Top Five

5 Astonishing X-Men - dramatic, unusual and highly effective

4 Agents of Atlas - fantastically executed

3 Ultimate Vision - now, I'll be honest - I wouldn't have thought I would found a female android sexy but, hoo boy, this cover certainly kicked my prejudices into touch

2 Phoenix Warsong - the Cuckoos are so creepy and I love the zombies here

1 Heroes for Hire - I don't find this creepy, Billy Tucci has rendered the women strong, sassy and sexy and with distinctive and different body-types as opposed to the usual mandatory double Ds.

But there's something sick about using a shitty Onslaught book with shitty Liefeld art which no one would buy if it weren't for the charity connection, when Loeb is also going to be writing Ultimates 3 and a hhigh-profile spidey title/arc.

Think of the money and goodwill Marvel could generate by donating the proceeds from Ultimates 3 #1 instead of guilting fans with this Onslaugt filth.

As for Adjectiveless, the core team depicted is comprised of Iceman (fingers), Cannonball (falling), Rogue (pulling hair or the victim of poor foreshortening), Sabretooth (in chains), and Mystique (shooting a gun of some ilk). Cable's also on the team, but he didn't make the cover. Lady Mastermind, the blonde daughter of Mastermind, is getting her hair pulled (maybe...?) by Rogue. Karima Shapandar, Neal Shaara's ex-girlfriend-turned-Omega Sentinel, is the brunette with the white gauntlets, pulling back for a punch. Both are members of the title's supporting cast. The other characters are the villains of the piece, The Children.

And, I'm surprised no one mentioned the return of the classic costume on the Spider-Man covers.

Dark Horse, though - do they even HAVE enough covers for it to be worthwhile? I'm willing to give it a shot.

Seconded!

Is the girl (looks awfully young for MJ) on the Sensational cover being rescued by Spider-man or attempting to molest him.... looks like it could go either way.

That Deomons of Mercy image would've been pretty cool if that were Godzilla there.

I like the Dr. Strange cover too, could use a bit more psychedelic colors but otherwise it's a good image.

The Agents of Atlas cover probably rates as my fave just on the basis of it being the one that held my attention for the longest.

I definitely agree that Loeb's a hack. I can't blame him for using his own work to raise money for his son's fund, though.

Oh, and I forgot to post my caption for the Sensational Spider-Man cover:

"FUGLY."

--chris k

I think Loeb is the worse of the two talents on that book. I'm mad at him for guilting people into buying HIS work.

Also, first thing I thought when I saw that Land cover was that the Squadron Supreme must have gotten an alternate Sue or her twin on their team...or, you know, he needs more than one model for his generic blonde super-heroines.

-- John Watson's cover for Uncanny appears to have been modeled by G.I. Joe figures.

-- Criminal looks better every time I see it.

-- Lee Bermejo's cover for Daredevil rocks, especially when you notice how he rendered Tombstone's hair. Remember, the character's meant to be an African-American with freaky pigmentation.

-- Sensational Spider-Man: Apparently Clayton Crain forced perspective until it broke.

-- Nice use of radial symmetry on Cassaday's cover.

-- I Ultimate Sue breastfeeding her brother on that Pasqual Ferry cover?

And who's that guy in the Morrison uniform on the Astonishing cover? You know, the one who looks like a normal guy.

I love the Dr. Strange cover. I can't believe I like something with Night Nurse. But, yeah, I think the effects and everything are perfect for a Dr. Strange book.

Wack.

That's the variant cover, made to please the fanboys who want something to match their collection of Marvel Masterworks. The regular cover is actually an awesome design, featuring the classic Zeck image of Spider-Man in his black costume digging himself out of his grave, digitally painted by Richard Isanove.

http://media.monstersandcritics.com/articles/1180323/article_images/smklhmphcmockdust1.jpg

-Steve!