Judging by the Cover – 02/12/25 new releases

There is a veritable cornucopia of new comics hitting stands each week. While readers often know exactly what it is they’re most interested in (those in the know have got their pull-list sitting in their comic shop’s ever-reliable hands), there is something to be said about going against that old truism and Judging a Book by Its Cover.

Some truly astounding cover art hits each and every week, and these are the ones that caught Colin’s eye the week of February 12^th, 2025.

Aquaman #2

Variant by Tula Lotay

Two great Tula Lotay covers this week (check out the variant for AWA’s Camgirl, which felt a bit too risqué for this column). Lotay commands attention with her painterly style and her pin-up classic beauties; her women always look slightly timeless (they could fit right into classic Hollywood). Her work on Barnstormers, for instance, felt as if it walked straight out of the sketchbooks of a 1920s costume designer.

With blood in the water, Mera looks both regal and dangerous — the right combo for a character just as easily leading a war party as sitting on a throne.

Batman: Dark Patterns #3

Variant by Ashley Wood

Ashley Wood is an artist who works incredibly well with atmosphere and iconography. His characters are rarely detailed beyond the firm lines of idea; we know these people, even if their lines are loose and their shapes are distorted. Batman is an easy silhouette to (pardon the pun) nail, of course, but it feels as if only Wood could cut this exact figure, with this exact off-white palette, and with these scratchy and suggested shapes.

Cyberpunk 2077: Psycho Squad #1

Variant by Alex Eckman-Lawn

I feel like we’ll find, the longer that I write this column, that if it’s got a skull on it I’m probably going to like it — even if that skull is robotic, more suggested than expressed.

This cover has a distressing, haunting quality to it — the robot/cyborg pictured exhibits some massive energy — screaming in pain? With rage? — and the looming apparatus which entangles it suggests an oppressive force from which it must wrench itself.

It’s very cool, is what I’m saying.

Saga of the Swamp Thing #37

Super Powers variant by Jason ‘Toy Otter’ Geyer (after Alex Saviuk)

The worst part about these Super Powers variant covers is that they look damnably like actual mockups for the currently-running McFarlane Toys line that homages the 1980s line. Who wouldn’t want a John Constantine (complete with flaring Zippo accessory) to stand next to their Gold Superman or ride their outrageously cool Brainiac Skull Ship?

The believability of the thing comes from Jason Geyer’s past work as an actual toy designer (he worked on the incredible Long Box Heroes line, which captured some of the best, toy-neglected indie heroes in 4.5-inch, 7 POA glory); his Instagram is filled to the brim with custom figures and more digital mockups for toys that don’t yet (and may never) exist. Apparently, McFarlane even reached out to him back when they relaunched the line several years back (as detailed in this post).

The books also wisely credit Alex Saviuk, who designed the original Super Powers toy backs of the classic line; these covers adhere to that style and format so perfectly — and even include Geyer’s artist moniker on that perfect KayBee-style clearance tag in the upper left corner.

Psylocke #4

Cover by Mahmud Asrar

Yes, this is the second column in a matter of weeks that insists on pointing out both a Psylocke and Magik cover (see below), but it seems unfair to hold that against me when both characters are going through a wealth of artistic prosperity. This cover by Asrar plays wonderfully with the visual motifs of the character — though the butterfly effect originated with Betsy, right? Decades together apparently meant a bleed of powers and visual styling, which is an impossible reality to get away from.

Regardless, the flare of her psionic energy all but screams off the page — the colors (by Matt Wilson, I believe) are incredible, bleeding from Psylocke violet to the gorgeous oranges of the monarch butterflies. That Kwannon looks powerful is important for her brand; she’s pulling it off here.

X-Men #11

Variant by Joshua ‘Sway’ Swaby

There are two incredible Magic variants this week: one by Pablo Villalobos on Magik’s solo title and this one by Sway for X-Men #11. It was hard to pick between the two for the column (it seemed silly to double up on a single character, despite the quality of both images involved), but ultimately I felt like this cover best intimated the character’s history as the Darkchylde, queen of Limbo.

There’s something a little goofy about the gruesome here — the legion of Limbo demons come in whatever shapes and sizes Sway could want, custom-made for mood. But there’s also something in Illyana’s expression that amuses me, a sort of beckoning smirk. It’s an expression that reads: I will murder you.