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. This month, we’re looking at the the best of October 2017.
Spider-Gwen #25 by Robbi Rodriguez
I have to admit, I fell very far on “Spider-Gwen” but every month, when solicits come out, I see the covers that Rodriguez has created and they are always great. This series has such a unique style all its own and this cover could have been a generic 90s homage but it isn’t. Rodriguez has take something like Gwenom, that could be a joke, and made it something visually interesting and distinct to this character.
WWE #10 by Dan Mora
Most of my inclusion of this cover is to be petty. Roman Reigns is the most divisive guy in professional wrestling right now and he gets hate from a certain kind of fan. So, Mora takes him and puts him into a homage cover that will probably ruffle the feathers of those fans. It’s great and I love it. Ooooh-aaahh
The Wicked + The Divine #32 by Noelle Stevenson
Noelle Stevenson and “The Wicked + the Divine” doesn’t seem to make sense on a visual level as her art is more playful and youthful while what we get in “Wic+Div” is not quite the opposite of that but does veer more towards more action, magic and fasion. Stevenson’s take on Minerva with their protector Baal in the background is excellent. It’s some of her boldest work and it honestly makes me really interested in seeing her do a full story with these characters.
Motor Girl #9 by Terry Moore
Terry Moore is one of my favorite creators in comics and while I love his work, he does tend to do the same kind of thing with his covers. “Motor Girl” has been such a different series for him and this cover features something he doesn’t usually get to do – action!
Mech Cadet Yu #3 by Takeshi Miyazawa
“Mech Cadet Yu” is a real treat and I’ve been really in love with these covers so far. They capture the spirit of mecha manga and mecha anime but still feels very western. It doesn’t feel like an homage but is instead a different perspective. It’s colorful and inviting and I’m so glad BOOM! Studios madet his an ongoing.
The Kamandi Challenge #10 by Francis Manapul
Weirdly enough, this is the most not Kirby cover of the covers for this series so far, however, I still love this. Manapul has been working mostly on DC’s big trinity this year so I think I’m just excited to see him do something different. I love the colors here and I love how this cover screams young adult action adventure. I want to read this comic.
Angelic #2 by Casper Wijngaard
I have not had the chance to read “Angelic” yet but Casper Wijngaard’s work on “Limbo” was so good so he’s constantly on my radar. This cover is great because it feels and looks like a very different kind of magical fantasy. This also uses color in a really interesting way as the pinks fade in and out, making the page feel bigger than it is.
Kid Lobotomy #1 by Tess Fowler
Tess Fowler’s cover for “Kid Lobotomy” #1 is like a perfect mission statement for Black Crown as an imprint. It’s in your face, features extremely varied and unique characters and captures the spirit of what Vertigo used to be.
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Atomahawk #0 by Ian Bederman
I added “Atomahawk” to this month’s column because of these colors. This is one of the most striking covers that came out this month. It looks like this weapon is hurtling through space and it relies on pinks and reds in such a retro way.
Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil #1 by David Rubin
I think it’s safe to say that I not only obsessed with “Black Hammer” but also the art of David Rubin. I think I love this cover so much because it’s a good tease of the kind of world building you’ll see in this series. It’s not “Black Hammer,” it’s something more. Rubin’s colors are such a stark contrast to the darker main series yet it still feels like it belongs with “Black Hammer.”
What were some of your favorite covers in October? Let me know in the comments below!
