Comic Book Resources

Wait, on the cover of Amazons Attack, who's Captain Marvel? Is this Billy or has Freddie already finished something in Trials?

"Continuity? Never heard of it!" -Dan Didio

Yeah, I forgot to mention my confusion over that, too.

Hopefully, it'll be Billy!

Does Wonder Woman's shadow have three arms? Or is that a... no, I don't want to think about what it is.

Tony Daniels is working on the Flash now. He's leaving Titans along with Johns.

And that is indeed Star Sapphire's actual costume.

So that's Birds of Prey and Catwoman taking place in Russia... but what's with all the Communist imagery and stuff? The USSR never collapse in the DCU? Maybe we'll see Red Star again...

I dig the Batman cover, but there's nothing particularly futuristic about this distopian future. Maybe it's the near future?

The Ladronn Atom cover is pretty good. Kind of a weird contrast with the art I've seen inside the book, but I guess that is another issue altogether.

The Batman Strikes cover is hilarious.

The Crossing Midnight cover is a little too close to the 90s Vertigo collage look. I've liked most of the earlier ones though.

DMZ is pretty striking, but what's the handprint, there for? I don't get it.

Another terrible Green Lantern cover with #20. This is bad in so many ways.

I like the idea behind the JSA Classified cover, even if I am not thrilled with the execution.

Jonah Hex: I love the composition, the colors, the tension. For some reason I prefer Jonah when his disfiguration is downplayed, not exaggerated to the point where he is practically a monster.

The Spirit has a lot of energy and all the different facial expressions are great.

Ex Machina: "Quick, I've got to get to that press conference!"

I wonder if Re-gifters isn't a touch too girly for its target audience? Maybe I just not looking forward to bringing it up to the cash register myself.

The Fables and Loveless covers are ominous and threatening without hitting you over the head. Nice.

I like the cover for Scalped, but the tomahawk is a little over the top, isn't it?

Top 5: Jonah Hex, Spirit, Batman Strikes, Scalped, Loveless

Sorry for the super long post!

A book geared towards teen girls is designed too girly? Did I miss something? It's a great design, imo.

My guess is that there is a 4th part to the Checkmate/Outsiders cross over that comes out in June. It could connect to the right of the first Outsiders cover and the left of the Sasha/Vertigo cover.

Gulacy's hooker looks 50 years old.

Portacio's signature is gigantic. And damn near the middle of the picture. Way to lead the viewer's eye to the wrong place.

My guess is that there is a 4th part to the Checkmate/Outsiders cross over that comes out in June. It could connect to the right of the first Outsiders cover and the left of the Sasha/Vertigo cover.

So it's a four-part storyline spread between two books over three months?

How weird.

"I dig the Batman cover, but there’s nothing particularly futuristic about this distopian future. Maybe it’s the near future?"

Well, that is Damian as Batman, so it can't be too far from now.

Just checked, it's 15 years in the future.

Considering Sasha's on two of those covers, I don't think it's supposed to be one long scene. Perhaps they'll be sets of two?

For Checkmate, I mean.

YES, you should be watching frickin' "Supernatural"!

No, you're not missing anything by not watching Supernatural. It's boring and formulaic.

And then you'd have to admit to watching the CW.

All right, Apodaca. After school. Behind the jungle gym.

Anybody else wish Renato Guedes was taking over the Supergirl art chores?

Black Lightning may look ridiculous on that Amazons Attack(!) cover, but his face is a necessary distraction from the blatant "Superman is Jesus" imagery.

The Atom cover is clearly a cautionary tale. Water colors will strip the flesh from your bones.

I thought Hughes was incapable of drawing an ugly woman. Then, I saw that Catwoman cover.

How can Deathblow fire guns with such stubby fingers? Some shoddy anatomy there.

Even if Gulacy got a (much-needed) "face artist," his Fate cover would still be too busy.

That Danger Girl cover deserves an Honorable Mention slot, man, if not a place in the Top 5. It's that good. Great perspective, great expressions, great...uh...over-sexed silhouette.

Daniel's a great choice for The Flash, on the whole, but his choice to use such a scratchy inking method isn't sitting well with me. Flash--whoever happens to be in the costume--should be sleek, not gritty. He's smooth, friction-free.

