Welcome to a special installment of Comic Book Cover-Up! Every week, We the Nerdy assistant editor Henry Varona weighs in on his choices for the best comic book covers coming out, along with some great honorable mentions worth checking out! Looking at the layout, artistic talent, and the overall craftsmanship, the covers are analyzed and ranked accordingly. At the end, each book will be given points based on their ranking. Now, halfway through the year, Henry adds up points for the year so far (Or at least since the feature began) on the top ranking titles and creators, in addition to highlighting some of the previous winners in a spectacular fashion! Thanks for tuning in throughout the year so far, and be sure to check out all the past entries HERE! There’s plenty to love and many talented artists to showcase!
So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best covers of the year so far, as selected by We the Nerdy and Henry Varona!
She-Hulk 1 by Kevin Wada
Title with the Most Top 10 Covers:
1. She-Hulk: 7 Points
In a matter of months, She-Hulk has consistently wowed me with creative covers. Whether they be the work of regular series cover artist Kevin Wada, who won the very first Comic Book Cover-Up, or the combined efforts of guest artists such as Kris Anka and Amanda Conner, the book can be judged by it’s cover. While the series artists Javier Pulido and guest artist Ron Wimberly keep things fun and wacky inside (Thanks to the scripts of Charles Soule), the cover always manages to engage my interest. It’s not often to see such graceful covers of such a brutish character, but there’s always something classy about the Hulk’s favorite cousin. Whether it be her business attire of issue one or her daily routine for issue two, Shulkie always looks fab. In a market where many try to reinvent the wheel, She-Hulk shows that talent goes a long way.
2. Deadpool and Daredevil (Tie): 5 Points Each
4. Wonder Woman, Secret Avengers, and Moon Knight (Three Way Tie): 4 Points Each
Detective Comics 32 by Francis Manapul
Title with the Most Points:
1. Detective Comics: 30 Points
It’s incredible what consistency can do for you. Detective Comics is one of the great, classic comics of all time. It is often the premiere title for Batman and Bat-fans, but it lacked something special in the New 52. As it turns out, that something special was Francis Manapul, who brings his own unique touch to the covers of the series. In a short three month period, he has won each Comic Book Cover-Up he was featured in, a feat that no other book has been able to replicate. In fact, no other book has even won twice! As a result, the title has blown everybody else out of the water (Ironic, given the image shown at left. Detective Comics has truly iconic covers, showing Batman as an part of a work of art. They truly elevate the comic book cover by ignoring the conventions of comics. Detective Comics reinvents the wheel and turns the whole care into a hovercraft every month. And it’s spectacular.
2. She-Hulk: 24 Points
3. Winter Soldier- The Bitter March, Daredevil, and Secret Avengers (Thee Way Tie): 16 Points Each
Fantastic Four 1 by Alex Ross
Artist with the Most Appearances:
1. Alex Ross: 7
Alex Ross is one of the most famous comic book artists of all time. His work on Marvels and Kingdom Come solidified that long ago. 2014 has seen him return to much of what made him get noticed though, as he has resigned with Marvel to do a variety of his covers. While his work has also graced the covers the titles like Batman ’66 Meets Green Hornet and The Shadow: Year One, there is something truly special about seeing him work on Marvel’s Icons. His covers for Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, and Fantastic Four pay beautiful tribute to everything they ever have been. It makes them truly feel special when you see Alex Ross handling art. As the summer approaches, Alex Ross is sure to be doing many more iconic works on Marvel’s characters, and I can personally assure you that we haven’t seen the last of him here on this feature.
2. Mike Allred and Phil Noto (Tie): 6 Points Each
4. Tradd Moore, Mark Brooks, Jamie McKelvie, and Paolo Rivera (Four Way Tie): 5 Points Each
Detective Comics 30 by Francis Manapul
Artist with the Most Points:
1. Francis Manapul: 30 Points
Francis Manapul has evolved a lot over the years. From his days as an interior artist on side titles like Legion of Super-Heroes to his current gig as one of the hottest artists in comics on Detective Comics, the artist has constantly found ways to push forward. As he has shown with his work on Detective Comics, he would rather focus on one artistically powerful piece than a myriad of others. Though Manapul has only contributed three covers to the year so far, he has managed to make each one of them count, showing that quality surpasses quantity. His work often incorporates multiple elements on a single plane, making unique statements. Where others may bounce around from book to book, Manapul has made it clear that he plans to make his own Batman for this era. His work on Detective Comics is only just beginning, but if it’s any indication of what’s to come, he’s going to be turning a lot of heads for a very long time.
2. Jamie McKelvie: 26 Points
3. Mike Allred: 23 Points
4. Kevin Wada: 21 Points
5. Francesco Francavilla: 19 Points
Top Cover Variant Themes
Flash 31 by Mike Allred
1. Batman ’66: 24 Points
Batman ’66 is one of the weirdest variant cover waves of the year, by far. Supposedly depicting Batman in retro activities with various heroes, the covers are all about embracing the weirdest stories to have ever happened to these characters. But often, the best covers were those that didn’t even feature Batman and simply let the heroes be themselves. Whether it be the Green Lantern Corps running up a flight of stairs or the Flash falling through space and time (Shown here), they always manage to stand apart from the current trend of comics, which take themselves very seriously. Mike Allred somehow managed to create each and every one of these covers and shows us that pop art still has a place in comics, and that when done right, the effect can be awe-inspiring and wacky, all at once.
2. Steampunk: 15 Points
3. Baby: 7 Points
Thank you all so much for checking out Comic Book Cover-Up! It’s been almost six months and I’m still here, with great hopes for the future!
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