especially because I feel like Raven’s form alone is so spot on. I also think the whole “gimmick” of this piece speaks to something essential about Shalvey: the devil is in the details, yeah, but also that he’s got such a way to balance cartoon-y fun, proper action, and character and story development in such a perfect little package. If you’re going to make Raven some globe-trotting spy, I can’t think of a way to make the most out of that core premise.

Welcome to the Maynard #1

Variant cover by Fábio Moon

I don’t know if you’ve stayed in a hotel recently, but it’s weird. The last room I stayed in had a single bed and faced some giant vents. It’s clearly not at all like the hotel in Welcome to the Maynard, where “every guest and staff member has magic in their veins.” And introducing us into this magical hotel (it should be a motel for rhyming reasons) is Phillipa (Pip) Dale, “the hotel’s new bellhop (and trainee house detective).” And if you want an idea of how Pip’s first day goes, just peep this Fabio Moon variant cover, which is one of those “the longer you look, the weirder/scarier things get” sort of gimmicks. Like, why do the dragons look like snakes, and why is that more unsettling somehow? Did someone bring an octopus in their luggage, and does the octopus have to pay for its own room? Is this hotel stuck in the ’40s, or does the choice of bell hop uniform mean something else? And, lastly, why is the thief in all black basically the least worrisome thing on this whole cover?! Sure, it’s not a Marriott suite or whatever, but I’d still stay a night or two at the Maynard. Still, I do wonder how wake up calls work in a magical hotel.

Green Hornet / Miss Fury #1

Variant cover by Jae Lee and June Chung

I’m in boat where 1) I don’t know who Miss Fury is and 2) my relationship with Green Hornet has to do with that god awful Seth Rogen film. But if anyone could “rehab” one and introduce the other to a wider audience, it’d be the team of Alex Segura and Federico Sorressa. And what an introduction it could be, as the solicitation promises that the pair will track down the killer of the surprise shared mentor, professor Javier Mercado. And while Jae Lae and June Chung’s variant cover isn’t exactly a “proper” preview of what’s to likely be a sexy, action-packed murder mystery, I do hope that this cover exemplifies some tent-poles for this story. Like, the sense of daring and robust action — more people should sexily fight while tumbling off a building. Or, the mix of old- and new-school, which is going to suite the pacing and tone of this story to a major extent. Heck, even if the story proper just promises an updated Hornet costume, then I’ll consider this whole enterprise a rousing success. So, whatever your relationship to these characters may be, I think one thing is already clear: it ain’t easy being green and/or wearing patent leather.

Falling in Love on the Path to Hell #6

Cover by Garry Brown

As I’d mentioned in my recent Q&A with writer Gerry Duggan, my favorite part of Falling in Love on the Path to Hell is the slow burn. (And I’m glad Duggan gave us some neat insight into that aspect of the story.) But after the deliberate and dedicated build between MacRaith and Asami, where the two solidified in front of our very eyes before their final coalescing together, we’re at the big moment. And by “big moment,” I mean the pair “spend their nights pressed together and their days avoiding the cult of warriors out to kill them.” Based on the cover from series artist Garry Brown, though, you might expect this love affair to be the harbinger of great doom. Or, that if you fall in love in what’s basically hell/purgatory, nothing good can last. But the way I see it, if you can fall in love in spite of that — and seal the deal in a cave of dead warriors — then maybe your pairing is meant to last. If nothing else, though, it’ll be nice to see the pair share some joy before this story inevitably slides the knife right back in. More books should make us earn these kinds of moments, and FILOTPTH does so with gusto, heart, and ample humanity. Also, new story idea: demon skeletons in love.

Black Canary: Best of the Best #1

Variant cover by Dan Hipp

I get that some of you are a little, let’s say, annoyed at Black Canary: Best of the Best. Maybe it’s that you’re over Tom King, and/or you’re just not all about a Black Canary series (for whatever reason). And all or some of those emotions are totally valid, but I’m looking at it like this: it’s a battle royale between Canary and Lady Shiva, and we’re bound to get some great character study alongside all that sweet, sweet martial arts action. And, if absolutely nothing else, the series has at least gifted us this truly awesome Dan Hipp variant cover. There’s so much here to love: the fact that she would drink honey and lemon for her voice (it’s an obvious but important moment and maybe informs the scope of this story to an extent); that she wears her love for Ollie on her sleeve (er, boot?); that she would have a Babs mug IRL given their relationship; and that Batman Honey is also a real thing in the DCU. But the piece de resistance of this insight is Canary’s face: sad and sweet, as if she’s determined to fight the best she can no matter the massive challenges or obstacles. That singular moment is why we tell these stories, and what I hope this book can accomplish even in the most tertiary of ways.

West Coast Avengers #1

Cover by Ben Harvey

No lie: I honestly thought that this was an Alex Ross cover for .5 seconds. Who else would you tap if you’re telling a story where Iron Man and War Machine form a new West Coast Avengers — including “villains seeking a path to redemption.” But Ben Harvey is very much his own artist, and while this cover has a kind of Ross-ian depth and glamour to it, there’s other aspects here that make it stand out all on its own. For one, he’s clearly captured the whole West Coast energy and vibes; it’s like the sun dominates the whole world, and that kind of emotional intent or tone is perfect for setting this team apart. (WCA always means, to me at least, some more playful team dynamics and story arcs.) From there, we get truly great character designs; the old-school-ish Iron Man with mega abs is a great touch, and I love the kind of living intensity that is placed on Firestar’s, um, fire trails. Even the manic face on Ultron-12 captures the slightly playful, totally serious vibes of this story, and how we’re in for a story that could emphasize/touch on all the best parts of a great Avengers story. Seriously, though, look at Iron Man’s abs for another minute or so.

Red Before Black #3

Cover by Goran Sudžuka

It’s been a minute since the last issue of Red Before Black. Actually, it’s been, like, 2.5 months since the second chapter of this “violent, hyper kinetic, women-led crime thriller reminiscent of 2000s-era Vertigo.” In the past, I’ve spoken regularly about how these gaps can be damaging (even if they’re just an unintended side effect of the monthly publishing cycle). But in the good fortune of Red Before Black, series/cover artist Goran Sudžuka is roaring back, as it were, with an especially mighty cover. With the two previous covers (where Sudžuka was joined by colorist Ive Svorcina), we get something more sleek and stylized, which really emphasized the layers, sexuality, and overall power of this book. But as this latest issue sees Val “spiraling into another hallucinatory PTSD experience,” the choice of cover is beyond perfect. It’s almost like it was scribbled on some pulp novel cover — all those red lines add pure intensity to an already intense depiction of Val’s aforementioned spiral. That, and I can feel a sense that she’s slipping, or that she’s locked in some intense fight; either way, we’re pulled into this moment with all that emotionality and suffering. If we have to wait two more months for issue #4, this cover proves that it’s worth it as this book’s genuinely just getting started.