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.
Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes #1
Cover by Erica Henderson
If you listened to this week’s podcast, you’ve already heard me ramble on about this cover. But if you need more of that in a different format, I’m always happy to oblige. What I said then is even more true now that I’ve sat with the cover slightly longer: It’s a brilliant encapsulation of my favorite comic book couple. Not only does writer-artist Erica Henderson have that wonderfully endearing style made for a story and characters like these, but the visualization of time passing is just so dang brilliant. Their relationship is so robust and complicated, and I love that it’s explored here in a way that’s fun and accessible but also respectful of the deep lineage of these characters and their own arcs over many, many years. It’s a love and devotion that doesn’t just make for a great couple but makes for damn compelling storytelling. Harlvy 4 life!
Amazing X-Men #2
Variant cover by Stephanie Hans
And speaking of books discussed on the podcast, we come to Dave Brooke’s own selection. Certainly everything “Mr. AIPT” said is true: Stephanie Hans has the skill and vision to do something truly compelling, and whether you’re here for the dazzling work on the horns, or the gothic magic of someone coughing up souls, this cover is a snapshot of Hans’ prowess. But I’d also like to add just a few extra tidbits. This choice of red/pink is deeply satisfying; it feels both warm and inviting but also like Magik here just crawled right out of hell itself. The feathers, much like the horns, are also a sight to behold; you can practically feel the weight and imagine a slight breeze as each feather “moves” on the page. And, if nothing else, each skull feels a little different, and that attention to detail is both further impressive and just a little worrisome. Happy Halloween Part Two?!
Assorted Crisis Events #6
Cover by Eric Zawadzki
Boy howdy, am I glad to see Assorted Crisis Events come back with its sixth issue. You know who isn’t so pleased to see its return? My tear ducts! Yes, this book has moved me to tears across over almost every issue, as Deniz Camp and company have made a series of life-affirming stories about loss/grief, regret, and the unending march of time that’ll rip your heart out even it it’s made of stone. What I love about this cover to issue #6 is that, emotionally speaking, it could go either way. Yes, it’s very much about how life in general can destroy even the best made plans and take us apart piece by piece. But it’s also oddly hopeful —perhaps it’s less a portrait of what has happened, and instead the exciting uncertainty of the future coalescing. Regardless of how you feel, few books can superkick you as hard in the feelings as ACE, and the book’s only getting better at stoking major emotional responses with a singular focus and certainty. Grab those hankies now, folks!
Toxic Crusaders #2
Variant cover by Lane Lloyd
And from a book that makes me cry to one that makes me heartily chuckle, we come to Toxic Crusaders #2. I generally liked the debut — not only because writer Matt Bors did a damn fine job of repurposing the very ’90s cartoon, but the art and general possibilities presented by these lovable mutant freaks. And that holds true even for this Lane Lloyd variant cover. On the one hand, you can never go wrong with gross-out hijinks like this, and I can’t tell if I love Fungirl’s cartilage ballet or Junkyard’s nose dive. (It’s a nose dive cause it’s out of a nose, sucka.) At the same time, given the character arc of No-Zone in issue #1, this emphasis/focus feels thematically significant. Thus, the crowning achievement of all Toxie-starring titles: Something thoughtful and transcendent mixed with something wonderfully gross and dumb. Truly, this is the book that keeps on giving (me stomach pains).
Godzilla #4
Cover by Nikola Čižmešija
I feel like, between books like Lost Fantasy and a continued resurgence of Berserk, the last couple of years has been the Era of the Oversized/Giant Sword. And, hey, no faulting anyone for jumping on that train: It’s Storytelling 101 that the bigger the sword, the better story. (Joseph Campbell said that, I swear.) But I applaud Godzilla for taking a stand with a new trend, Mega-Gun. Not only is it more appropriate and feasible (you’d need an SUV-sized sword to even make Godzilla nervous), but it looks so undeniably cool in a way that speaks to your inner geek (and thus makes you want to read this book even more). Do I think a gun you have to shoot using your whole body might be a little impractical? Sure. And do I also think each bullet costs $750? You betcha. But great comics moments are about making a statement, and this one screams “bang!” with the force and passion that could deafen a small village. Bang!
