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’re looking at the very best of June 2017.
Shade, The Changing Girl #9 by Brittney Williams
This issue was all about Loma learning what time on Earth means and all that she missed being so far away. Her favorite band for example, is a group from the 1950’s who are now all very old men. I like that Williams still captures that joy in her modern look for Shade but inside the glasses themselves are a very idealized version of what Loma wanted to see.
Black Bolt #2 by Christian Ward
Christian Ward is constantly operating on a different level than everyone else. His work is constantly mind blowing and with “Black Bolt,” he’s been experimenting more with darker colors compared to something like “Ody-C.”This cover is gorgeous, from the mixing of the blues and purples in the background to the pain in Black Bolt himself.
Grass Kings #4 by Tula Lotay
I have really enjoyed “Grass Kings” and Tyler Jenkins’ art but the thing missing from his work is the darkness that lies underneath this setting. Lotay’s cover leans right into that all the way and it’s a really different aesthetic for the series. I like using a variant cover for that kind of different perspective instead of just a cool pin up.
Helena Crash #4 by Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
Until “Helena Crash,” I had never even heard of Warwick Johnson-Cadwell. He’s amazing and with a style so unique that it’s hard to compare it to anyone else. This final cover for “Helena Crash” is great because it focuses on Helena by also incorporating her big final fight in a cooler, minimal design.
Doctor Strange #22 by Chris Bachalo
I haven’t read much of “Doctor Strange” since maybe the second story arc but I will always love Chris Bachalo’s art. I like this cover a lot because of how it uses white. The inks sort of chip away at the large white space and with the smaller scaled characters, this cover feels bigger than it physically is.
Beautiful Canvas #1 by Sami Kivela
Speaking of using white in a really interesting way, here’s the cover to “Beautiful Canvas.” I love the flipped images here and how it especially flips the color scheme. It’s also just beautifully drawn. Kivela’s work here is very detailed and crafted so well.
WWE #6 by Robbi Rodriguez
I love Finn Balor. I love his abs, his thighs, the way he pops his collar when he does his entrance but nothing he does is cooler than his demon entrance. Robbi Rodriguez goes all in on this with all this red and black that’s almost like a haze. It’s strong stuff for a series that should get covers like this.
Batman/The Shadow #3 by Riley Rossmo
Riley Rossmo should always draw Batman. This shouldn’t even be a question. Look at this cover. It’s kind of horrifying but also so in line with a story that these two characters would be involved in.
Winnebago Graveyard #1 by Alison Sampson
Alisom Sampson is an artist who everyone should want to hire because she’s fantastic. This cover is chilling because it comes at you with a lot from the coloring to the mysterious characters. It’s a surreal feeling cover that would have enticed me even if I didn’t know the plot.
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Copperhead #14 by Scott Godlewski & Ron Riley
I still adore “Copperhead” and even though Godlewski isn’t doing interiors right now, he’s still doing covers and this is one of his best yet. This is all action but it’s Riley’s coloring that really sells it. This setting comes to life with the lightning and rain.
What were some of your favorite covers this month? Let me know in the comments below!
