Welcome to the twentieth installment of Comic Book Cover-Up! Every week, We the Nerdy writer Henry Varona weighs in on his choices for the best comic book covers coming out this week, 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. Then Henry adds up points for the various series, which will work towards earning further accolades in the future! Here’s a point breakdown for what every ranking will earn:
- First-10 Points
- Second-7 Points
- Third- 5 Points
- Fourth and Fifth- 3 Points Each
- Still Gorgeous- 1 Point Each
So without further ado, here’s the week’s best!
5. Wolverine 9 by Ryan Stegman (Featured Image)
Ryan Stegman channels many of the greatest elements of Wolverine in his variant cover to issue 9 of the current series. Emphasizing his connection with Japan, Stegman displays the landscape of the great country, focusing on the unique architecture of feudal Japan. The silhouette of the buildings is immediately recognized and brings viewers back to Wolverine’s time as a samurai. But the part of the cover that truly shines is the burning red sun, showcasing Wolverine’s skeletal skull, covered in hair. Honestly, Wolverine’s skull has been used many times in his long history, but each and every instance still carries a power and a weight that make it stand out.
4. Deadly Class 6 by Wes Craig
Wes Craig has consistently delivered great covers for Deadly Class. At this point, it’s almost routine, as he so masterfully creates an engaging image. I expect nothing less than amazing from Craig, who here shows our students in black and white, plastered in front of a neon pink background. The vertical lines and bubbles make it look like blood splatter, and the threat that faces the team becomes all the more real. It’s simple and effective, every time.
3. Ms. Marvel 5 by Jamie McKelvie
Jamie McKelvie depicts a serene, quiet moment in his cover to Ms. Marvel 5. Kamala, our hero, sits peacefully atop a lamp post, gazing at the New York City skyline from her Jersey City home. It reflects the quiet moments in life where one is able to truly reflect on their lives, something that is all too familiar to a young, teenaged hero. The craftmanship of the image makes the simple layout very effective, and since so few are willing to be so peaceful, the cover stands out from the crowd by removing itself from the action.
2. Saga 20 by Fiona Staples
There are very few things that are as peaceful as a father holding his child, while his child holds a balloon. It’s a classic image that channels Americana. Seeing it with aliens though… that’s a bit odd. It throws you off, just enough to realize how beautiful this book can truly be. The styling of Fiona Staples makes this look very classic and very modern, as her unparalleled talent shines through. The shading, emotion, and linework of the cover make it another stellar entry into the long list of great Saga covers.
1. Batman 32 by Greg Capullo
The Riddler is one of my favorite villains of all time. Up until recently, that was hard to justify. He was just a cooky Batman bad guy with some quirky old comics. While Scott Snyder has worked hard to make the villain a credible threat in Batman, Capullo still manages to capture the weirdness of the silver age. In his cover to Batman 32, Capullo has Batman strung up to a giant question mark as the Riddler watches happily. There is a proper mix of legitimate threat and campy comic book villainy that the cover really surpasses the competition.
Still Gorgeous:
- All-New Ultimates 4 by David Nakayama
- Mark Waid’s Green Hornet 13 by Jonathan Lau
- Mark Waid’s Green Hornet 13 by Paulo Rivera
- Sex 14 by Piotr Kowalski
- Vandroid 5 by Tommy Lee Edwards
Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to check in next time for more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.