Judging by the Cover – 01/15/25 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.

Ultimate Wolverine #1

Variant cover by Tyler Kirkham

There’s no denying that Marvel’s Ultimate line had a very good 2024. And how could it not: all sorts of creators (lead, in part by Jonathan Hickman) have been able to provide interesting and varied takes on your favorite heroes. That trend looks to continue into 2025 with Ultimate Wolverine, in which members of the Maker’s council “deploy their most lethal asset: The Winter Soldier” to “maintain control of their corner(s).” And, sure, the big question is the masked man’s identity, but I think we have everything we need to know based on this excellent Tyler Kirkham variant cover. If the endless blood and ripped clothes aren’t a solid clue, this “soldier” is very much a living weapon deployed when the situation demands ultimate brutality. But who they are and what they want is sadly irrelevant, and just like our own Logan, they’re a faceless, nameless weapon. It’s the singular thread of context you need, and how you explore the essence of the character while offering something new. We can all relate on this to some level (the other-ing and the exploitation and hopefully not the murder), and this cover is a snapshot of how this series will build on the Wolverine lineage with great effectiveness. The more things change, the more they stay the same, folks.

The New Gods #2

Variant cover by Mike Perkins

And speaking of great things that started in 2024 and continue strong into 2025, we come to The New Gods #2. As that first issue demonstrated, the creative team (including writer Ram V. and artist Evan Cagle) have found a way to balance the deep history of the New Gods with their own ideas and interpretations, and it’s a series that even so early on already feels like the best kind of continuation or reimagining. And that’s likely going to continue even if it’s just on this variant cover to issue #2 from Mike Perkins. Upon peeping that Source Wall, I instantly thought of Jack Kirby’s work on the legendary story — the kind of subtle, but profound power that Perkins infuses in all those would-be universal badasses is so deeply effective and draws out both an air of serenity and also slight terror. But the way Morbius is depicted, there’s a sense of newness and intensity, but in a way that never overpowers the quiet, methodical approach of the more “Kirby-esque” elements that this piece channels. The end result is a snapshot of this book and the team’s careful but curious approach, and why I think this New Gods matters so much. That, and laser eyeballs are cool in every single context.

Nights #12

Cover by Luigi Formisano

I’m assuming you saw this coming. I’ve basically spent the last year or so telling everyone who will listen to me to read Nights. (Even if I’ve alienated anyone with my annoyingly chipper ways, having one convert would make tall the difference.) So it stands that as Wyatt Kennedy and Luigi Formisano look to end their debut arc with issue #12, I’d spend a few minutes talking about Formisano’s own cover. And what can I say that I haven’t already spent 11 months droning on and on about — it’s such a powerful encapsulation of why Nights has rocked my socks every time. The sheer detail, and how it invites you in to discover all the wonders/horrors. The magic and intrigue baked into the book’s core, and how it feels like we’ve truly entered this wonderfully bizarre, slightly intimidating place. The way that the humanity and emotion leaps off the page even as we see some new/unseen side of a character like Gray. All of it, and so much more still, just demonstrates that this book is so singular and inventive in its approach to storytelling and bringing us ever deeper into this world where light and dark, the human and the monstrous dance in front of our eyes for a truly moving experience. You’ll never silence me, suckas.

Behemoth #1

Cover by Jay Martin

It seems like the last couple of years or so has been really big for kaiju. (Yeah, pun intended, what are you going to do about it?) Between the 200 Godzilla books and the continued rise of Kaiju No. 8, these giant beasts were all over your best-of and TBR piles. (Guess what? Rise was another pun and you didn’t even notice it, yeah?) As such, I’m extra interested in Behemoth, in which writers Ryan Engle and Grant Sputore (director of I am Mother) and artist Jay Martin present the different side of kaijus — literally. As you can likely already tell by Martin’s own cover to #1, the story focuses on what happens after a “giant monster attacks a city and swallows a bus full of civilians… [and] one woman must fight for her life.” That premise alone is interesting enough to make Behemoth stand out, and Martin’s style/approach feels like the right mix of cheesy, scary, brutal, and existentially unnerving. I can’t tell if I’d rather be that dude or the people in the bus who will die slightly later, and either way I’m filled with anxiety and terror about being swallowed by some unknowing beast. (Talk about a perfect allegory for real life, yeah?!) Whatever reason kaiju are so big (ehhh?!), this cover captures that trend with heft and precision.

Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale #2

Variant cover by Luana Vecchio

With the cover to Doll Parts: A Lovesick Tale #1, writer-artist Luana Vecchio demonstrated the magic she intended for this prequel story/series. As yours truly so eloquently stated back in December, “you may see cutesy stuffed animals, but the torn parts and tinges of death-centric imagery (skulls/bones) speak to the same mix of sexuality, obsession, and emotionality that fueled the first series.” All that’s doubly true for this variant cover to issue #2. As Madeleine’s adolescent origins continue, the solicitation tells us that she can seemingly handle the deluge of “boys, horror movies, gore sites, and dangers lurking around every corner.” But this cover, where all that cuteness and gore converge, seems to be overtaking our young lead, and we can’t tell if it’s her or her obsessions that will win out. Sure, we have a better idea how things will turn out down the road, but for now, it’s a case of seeing a young person moving down one road and experiencing that rush of emotion as they become entrenched in a life they may or may not have chosen for themselves. It’s how this book transcends some of its “gimmickry” and continues to be this deeply human study about destiny and human desire. Also, I’m pretty sure one of those bears is starring back at us somehow.

The Horizon Experiment: Finders / Keepers #1

Variant cover by Tula Lotay

Much like a couple other books in this week’s edition, The Horizon Experiment from Image Comics has generated some great stories so far. In this latest offering, writer Vita Ayala and artist Skylar Partridge continue the trend of “genre stories for marginalized groups” with “a Puerto Rican reverse Indiana Jones– a thief stealing from museums to return artifacts back to their native cultures.” And if that premise alone didn’t make me want to act like an old-school cartoon wolf (but not in a gross way), Tula Lotay’s own variant cover seals the deal. I love that, unlike Jones, there’s a darker, more menacing energy to our lead, and she seems like the star of some action-horror and not a hokey ’80s adventure flick. The symbols in the background, meanwhile, really imbue this piece with a certain supernatural energy, and that’s some nice added texture to play around with regarding the genre exploration that’s central to this whole project. And, if absolutely nothing else, Lotay’s very style, balancing nostalgic pulp vibes with a modern grit/heft, is really, really satisfying. I’d call this Experiment a success based even on covers like this, and I hope the story proper steals our hearts with the same abandon of that silly Professor Jones.

Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1

Cover by Fernando Blanco

Across a few recent editions of Judging by the Cover, yours truly has talked about a daring new era that’s about to dawn across Green Lantern stories. While there’s plenty of exciting such developments across, say, the main GL book, there’s heaps and heaps happening across Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1. Here, Hal Jordan and company deal with the so-called “Fractal Lanterns,” those poor souls who’ve “manifest[ed] uncontrolled parts of the emotional spectrum.” We can see some of those folks on this Fernando Blanco cover, and their depictions in general really plays up the chaos and emotionality that’s going to absolutely define this issue. At the same time, I’m most interested in Jordan’s depiction here. The fractal isn’t just a striking visual device, but it also feels like it could explore things like Hal’s mental status coming into this “new phase” and how he may be tested by these “Fractals.” And what’s up with that very specific placement on his eye — could it mean that Jordan is blinded by his sense of duty, and/or he’ll be unable to see the larger danger or potential of these Fractals? Either way, I’m jazzed for what’s to come as the Lanterns go big with the emotions, action, and all-around intrigue.

The Incredible Hulk #21

Cover by Nic Klein

If you don’t somehow already know Frank Frazetta, the man innovated modern fantasy art/comics to a huge extent, and he gave characters like Conan significance at a time when some folks saw the mad barbarian as nothing more than kid’s fare. Now, I can’t say that Nic Klein is on the same level as the legendary Frazetta, or that he’s even trying to channel some of those same ideas and energies for the cover to The Incredible Hulk #21. But what I can say is that this piece instantly made me think of a weird, body horror version of those iconic Frazetta pieces. It’s the way the wolf-demon Varcolac is rendered — I can practically feel the heat pouring off his fur and smell those nasty little pustules. And Hulk is similarly looking rather Conan-esque; this long-haired, extra-jacked version of the big guy also feels so much more impactful and textured than some of his other depictions. Heck, even the red background just strikes with such heft and precision that it makes the whole piece feel even more robust and important. It’s a simple image with so many layers, and it connects to a deep context even as it stands very much on its own as this singularly weird, wild piece that will chew you up and spit you out.

Space Ghost #9

Variant cover by Björn Barends

Across the first eight issues of Space Ghost, the team (including writer David Pepose and artist Jonathan Lau) have done great work. But if we’re talking about really helping to tell a powerful new take on Space Ghost, you’ve also got to include some of the great variant covers. That includes Björn Barends, who presents to us something truly epic for issue #9 and the ongoing threat of the heinous Metallus. Sure, I haven’t featured too many Space Ghost pieces thus far in Judging by the Cover, but stuff like this one really proves that you can do something potent and powerful just by tweaking your approach. This “version” of our space-faring hero may seem “basic” enough, but he’s surging with a power, intensity, and anger that feels both hugely exciting and also just a little unnerving. Seemingly ripping the door off a space craft/construct is no minor feat, but even still it seems like Space Ghost is jacked enough to continue ripping right off the page and into your living room. It’s a testament to Barends’ skill as well as how the stories can set the stage for the massive battles and story developments to come with such minimalist might. May all of the Space Ghost covers continue to be awesome previews of a series that’s growing into itself with each new chapter.