Does no one remember Alan Moore's "The Curse," from Swamp Thing #40?

Cooke's Spirit wins the month for me hands down (I think I've got to get used to that happening!) while the Manhunter swan song seems strangely reminiscent of one of the last Starman covers (and they're both JSA kids - hmmmm).

Good reference on that one, by the way, Tom Foss. Made me smile.

I don't remember Phil Hester's Ant Man cover, but I'll remember this Atom one. That's some freaky shit, with the zombie's face flying all over the place. Yuck.

That Jonah Hex cover has a similar thing going on as the cover to Grifter/Midnighter #1. Weird.

Cronin, I don't know what you're smoking to say the Fables cover sucks. That is one beautiful image in my opinion. I assume the issue is about Flycatcher, who we learned recently is a very tragic character. I think it captures his dignity and sadness very well.

You think Midnighter's costume is lame? I mean, it's nothing mindblowingly good, but it's sufficient. No weirder than most spandex-type costumes. Huh.

I dig that Crossing Midnight cover. It's pretty damn freaky. I'm still trying to figure out what's going on with that werewolf. Has his head been cut off and strapped to his chest? Creepy!

Top 5: Spirit, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, Scalped, Loveless

Strange mix of cartoony and dark covers.

Honorable Mention: Exterminators, Tranquility, Legion, DMZ, Crossing Midnight

Captain Marvel (should have been on the top of the stack, but just a little wrong in execution)

The perspective on the BOP cover is pretty goofy. I haven't been paying close attention, but you're saying this is better? Hmmm? Catwoman is a little too "colorforms" for my tastes, but Holly looking straight at the reader helps draw you in. Supergirl= What the hell? Decent execution, but really?

But yes, still a great cover, but that is a significant mess-up.

No, it's not (a mess-up, that is; I'm not disputing the "great cover" part)--actually, the way the tape roll is drawn is correct. It would be awkward to unroll it that way, since the bottom of the roll would have to be moving forward so it would be pushed rather than rolled, but it would be possible (actually, the pressure of Daffy's feet would help unroll it if he stepped on the part near the roll). Having the tape unroll from the bottom would be a mistake, because it would mean the roll tape would have to be sticky on the outside--which isn't how tape works. Go ahead and try it with a roll of (single-sided) tape (well, pushing it with your finger, I guess, unless you can find a roll of tape as large as the one Daffy has)--the way it's drawn, awkward though it may be, is about the only way it can be done.

but COME ON MAN, that Art Adams cover deserves to be #1. The goatee is not his choice.

I always like reading this column. I would like to see it expanded to Image/Dark Horse covers, at least as a try-out some month.

I've done Image before, Ian, but it's tough - way too much effort goes into doing these things (with formatting, etc.), so I dunno if I can find the time.

I'll try, though! I'd LIKE to do one for each.

One mistake on that Daffy Duck cover. That paper would get caught under his feet the way he’s trying to unroll it. It should be unrolling off the bottom. Great looking cover anyway.

Wow, GREAT pick up, Mark!!

Scott Gross, do you feel chagrined?

But yes, still a great cover, but that is a significant mess-up.

(Montoya as Question is NOT a good idea.)

Yeah, I guess I'm looking at it more as "I guess it won't be THAT bad."

Also, were you listening to REM in the middle of doing this? Why the reference?

Mysterious ways...

Haven’t the Dodsons drawn Harley Quinn looking sexy on a cover before? I seem to recall that …

They drew her with gigantic breasts, but I think they always had her as wacky instead of sexy.

Alex Ross' cover that introduced her, I think, would be an exception to the sexy rule, and that cover freaked me out, too.

The Manhunter joke is from “Of Mice and Men.” I take it you think the Manhunter chick is going the way of the Dodo?

I just thought it'd be appropriate with this being the end of the book and all.

I don’t understand you Cronin. The cover to Shazam: Monster Society of Evil #2 was frakking amazing, had great composition, was charming and funny as all get out, and frankly was a cover image so strong that it made me whoop aloud at work because it so captured in a single image the tone of Captain Marvel that has eluded DC in the past few years…and you said it was underwhelming. But this one for S:MSoE #3, which is bog-standard superhero pose and some monstres and you even admit doesn’t entirely work makes the top five!

Your moods and aesthetic taste are a complete mystery to me.

This month was a worse month for DC covers, so a weaker cover managed to make the Top Five.

In a weaker month, the cover for #2 would have made it.

I like Tom Derenick's work now too, (especially compared to his older work) but I'm not fond of his Blue Devil. He makes BD too big and muscular.

I really don't like Captain Marvel's face on the Jeff Smith cover. And, whoa, I just noticed Captain Marvel's deformed right wrist. Loosen the sleeves on Captain Marvel! You're going to cut off his blood flow, and he's going to lose his right hand. Oh, God, no! They're going to give him a hook.

Burgas has a BA in English, but didn't get the Of Mice and Men reference? For shame.

Also, Harley is not sexy on that cover. In fact, it's probably one of the ugliest Harley's I've seen.

That JLU cover is awesome, if a bit sporadic with the colors. I'd like to see more covers like that on the regular Justice League book. Maybe that's part of the reason I like the Brave and the Bold cover so much. It's a fun mix of characters that's filled with energy.

~ Jay

I though White Noise was ok.

But Heart of Darkness sucks, too.