Most comic book fans have a pretty good idea what they’re going to buy every week when they visit 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. That’s where covers come in-a fantastic image can make the difference between trying something new or saying, “Nah, not this week.”
In anticipation of Ant-Man and the Wasp, we’re publishing a special edition of Judging by the Cover. We asked our contributors David Brooke and Eric Cline to share their favorite Ant-Man and the Wasp covers of all time.
Dave’s Picks
Avengers #340
Cover art by Paul Abrams
A key element with Ant-Man or Wasp is showing their scale, which can be incredibly difficult given the space one has on a comic book cover. In this example, we can tell it’s Cap (she also says his name so we know) and the guns pushing in create a lot of tension. Given this angle, I think Wasp may be shot into dust while Cap may not make it either. Great composition.
The Unstoppable Wasp #1
Cover art by Elizabeth Torque
Once again scale is key with a cover and this one uses old Ant-Man and Wasp covers to show off the tiny size of Wasp. I really dig the technological look of the modern suit, but also that smile that screams positivity.
Marvel Premiere #47
Cover art by Bob Layton
How ridiculous is this cover! I love the idea of a guy holding up a magnifying glass and then pointing a gun at it. What a loon. Meanwhile, Ant-Man has got his arm up like, “Don’t do it mister!” It’s a fun cover and it highlights the zaniness of the character.
Eric’s Picks:
Avengers #223
Cover art by Ed Hannigan and Klaus Janson
When I think of Ant-Man covers, this is the first one that comes to mind. Sure, it’s equally as much as Hawkeye cover, but still. Is there any more iconic image featuring the characters than this one? Ant-Man’s about to come at the reader atop an arrowhead, and it’s perhaps the most fun play on his tiny size ever. The dead-serious bold text further adds to the delightfully outrageous nature of the cover.
Tales to Astonish #39
Cover art by Jack Kirby
Speaking of outrageous, there’s this gem by Jack “King” Kirby. What was he the king of? Weird, gigantic creatures, for starters. This cover is just bonkers, and it is so, so fun. The Scarlet Beetle’s emphatic stance and expression are delightful, as is the image’s overall sense of the uncanny. A tale to astonish, indeed.
Astonishing Ant-Man #1
Cover art by Michael Allred and Laura Allred
My favorite aspect of most Ant-Man covers isn’t Ant-Man himself but the highly-detailed renderings of his helper ants. There’s a powerful sense of joy to this Allred and Allred piece that persists largely because of, rather than in spite of, those pincered, many-legged beasts. This cover leans heavily on the bug angle, and I love it for it.
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