The Best of the Week in... Covers (08/26/09)

28 Posted on Aug 27, 2009 in articles by Conor Kilpatrick |

This week we see what a few of the staff think of the plethora of covers staring back at us from the shelves.

Gotham City Sirens #3
Cover by Guillem March

Now that's how you do sexy. In a cover that very much evokes the pop art-infused images of 1960s era James Bond, artist Guillem March does a lot by showing very little. Is Poison Ivy naked or clothed in her costume? It's hard to say through the shadow and the leg and the title that drapes her back like lingerie. The sexiest images usually fire up the imagination just as much, if not more so, than the baser body parts. This cover is no different.

- Conor Kilpatrick

Dark X-Men: The Beginning #3
Cover by Jae Lee

Big action often makes for a really powerful cover. But a little flick of audacity does the trick too. I'm not actively following Dark Reign, but this concept of the monkeys taking over of the zoo does appeal to me. Here, we're getting something nice and theatrical. Big, monolithic throne to represent power. Osborn tossing an X button sort of dismissively. Also slouching. Emma is even blocking the logo. This behavior is rude. They look like a pair of crows perched on a monument. Judging. Waiting. We talk a lot about covers and their correlation to the interior. If you're not going to capture a moment from the story, establishing a mood and tone isn't a poor alternative. This looks downright grim. Like a grumblier scene from Shakespeare in the park. Can anything live up to this stone cold gravitas?

- Paul Montgomery

The Last Days of Animal Man #4
Cover by Brian Bolland

Before I even discuss the cover, if you're missing out on The Last Days of Animal Man, well, you're missing out. Gerry Conway, one of the comic writing greats is delivering the goods on this "last" tale of Animal Man. And who better than to do the covers for the series than Brian Bolland, who did the covers to Grant Morrison's epic run on Animal in the early 1990s. The particular cover shows why Bolland is a master and a pro. The image of Animal Man carrying Starfire while his upper body is "shattered" is a visual effect that is not only awesome to look at, but also a meta reference to Animal Man himself and the tale being told, as he cracks up, so to speak. When Bolland delivers this high quality of art, it makes you really miss him as an interior artist, but with a cover like this, I suppose I can give him a pass.

- Ron Richards

BONUS COVER!

Wolverine: First Class #18
Cover by Skottie Young

In addition to just killing it over the past year on the Wizard of Oz books, Skottie Young has been making a name for himself in the world of cover art. What seems like nearly every other week, a cover image from Skottie comes out that simply blows the previous one away and this week's issue of Wolverine: First Class is no exception. Of course, I'm a bit biased, what with him depicting one of my favorite characters, Jamie Madrox, in his old school Multiple Man costume as Wolverine is surrounded by many Multiple Men all shouting and egging Wolverine on for a fight. The image is both a delight to look at, as well as adequately sums up what's inside the comic, as every good cover should.

- Ron Richards

Those are our favorites. What are yours?

Comments

I'd have to go with Detective Comics this week. But the best above is probably X-Men, though the contents of the book are less than satisfying.

Posted by vadamowens on 08/27/09 at 09:33 AM

I like that you've broken this segment up amongst three people. It adds a nice perspective. Keep it up.

Also, that SIRENS cover is nicely retro. I dug it. But that DARK X-MEN cover may be my favorite of the week. Nice picks all around.

Posted by JeffR on 08/27/09 at 09:45 AM

I also like the fact that you are providing picks from multiple people. Seems fair (you Socialist pigs).

I know this is likely redundant given the amount of praise already heaped on this book, but I thought the cover to Batman and Robin #3 was very eye catching.

Posted by stuclach on 08/27/09 at 09:52 AM

The Dark X-Men and Animal Man covers look great. Esp. the Jae Lee one. Osborn's slouch is perfect.

Posted by Labor on 08/27/09 at 09:57 AM

I love that Sirens cover, but I agree that these Detective covers could rule the week once a month.

Posted by jabroniunc on 08/27/09 at 10:10 AM

No Nova? ahh rats.

Posted by Aquaman on 08/27/09 at 10:21 AM

I wish the 'Dark X-Men' series was half as interesting as Lee's covers have made it look.

These are all great, actually.

Posted by ohcaroline on 08/27/09 at 10:22 AM

I've said it before and I'll say it again, X-Force #18 has a beautiful cover. I can't get enough of X-23, my Achielles' heel. I do like the Gotham City Sirens "bond-esque" cover.

Posted by ato220 on 08/27/09 at 10:48 AM

great choices and i agree the socialist nature of the cover choices is great. Great choices by you guys but I'm gonna have to go with flash rebirth #4, that cover just yells at me and draws me in.

P.S cool factor +5 for coming on the website and chatting. I don't know much people who do that.

Posted by Stepho on 08/27/09 at 11:16 AM

Flash Rebirth #4 was my second choice. Not sure that I have the vocabulary to describe it though.

Posted by PaulMontgomery on 08/27/09 at 11:20 AM

This week, of the books I purchased, Dark Tower: Fall of Gilead gets the nod for sexiest cover. I actually liekd Hulk #14's wrap around a lot too.

Posted by zombox on 08/27/09 at 11:25 AM

@PaulMontgomery - Effervescent?

@zombox - I like the Dark Tower covers. Jae Lee is highly skilled.

Posted by stuclach on 08/27/09 at 12:05 PM

The Sirens cover is beautiful. Love it.

Posted by Megnolia on 08/27/09 at 12:36 PM

I thought the cover for the newest issue of SCALPED was fantastic, myself.

Is Scott Lobdell really writing GOTHAM CITY SIRENS? That's cool. I've missed his work, and glad he's back!

Posted by DJRustbucket on 08/27/09 at 12:36 PM

Nobody thought the flying brains in Incredible Hercules this week was great? Next to Batman and Robin #3 I find that the best cover for the week.

Sirens cover looks pretty good, but then you go into the interiors....

Posted by TheNextChampion on 08/27/09 at 12:53 PM

@DJRustbucket: Lobdell did indeed write the issue. I'm assuming it was a fill-in, as the women of the story barely appeared at all. I guess we'll find out next month if Lobdell is here to stay or if Dini will be back.

Posted by JeffR on 08/27/09 at 12:55 PM

i did really like that gotham city cover, both Bolland and Young can do no wrong in my opinion. good choices

Posted by mikegraham6 on 08/27/09 at 01:20 PM

I thought the cover for this week's pick was awesome. I loved how you saw the gloved hands surrounding Batman and the pile of dudes he was fighting. That said, Gotham City Sirens was excellent as well.

Posted by Neb on 08/27/09 at 03:46 PM

Sirens cover. Why? Because I've been buying every issue so there.

Posted by Mangaman on 08/27/09 at 07:13 PM

@ato220 I agree! X-Force#18 is very striking. Between it and Dark X-Men #3 the X-books are really nailing it.

Posted by AlanRob on 08/27/09 at 08:39 PM

I was really disapointed with the first 3 "The Last Days of Animal Man" and dropped it. Brian Bolland's covers are amazing though. His "Jack of Fables" have been great too. Chris Batista's art on Animal Man has been stellar as well.

Posted by Tiocore on 08/28/09 at 02:33 AM