There's something off about Captain Comet's anatomy. Maybe it's just the pose...

Grifter. Midnighter. Tentacle porn!?

Whose head is that supposed to be at the bottom of the JLA Classified cover? John Stewart's?

The skeleton at the bottom of the JLU cover looks like it's about to have its way with The Crimson Avenger. And, that's just wrong, folks. Very poor positioning on Templeton's part.

Is Steve Uy's Timber Wolf about to sneeze, or is he trying to howl? A sound effect might help that cover out.

Igle's Nightwing cover was severely neutered on its way to the printer. The original was a good deal more dynamic. You can see that here: http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1489/607/1600/264999/Nightwing132covera.jpg

Is that really Pacheco's art on the Superman cover? Doesn't look much like his work.

I'm pretty sure that's a woman on the Supernaturals cover. Which would help to explain the dress.

I don't care how sinewy your muscles are. Or how big your gun is. Or how ripped your t-shirt is. Officer Doran, zip your fly.

I kind of dig the Welcome to Tranquility cover. Googe's style makes the photo resemble an old animation still, faded with time (and then torn and stomped on with a bloody boot).

I'll agree about Green, though.

Johnson's 100 Bullets cover is another one that deserves to be in the Top 5.

Sook's Friday the 13th cover is very effective, but is it as good as his others? I dunno...

Are the guys around Constantine supposed to be him in some kind of time lapse effect, or are they just his incorporeal smoking buddies? They all seem to be wearing the same clothes, but the faces lack consistency.

That Looney Tunes covers is absolutely awesome. It brings back fond memories of watching Looney Tunes with my day when I was a kid.

And I love how Sam the Sheepdog is strangling Wile E. Coyote/Ralph in the audience. Nice touch.

Does Robin's cape have veins?

Does Robin’s cape have veins?

It is supposed to be feathered.

Igle’s Nightwing cover was severely neutered on its way to the printer. The original was a good deal more dynamic.

Thanks for the link, Ian!

That cover WAS a lot better!

Think of Supernatural as Buffy with most of the estrogen bled out of it. I just finished watching "Tall Tales," which was one of those funny episodes, like "Bad Blood" from The X-Files.

My top five, 'cause no one demanded it:

5. FLASH - Nice use of motion to get a reader to pick up the book to see what's happening on the bottom half of the cover.

4. 100 BULLETS - Brilliant visual. Probably not a great idea for a cover, since it doesn't scream "READ ME!!!" But this is not a series that relies on its covers to do that.

3. FRIDAY THE 13th - Good call, Brian. Nice artwork, compelling image.

2. DANGER GIRL - Unusual cover border, unique camera angle for the image.

1. BATMAN STRIKES - Batman versus a dozen Ivys might've been enough to nab top spot. But when it's a cute li'l Batman Jr.? Talk about blowing away the competition. (And beyond the concept, the artwork is quite nice too.)

Worst cover: HAWKGIRL. Chaykin's done a couple of great covers and many bad covers for this series. This is one of the worst. That looks nothing like Superman, and the cover's dull to boot.

"All right, Apodaca. After school. Behind the jungle gym."

Wait 'till my big brother hears about this.

I love the Dr. Fate cover. And what's wrong with fifty-year-old hookers anyway? Especially if they look like Lauren Bacall?

Cooke's SPIRIT cover should be #1. Look at the composition of chaos; its not eye hurting and somewhat easy on the eyes.

Noto's JONAH HEX cover probably my second favorite. I also agree that the scar shouldn't be exagerated, but the muted pallette Noto uses works well...like a faded dime store novel.

Yeah, why the heck is Sook doing covers for lame horror licenses? I suppose some people might judge the books by their covers, but he could be doing so much better; even if he can't handle a monthly, I'd like to see some Batman covers. (Bianchi's are beginning to feel repetitive)

Jock's Scalped is pretty awesome. My favourite, maybe? Anyway, Scalped itself is okay so far. I wasn't thrilled with the first issue - too much, too fast - but the second was a big improvement. Hopefully it continues; The Other Side is giving him a lot of good faith from me, so let's hope it's deserved.

Those Veitch covers are so disturbing. I'm really starting to look forward to that book.

