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 that spirit, here are the covers that captured Gaming Editor Patrick Hellen and Manga Editor Eric Cline’s attention this week.
Patrick’s Picks:
Mr. Miracle #10
Cover art by Nick Derington
With the summer spending so much time obsessing over Marvel’s purple-chinned version of Darkseid, it’s nice to the the big baddie get an incredibly stark and brutal cover like this. MM has been an insanely good book since issue #1, recreating the character like Morrison’s work on Animal Man, and the covers haven’t been a slouch either.
The monochromatic look at Apokolips’s ruler, with the only source of color — the eyes that can easily kill a planet — means we’re getting a view into the bleak and drab existence that Darkseid lives, in direct contrast to his incredibly vibrant adopted son.
Paper Girls #23
Cover art by Cliff Chiang
As someone who thinks BKV can do no wrong, and crafts some of the most compelling characters in comicdom — leave it to Chiang to make even the most fleshed out crazy things that fall out of Brian’s head spring to life in full technicolor brilliance. This cover IS Paper Girls, with a strong and arrogant female lead festooned with future tech and rocking an incredibly stylish outfit and hair. The future ’80s aesthetic and the slight Dazzler resemblance seals this even more, and the neon tube-like background make this feel like it’s a throwback to early MTV days.
Seven to Eternity #10
Cover art by Jerome Opeña & Matt Hollingsworth
I’ve yet to read a single issue of Seven to Eternity, even though I’ve been told by several friends that it’s totally up my alley, and I owe it to them all to eventually devour. This cover, like most of the first nine, is a story in itself – calling me back to my days of pouring over used, and well worn, sci-fi paperbacks on vacation. My rules for buying were generally: is there someone awesome looking on the cover, and some type of creature that could kick ass? Sold.
The space opera/pulp aesthetic here is so well played, and the details on every individual make you incredibly curious as to the backstory for each. A decorative halo? A glowing eyed owl? Pixar’s Up…the city? If most covers are somehow supposed to convey a tiny bit of the interior, this goes far beyond and makes you want to know everything that led up to each of these items.
Eric’s Picks:
Mister Miracle #10
Cover art by Nick Derington
I love the way the white line-work here appears to craft Darkseid’s form out of the black background, as if he’s emerging from the darkness. This Nick Derington piece shows how a relatively simple cover can still be a stunner when one plays with expectations. Darkseid is, indeed.
Seven to Eternity #10
Cover art by Cary Nord
I’m a big fan of floating city imagery, so this cover instantly caught my attention. I love how the relatively simple line-work still manages to create a strong amount of detail; it captures a sense of lightness and flotation while also maintaining physical depth. This image is just lovely to look at all around.
Harley Quinn #47
Cover art by Frank Cho
The line-work here is just fantastic, as is the composition. All the different elements are laid out in a way that leads the reader’s eye across the cover, from the butterflies to Harley swinging to the trees in the right corner. Every part of this cover is just beautiful in its sense of motion, and all the intricate lines are pleasing to look at. The folds on Harley’s dress are especially impressive.
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