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 May 2017.
Jean Grey #1 by Stephanie Hans
Hans is one my absolute favorite comic artists and as a big Jean Grey fan, I love that she got the chance to do a cover for the series. This cover is dreamy and a cute use of Jean’s powers.
America #3 by Ramon Villalobos
Villalobos debuted this cover on social media a couple of months back and gave a little insight into what went into the concept here. He was inspired by the strong Latina women in his life and throughout history and with America front and center, this cover soars. It’s rare to see Latinas honored this way in comic books and I desperately crave more of it.
Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #1 by Jim Mahfood
Mahfood’s style is incredibly unique and visionary so any time he puts out new comic book work, it’s a reason to celebrate. This cover is tough and kind of bad ass. It’s the kind of cover that would make me buy a new title without hesitation.
Archies #1 by Jaime Hernandez
The legendary Jaime Hernandez drawing Archie. That’s all I need to say.
The Magdalena #3 by Stjepan Sejic
Stjepan Sejic is not capable of drawing anything badly but then there are pieces like this that just knock me off my feet. This is powerful and sexy and I can’t stop looking at it.
WWE #5 by Marco D’Alfonso
The variants for the WWE comic book series have been surprising in how good they are. This Goldust focused one is a pure callback to his early days and is full of the campy aesthetic it needs to have to be successful.
Black Hammer #9 by David Rubin
David Rubin drawing “Black Hammer” should be a bigger deal even if it’s just for one issue. This cover takes the old school concept the series has run with and takes it further. If you didn’t know this was a current series, you could believe this is a 50+ year old comic.
Faith #11 by Cryssy Cheung
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how well artists have drawn Faith and this cover is definitely one of my favorite of the series so far. Each issue seems to have at least 4 covers each but Cheung’s stands out because it is very tarot card-esque but still highlights the series as a whole. Faith’s look reminds me of a Terry Moore drawing which is the highest praise I can give.
Wonder Woman #22 by Jenny Frison
Jenny Frison replacing Frank Cho on “Wonder Woman” variants has been a godsend. Frison is fantastic and this is absolutely one of my favorites of hers in recent memory. The dark blue coloring with the action pose all clicks together well. It makes her look godlike without actually losing anything that makes her, her.
God Country #5 by Geoff Shaw
Geoff Shaw’s art on “God Country” has been pure Kirby reimagined and with this cover he reaches that peak. This uses perspective in a fantastic way and it stays very true to its Texas setting. That’s what makes it kind of jarring but so effective. It’s a beautiful cover.
What were some of your favorite covers in this jam packed, five week month? Let me know in the comments below!
