They say you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. While that might be true for prose, it’s not entirely true for comic books. Comic books are a visual medium and more times than not, it’s the art that draws you in. With so many comic books coming out these days, a cover that stands out from everything else on a wall of new releases can determine how well it sells. I know that I’ve picked up new titles solely based on the cover.
It is with that in mind that we bring you Face Value, a column where we will be looking at the best covers in comics, both new and old, every two weeks. In this month’s installment, we look at the best comic covers of August 2017.
Ghost Station Zero #1 by Becky Cloonan
You know who should have done a poster for Atomic Blonde? Becky Cloonan. This is such a good cover because I’m both scared of this woman but also need to know more about her immediately.
Babyteeth #3 by Garry Brown
“Babyteeth” is actually a fairly creepy demon baby story and if this is a fitting and chilling cover. If this were a movie poster, it’d definitely get you in the theaters opening weekend. These eyes are pure darkness and the accent of blood around the mouth sends chills down my spine. It’s a great image for a horror series.
Gotham Academy: Second Semester #12 by Karl Kerschl
I wish “Gotham Academy” had been more my thing because the art was consistently amazing. This cover is really perfect for a finale. It’s quiet yet very emotional.
Aquaman #27 by Stjepan Sejic
Honestly, Mera has never looked so good. Sejic’s short run on “Aquaman” has been really, really beautiful and I would really like to see him do some more work at DC. This cover is colored so gorgeously and the pose Mera is in is really unlike the poses we usually see with DC heroines. This isn’t meant to be glamorous. It’s meant to be powerful.
Spy Seal #1 by Rich Tommaso
“Spy Seal” was such a pleasant surprise this month. I love this cover because it’s unlike most of what you see in mainstream comics and it’s definitely a different tone than what you get from Image these days. Tommaso has a lot going on in this cover and it’s a true sequential scene instead of just characters posed. It’s bright and playful and reflects exactly what you’ll get inside the issue.
WWE #8 by Will Robson
Your expectation this month was probably the Jen Bartel cover featuring Charlotte but you’re wrong. Robson’s cover is the star of the “WWE” covers this month. This match is one of my earliest memories of professional wrestling and the framing here is fantastic. We never see this angle in that footage. This capture the height of the fall and the fear of it in one beautiful image. Also, it accurately portrays Mankind’s physique which is really important to me.
Black Hammer #12 by David Rubin
David Rubin is a fantastic artist and his first issue on “Black Hammer” was full of the exact magic I was expecting. I like this cover a lot because while “Black Hammer” has leaned heavy into nostalgia, this does that in a different way. This cover captures wonder and mystery with great use of color.
Moneypenny One Shot by Tula Lotay
Tula Lotay ends up in this column a lot but I can’t help it. She’s so good at what she does and I’m in love with this cover “Moneypenny.” It’s retro and you can see the texturing on the cover as if it’s an old journal of some kind.
Faith and the Future Force #2 by Paulina Ganucheau
Faith is a hero very personal to me and I’m always interested in seeing how artists draw her. I’m a huge fan of “Zodiac Starforce” so I’m excited to see Paulina Ganucheau do a cover for the series. This is a really different style than anything Valiant puts out but I love the fun use of color here and Ganucheau really makes use of every inch of this page.
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Redlands #1 by Vanesa Del Rey
“Redlands” #1 was one of the most interesting debuts this year by a team that knows how to craft perfect comic book pages. Bellaire and Del Rey kill it together and while this cover is almost simplistic in its design, it’s chilling and makes you ask a lot of questions. The dark colors perfectly mirror the dark story inside and it’s touch of violence is exactly enough to entice the reader.
What were some of your favorite covers this month? Let me know in the comments below!
