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 month’s special edition the theme is a bit eXtraordinary or uncanny or whatever adjective you like for your X-Men. With the franchise getting a bit relaunch in April, I thought we could take March to look back at some of the great covers of the past. By no means is this a definitive list. It is instead, a showcase of some favorites and the very different sides to this franchise in both tone and artistic style. I’ve really wanted to get reader input for these special editions of this column and this, you all really came through. Thanks to everyone who offered up their favorites and let’s jump into this.
Wolverine #6 by Esad Ribic (submitted by @AliceWCastle)
There is a really fun story behind this amazing cover and I’m so glad it came up in my mentions a few times when I offered up this prompt. I am fascinated by Wolverine as a character and his longevity but also in the way his sexuality is handled. This is an interestingly erotic cover that you can’t ignore.
Wolverine and the X-Men #3 by Chris Bachalo and Tim Townsend (submitted by @GDRaycroft)
Quentin Quire is my favorite trash boy and there’s no way I would do this theme without showing up at least once. He’s the punk brat a lot of us were in high school but he gets to also have psychic powers. Quentin was a thorn in the side of the “old guard” at the school but that was part of his charm. He kinda represented the readers ready to move on and that’s why this cover is so great.
Nightcrawler #1 by Dave Cockrum (submitted by @GDRaycroft)
The X-Men have been around forever and pretty much every major character has had a solo ongoing or miniseries. Nightcrawler is a character who’s endured in popularity for decades and while his religious conflicts are incredibly interesting, his fondness for pirates is the most fun element about him. Cockrum’s cover highlights that and shows the different kind of story we’re going to get into with this character.
New X-Men #127 by Frank Quitely (submitted by @jamesdleech)
Frank Quitely is one of the greatest comic book artists of all time and with one of the greatest writers of all time (Grant Morrison), they created an era for this franchise that some rank as the best ever (even if it does get confusing). Xorn is still a divisive character but there’s no doubt that this cover isn’t fantastic. It captures the seriousness and humor that has always played together with these characters in a really fun way.
Storm #3 by Stephanie Hans
One of my favorite solo X-Men titles was “Storm” and I’m still bummed that it was cancelled as soon as it was. Stephanie Hans has been featured here in this column many times but she’s great and deserves all the recognition. I love how she depicts Storm here as soft yet powerful. The wind in her hair and the lightning are wonderful added details and it makes for a great standalone image.
Cable and the X-Force #11 by Salvador Larocca and Frank D’ Armata
Speaking of X-Men titles that got the can too soon, this was another one. Any X-Force title is often times really violent and very serious but then came “Cable and the X-Force” and that went out the window. This was a series that didn’t take itself too seriously and put together a team that shouldn’t have worked but did. I love this cover because it highlights the fun this series wanted to have and its reliance on lesser known mutants instead of the same core 10. This is like Thelma and Louise but with more explosions.
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Uncanny X-Men #32 by Chris Bachalo (submitted by @TheAnarCHris)
Cyclops will always be another X-Man that will divide fans. Some people hate him, others love him and over the last few years, he’s become someone different. Bachalo appears on this list again because for a few years, he was doing excellent work on the X-Men franchise even if the stories weren’t that great. I love the idea of Cyclops standing among the remains of his past and becoming something else. It’s a great image that sadly didn’t work out narratively.
Uncanny X-Men #136 by John Byrne
Jean Grey will forever be tied to death and rebirth and this cover and issue is a huge one tied to her history forever. The X-Men franchise knows how to have a good time but this is one of the most tragic moments as Jean continues to be a tool for the Phoenix Force. The sadness and shock comes through here really well and you get your classic, bold cover promises.
What are some of your favorite X-Men covers? Let me know in the comments below!
