They say you can’t judge a book by its 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. This week we’re looking back on the best of March 2018.
Shade, The Changing Woman #1 by Becky Cloonan
Shade is back but now she’s a grown woman which means my complete adoration of everything Becky Cloonan does with her cover work on this series is back. Shade is very lost at this point and I love that this cover captures that perfectly. It’s hazy and distant and the mess around Shade does a great job teasing all the trouble she’s gotten into.
The Highest House #1 by Yuko Shimizu
Yuko Shimizu is probably best known in mainstream comics for her covers on “The Unwritten” and with that creative reuniting, she’s back too doing covers on “The Highest House.” I love this cover because it’s a striking image that makes me ask a ton of questions. Shimizu’s art is also really different than anything else happening in American mainstream comics right now so that’s always something that grabs me.
Come Into Me #1 by Devmalya Pramanik
Both covers for “Come Into Me” #1 are extremely well done but I like this one by Pramanik more because it feels more unsettling.
Eternity Girl #1 by Sonny Liew
Sonny Liew has always been great and I get really excited when he works on something big like this because it gets more eyeballs on his work. I love this cover. It’s complicated, like a puzzle box and so well crafted. I love every literal square of it.
Infidel #1 by Jae Lee
I really like the first issue of this new horror series from Image and Jae Lee’s cover is just chilling. It’s so dark and actually scary and it’s more of what I wish we’d see in horror comics.
WWE #15 by Andy Belanger
I make the rules around here and there was absolutely no way at all that I wasn’t putting the first Kevin Owens cover on this list. Look at it. The Face of America, leader of the YEP movement, my favorite wrestler. It’s perfect.
Ice Cream Man #3 by Mike Shea
I love how absolutely insane “Ice Cream Man” has been so far. The covers have really done it for by being huge images but also very surreal and wacky. I like this one a lot by Mike Shea because it puts the titular character first but is really weird at the same time. The weirder the better.
Saga #50 by Fiona Staples
One of my favorite families finally looking pretty happy. That’s all I got. Fiona Staples isn’t breaking my heart this time and I love it.
The Mighty Thor #705 by Russell Dauterman
Jane Foster went out on her own terms just like she reigned as the Goddess of Thunder. Dauterman’s cover is powerful and serene at the same time. It’s a perfect final note.
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #1 by Michael Avon Oeming
“Cave Carson” has some of the most interesting and innovative art of the Young Animal line because Oeming has really had the freedom to just go all out. I love this cover because while it’s still Cave Carson, it does usher in a new era for the series.
