Today I’ll be at New York Comic Con representing Multiversity the way I know how to do. But for now, digital me is representing the best in another week of covers. Check out my picks below.
5. The Massive #5
Art by John Paul Leon
4. Conan the Barbarian #9
Art by Massimo Carnevale
These are both top notch covers by creators who often make my list, but the main reason why I wanted to highlight them together is because of their one connection: Brian Wood.
To my knowledge, every Brian Wood creator-owned comic has had great covers. DMZ was rife with them. So were both volumes of Demo, and Local, and New York Four/Five. You name it, they’ve had great covers. So far, both The Massive and Conan the Barbarian have been following that trend, and that’s with frequent DMZ collaborator Leon on his side and Northlanders cover god Carnevale on Conan.
Obviously, a major part of what gives Wood’s books great covers is he simply aligns himself with great cover artists, but to me, that isn’t it. You can’t see it with my images, but both of these books have great actual design work on them, and all of his covers do. They always seem to reference the story within extremely well, and to me, all of that has to do with the expert guidance of Wood. I could be wrong about that, but I don’t feel so: I feel like he’s just a great writer at getting the best out of his artists, and this week, there were two great examples.
3. Morning Glories #22
Art by Rodin Esquejo
Rodin Esquejo is one of the best in the business on covers, but man, the guy went to another level with this one. Not necessarily a better level (I certainly wouldn’t put this in his top five MG covers), but just in general intensity. I haven’t read this issue yet, but I feel like I know what to expect here based off of what we’ve seen here. What Esquejo created is a shocking, terrifying image triggered by a powerful concept and brilliant atmospherics. The extreme darkness to the color choices make the image all the more harrowing, and just another feather in Esquejo’s cap.
2. Dominique Lauveau: Voodoo Child #7
Art by Rafael Grampa
As a general rule, I try all Vertigo comics, but for some reason I never tried this one. Sort of worked out as it is now canceled, with this issue being its last, but one thing I do know is Rafael Grampa consistently gave this title good covers. And he saved his best for last, as this cover combined Grampa’s traditional level of detail with a softer side, while giving the entire image an ethereal quality we don’t normally see in his work. Grampa is one of the best in the business, but for me, this is him taking his art in a slightly different direction. It’s hard not to like to see that from someone with his gifts.
1. Creator-Owned Heroes #5
Art by Dave Johnson
There’s a reason why Dave Johnson is one of the most well respected cover artists in the game today: he’s just fucking awesome at it. There’s no better way to see it. This cover proves just that, with its repeated image and its increasing tangibility and depth of color and life to it. It’s an exceptional use of color for effect, and I love seeing the way Johnson plays with negative space and other less touched upon characteristics in a cover. Creator-Owned Heroes is a book that needs to stand out more on the stands because it doesn’t have built-in interest from readers like others, and having someone like Johnson onboard as the artist? That’s a perfect way to get new readers. At least ones like me.
