It’s another week of comics, so we have another week of the best covers in comics. This week, we go heavy on the creator-owned books, as all five covers belong to either a Vertigo or Image title. Check out the list below.
5. Danger Club #4
Art by Eric Jones
First off, I want to say that this series completely rules and deserves all of the attention in the world. If you’re not reading it, you should be.
Second off, this is an excellent example of a comic cover for a few reasons, but I want to target one in specific: the eye factor. This cover draws eyes, and it’s for a very obvious reason. The blood! Kid Vigilante pulls a regular Andrew W.K. here, and like with the famous “I Get Wet” album cover, this one stands out if only because of the shock appeal. It helps that Jones is my breakout artist of the year (if only because I had not experienced his work before this year) and manages to create a powerful image, but it’s certainly a hard one to miss while going down the racks in your local comic book shop.
4. Sweet Tooth #38
Art by Jeff Lemire
While the image of Abbott with the super intense wolf boys (along with Jeppard’s son) is a powerful image unto itself, what I really want to talk about here is the sky. Some time ago, I interviewed Jeff Lemire and talked to him about how he was using watercolors in his work more, and this is a perfect example of that. He has the old hybrid gods – if you will – looming over the action, depicted in full-out creepy fashion in watercolor. Lemire has grown in subtle ways throughout this series, and as we get near the end, his blend of art mediums can create an elegant mix of tone in a singular image like this. Great work from one of the best around.
3. Fatale #8
Art by Sean Phillips
There is a very good reason why Phillips often is nominated for accolades involving his covers: the guy is a freaking champ. Fatale itself has killed it since day one with its bold white covers and the piercing, creepy FATALE that crosses it. Just the presentation by itself is superb, but the images Phillips always comes up with also stand out. This one, with the black background mixed with the red candles really pops, especially with the white eyed man and the red eyed dog in the foreground. This book so far has been an exercise in slow burn horror and methodical pulp storytelling, but there is nothing slow burn about this cover: it hits hard.
2. Thief of Thieves #9
Art by Shawn Martinbrough
I really love the Thief of Thieves covers. Actually, it’s a book that has gotten better and better throughout, but one constant so far has been Martinbrough’s work on both the covers and the interiors. I love the background color palette and how it completely stands out amidst the rest of the cover, which is an elegant storytelling device in simple image form. It’s just Conrad/Redmond tearing a picture of his ex-wife and her new husband in half, creating a jagged, makeshift heart in the process. It’s something I actually didn’t notice at first, but as I read (and reread) the issue for a review for MC, I picked it up and recognized it for its awesome. Another great cover, but that’s what we’ve come to expect out of Martinbrough.
1. Fairest #8
Art by Adam Hughes
Adam Hughes is known for drawing remarkably beautiful women in comics, and there’s a good reason: the guy draws just gorgeous women. It’s true, and this is a perfect example of just that. Rapunzel may have never been depicted better than here, as her long, gold locks stand out big time against the muted gray background. Everything about this really pops – the beautiful character design, the mix of colors, you name it – this is just beautiful work. The only problem? The finished product is partially tainted by an advertisement for “Arrow.” Why spoil good art with ads? Frustrating.