I'm enjoying Williams' Crossing Midnight covers. They take a while to grow on me, but once I've looked at them a few times, I really like them. This month's isn't the best, but #3, 5, and 6 are fantastic.

DMZ is pretty striking, but what’s the handprint, there for? I don’t get it.

The concept for the issue is "Friendly Fire," so I guess the handprint on the gun is supposed to symbolize friendly fire.

Yeah, why the heck is Sook doing covers for lame horror licenses?

I was actually being slightly facetious, as I am pretty sure I know the reason. Licensed comic work pays a good deal better than normal comic work.

Anybody else look at the Blue Beetle cover and think of the line from that old song... "You don't tug on Superman's cape."

Really? I had got the impression recently that licensed comics aren't really a license (ha!) to print money, since you're paying money just for the rights to print the comic in the first place. And those Wildstorm horror books have sold pretty badly.

Either way, I'd rather see Sook on something more interesting.

The difference here is that New Line Cinemas is the one pushing the license here, not the other way around. Cross-promotion money is good money. See any movie adaptation from Marvel and DC.

Okay, that makes more sense. (Although it seems most of the money goes to the cover artist, not the interior team. See also: Adam Hughes doing covers for the Superman prequels)

DMZ is pretty striking, but what’s the handprint, there for? I don’t get it.

The concept for the issue is “Friendly Fire,” so I guess the handprint on the gun is supposed to symbolize friendly fire.

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huh?

(I don't know how to do the quote thingy, so I just copied.)

Okay, that makes more sense. (Although it seems most of the money goes to the cover artist, not the interior team. See also: Adam Hughes doing covers for the Superman prequels)

Oh totally it is mostly the cover artists.

Note the Serenity comic covers.

The cover art is the biggest promotional aspect of it.

huh?

It is showing a haunting handprint contrasted against the rifle, as a symbol of the people getting killed BY the rifle.

As in: Someone got shot by the rifle, and left a bloody handprint while trying to keep staunch the profuse bleeding.

huh?

It is showing a handprint contrasted against the rifle, as a symbol of the people getting killed BY the rifle.

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don't feel bad about giving up explaining this, but i'm still in the dark. i can see the hand representing death (although the gun hovering over the people *almost* symbolizes this itself), but i don't get the concept of "friendly fire" from it at all. either i'm looking at it way too hard to see the forest for the trees, or it's way cleverer than i can grasp. oh well. its certainly striking and evokes death and the danger of death, so it works perfectly on a not-so-clever level too.

That D'Anda Deathblow cover's got a strong Jock influence.

(god, that sentence just feels so wrong...)

Yes, you shoudl be watching Superntural. And I'm not sure, but I believe you're referign to the woman in the center when you said "man".

Man, you are really working hard to sell that "Blue Beetle costume is ugly" notion. I just don't see what's supposed to be so bad about it. Am I misremembering or did no one agree with you last time you said it either?

Man, you are really working hard to sell that “Blue Beetle costume is ugly” notion. I just don’t see what’s supposed to be so bad about it. Am I misremembering or did no one agree with you last time you said it either?

If you're talking about the first time I talked about it (which was over a year ago), most of the respondents agreed that it was an ugly costume. But to be fair, it was closer than I thought it would be - as a decent amount of folks (you included) thought otherwise.

But beyond that, "worked hard to sell"? Have I mentioned it in months? The goateed Spectre, sure - but Blue Beetle's fugly costume? Not so much.

That's Black Lightning? I just assumed Marvel 616 was going to part of the new multiverse and that was Patriot...

I don't know about the Wildcat cover and the Spirit one being in the top 5.
Nice covers, but not great.

I much prefered the 100 Bullets and the DMZ covers than those two.

I'm surprised that nobody noted for the Amazons Attack cover, featuring what looks to be opposition to the Amazons, that there's a big phallic symbol in the background.

I have to say that I really like that Spirit cover. The difference in energy and dynamism between that and what passes for superhero blowouts these days, see Civil War, is striking.

What's up with Power Girl's camel toe?

Blue Beetle's costume is as ugly as a hatful of rat's asses.

And Michael Turner doesn't know how to shoot a bow. sigh.