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 edition we end our spotlight on this year’s Eisner nominees. In this second part, we’re looking at the work of Mike Del Mundo, Fiona Staples and David Mack, with a focus on their 2016 work.
Saga #34 by Fiona Staples
Honestly I could do an entire post about the covers for “Saga” and at some point I probably will. Fiona Staples is so great at doing so much with her covers. Even the most minimal images have something magical about them and this is a good example of that. “Saga” isn’t always the happiest series but in this image, Ghus is happy and fishing and it almost feels like a scene out of a fairy tale.
Saga #37 by Fiona Staples
And on the flip side, Fiona Staples can also do this. This is something out of Lord of the Rings or even Game of Thrones but it embodies her designs and her aesthetic entirely. It’s a huge battle that’s painted very lightly instead of dark and grim. It’s a striking wrap around cover that I still think about when I think of her work.
Jughead #10 by Fiona Staples
Not to be boxed in by any means, Staples also helped reinvigorate the Archie line. She left the flagship title after a handful of issues but has returned to do variants every now and then. “Jughead” is arguably the best of the newer Archie titles and this cover is delightful. It captures the spirit of both these characters in a really charming way.
Carnage #10 by Mike Del Mundo
I do not care about Carnage. I think he’s a good one off villain but by no means the kind of character to carry a whole series. With that said, I’d read a “Carnage” series if it were drawn by Mike Del Mundo. Look at this cover. The perspective, the detail. I can’t believe an actual human drew this.
The Vision #2 by Mike Del Mundo
“The Vision” is one of those very rare comics that only comes around maybe once a decade. It was tragic, funny and poignant and honestly changed the way I see this character. The second cover of “The Vision” is one of my absolute favorites cause visually, it seems simple but has something deeper going on here. This floating high tech mailbox in the forefront of a typical suburban home is a strange contrast that hints at just how strange it is that the Vision and his family live here. It is out of place and that’s a big theme in this series.
Poe Dameron #1 by Mike Del Mundo
Del Mundo also got to do some work on the “Star Wars” books at Marvel and his most famous of these images is the cover for “Darth Vader” #1 but this one for “Poe Dameron” is one of my personal favorites and isn’t so heavy handed. This feels like a poster we’d get for a Poe Dameron movie and it features Poe getting ready to do what he’s good at – piloting.
Jessica Jones #7 by David Mack
David Mack has been doing comic book covers featuring Jessica Jones for a long time. He did the covers for “Alias” and so, he’s no stranger to the character. I like this cover because it features Jessica and her daughter in what comes off to me like a photo in a locket. It’s full of love and I think that’s something rare for this series.
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Attack On Titan Volume 20 by David Mack
As I was looking for potential art to feature in this column, I ran across this and couldn’t stop looking at it. I love “Attack On Titan” but I read it on Crunchyroll so I often don’t even see the covers for the collected volumes. David Mack painting Armin is just so right. He nails his vulnerability with the bravery he’s gained over the course of the series. Manga is a Japanese art form but I do enjoy seeing North American artists take a stab at properties like this.
4001 A.D. War Mother #1 by David Mack
“War Mother” was a one shot for Valiant during their “4001 A.D.” event but it kind of took off to the point where she’s going to get a miniseries of her own this year. I like the bursts of color in this one and it’s one of those images that’s become unforgettable for Valiant fans. Valiant used this in so much promotional material that I just can’t shake it.