Space Scouts #1
Variant cover by Sergio Aragonés
If you never read Ether, you missed out on pure genius from Matt Kindt and David Rubin. Together, that pair created one of the most inventive and engaging sci-fi/fantasy worlds of the last 15 years. (And even if I don’t like it quite as much, Cosmic Detective accomplishes much of the same.) So, why not go with Rubin’s own cover to issue #1 then? Because this Sergio Aragonés (of Groo the Wanderer fame) variant is both great and speaks to a vital point. It’s very much akin to Rubin’s style-approach, albeit with a little more absurdity and wondrous imperfections. (It’s sort of like if Rubin and R. Crumb had a kid, and then that kid did DMT.) That, at least to yours truly, speaks an important truth about the Kindt-Rubin dynamic: It’s so powerful that it even extends to variant covers, and everything they churn out across the board feels like the best kind of fever dream imaginable. Plus, all those screens feel like a solid but understated bit of social commentary, and you can take that in without ruining the otherwise bonkers vibes of this piece. It’s pure magic all around, folks.
Batman #3
Variant cover by Julian Totino Tedesco
Aside from the fact that Batman and Robin are being targeted by the police, this cover doesn’t have too much in common with the current series from Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez. That said, I still had to go and give it a little time in the spotlight. I love the design of the cops/stormtroopers here; it’s a futuristic sheen on a modern social construct, and in that way, this series’ actual exploration of policing feels connected to and even more relevant. I love the design of our heroes, too — it’s very much like Kingdom Come meets Batman’s early look. And that, too, is a refreshing and novel take on the Dark Knight that also feels right at home in the confines of this book. Heck, even the brown background feels interesting, and if you can make all your choices feel relevant and important (also like the actual book), then clearly you’re on to something.
Planet She-Hulk #1
Variant cover by Alexander Lozano
I nearly went with the Matteo Lolli variant just so I could talk a little more about giant swords. But then I saw this Alexander Lozano variant cover and I had to talk about it like a big, not-so-green dummy. I absolutely adore this look for Jen — it’s very much like Kelly LeBrock circa Weird Science meets a harajuku girl, and just writing that sentence makes me incredibly giddy. Then, of course, there’s the rather meta elements, like She-Hulk selling She-Hulk comics and the price tag (seemingly) placed on the box itself. If you know anything about She-Hulk, you know that’s on brand, and it’s such an interesting and essential aspect about this character. Even that she’s seemingly selling other heroes’ uniforms is 1) very sexy; 2) likely illegal; and 3) just another fun, flirty way to explore who this character is at her core. I don’t care what happens in the story proper; this cover has already made me a fan of Jen’s new era.
Ice Cream Man: The Mortal Coil Shuffle Card Set Special #1
Cover by Martin Morazzo
Do I like this cover from co-creator/series artist Martin Morazzo? Yes, it’s a generally satisfying encapsulation of the Ice Cream Man universe. Mostly, though, I picked it cause this ain’t your daddy’s comic book. No, this “one-time-only, one-of-a-kind” title doesn’t rely on the “periodical pages of a traditional floppy comic book” to tell its story, but rather 55 “playing” cards that either tell “part of the story,” cast “inscrutable spells on unwitting characters,” or are “joined with other cards to form a complete piece of art.” I mean, that’s unbelievably bonkers in the best way possible, and just another reason ICM is one of the most inventive and daring books of the last two decades. I could come up with a few different gags and jokes, but mostly I’m so unbelievably excited to share this and that it exists for us to enjoy. If one person finds out about it via this column, then I’ve done my job 10 times over. I love comics so dang much, and this weird, wild gem is why all of us should keep coming back. Hell friggin’ yeah.
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