By Chris Keefe
This month I tried to be a little more picky to keep things a little shorter, but it wasn’t easy with so many good covers out there, and I’m not going to say, “No,” to something exceptional. So, jumping right in…
 |
 |
| BPRD: The Devil You Know (Dark Horse) Duncan Fegredo Duncan Fegredo is on of my favorite artists out there. His interiors the last couple of years, especially on Hellboy, is some of the best stuff I’d seen in 12 years running the comic book store. Maybe ever. This cover just demonstrates his mastery of so many things, the details, foreshortening, spotting the blacks, and his tones are just off the charts on this cover. #DarkHorsecomics , #BPRD #Duncanfegredo @duncanfegredo @darkhorsecomics |
DEATHSTROKE #24 (DC Comics) Ryan Sook Ryan Sook, so I just say the name and you should know it’s great cover. All his Deathstroke covers have been great, but #24 stands out for me because of the contrast between Flash’s flashy, colorful costume and Deathstroke’s black and white. Very striking, and executed in Sook’s usual preeminent manner. www.ryansook.com #DCComics #Deathstroke #Ryansook |
 |
 |
| RAGMAN #1 DC Comics Guillem March The dynamism and boldness of this cover just jump off the page. The command of the hands, the focus of the pictures and the little hints of Bernie Wrightson inking, make this a cover to note. @guillemmarch @DCComics #Ragman #Guillemmarch #DCcomics |
SCOOBY APOCALYPSE DC Comics Carlos D’Anda While a little busy, I love the colors and the spot on anatomy. I like the sense of danger I get from the facial expressions. Overall great design. #ScoobyApocalypse #Carlosdanda @cdeeanda |
 |
 |
| SAVAGE THINGS #8 Vertigo Comics John Paul Leon I was determined not to include a John Paul Leon this month, but come on. No one does as much visually with so few strokes. I mean look at the tire tracks for gosh sakes, they are just squiggly lines, but they are perfect. The weight of the snow, which isn’t even rendered, but suggested. Annoyingly excellent. @vertigo_comics @johnpaulleon #savagethings #johnpaulleon #vertigocomics |
MOTOR CRUSH #7 Image Babs Tarr Motor Crush #7 by Babs Tarr is worth noting because stylistically it is so far from her super slick, clean look on Batgirl. It is a bold, in-your-face, cover dripping with attitude. Sometimes it’s just nice to see an artist cut loose. @imagecomics @babsdraws #motorcrush #babstarr #imagecomics |
 |
 |
| Rocket Girl #10 Image Amy Reeder I don’t even know what to make of this cover. When I look at all the different elements I think it shouldn’t really work, But there is just something about the design, maybe the risk of the design, that just keeps me looking at it. The swooping motion anchoring it all is really quite lovely. #rocketgirl #amyreeder #image @amyreeder @imagecomics |
ROCKET #6 Marvel Mike Mayhew From shiney trashcan robot last month to furry rodent this month, Mayhew (not that he needs to) proves he is the complete package and a master. Criminy, just look at it. The lighting is impeccable, absolutely stunning to the point of unbelieveable. And none of it overpowers the pathos of Rocket’s sad, little face. Aww, little buddy. This is my cover of the month. #rocketracoon #marvel #mikemayhew @marvel @mike_mayhew |
 |
 |
| GWENPOOL #21 Marvel Paulina Ganucheau Anyone who messes with convention as much as Paulina Ganucheau does on this cover deserves a note. I get the character is a bit more prone to this kind of cover, but what a brilliant break of the 4th wall, the sense of dimension and bright colors are awesome, and Paste Pot Pete got what was coming him. @plinaganucheau #gwenpool #paulinaganucheau |
4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK Black Mask Studios Tyler Boss Really a pretty distinct design. I like the slightly unusual color scheme. Everything is very clear and well rendered. #blackmaskstudios @blackmaskstudio #tylerboss @boycartoonist #4kidswalkintoabank |
 |
 |
| AVATAR PRESS OVERSTOCK SALE Avatar Press Also worth noting in a coverless sort of way, Avatar Press is having an overstock sale, and it is a great opportunity to grab some excellent books at low prices. Pretty much any of their titles from the last couple of years are available for $5.99 a trade through your local dealer. I would recommend FREAK ANGELS, BLACK SUMMER, and GRAVEL by Warren Ellis, but George R.R. Martin’s FEVRE DREAM, Garth Ennis’ 303, STREETS OF GLORY , Warren Ellis’ BLACK GAS, DOKTOR SLEEPLESS, IGNITION CITY, ANNA MERCURY, CAPTAIN SWING and Si Spurrier’s DISENCHANTED are also good. If you’re look something a little different and off beat now is your chance to cash in! #avatarpress #warrenellis #garthennis @avatarpress #freakangels #blacksummer |
THE COMPLETE OKKO Boom Studios Hub Yeah the cover’s nice, that’s because mostly whatever Hub draws is nice. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading OKKO yet you should. Gorgeous art & colors, great, mysterious stories simmered in the supernatural, well developed characters that drive the action. This really is a cut above the rest. And Bonus, the never before release volume 5 is included! Totally worth your money in every way. (Note: release Date is December. Oh my gosh, just in time for Christmas…) #okko #hub #boomstudios @boomstudios #humbertchabuel |
 |
 |
| RED SONJA #10 Boom Studios Ben Caldwell Well, there are a lot of covers for this book this month, but the one that really stands out is Ben Caldwell’s. Again what stands out here is that he’s upped his game from his usual cartoony style. Yes, the style is still cartoony, but his use of colors, which are terrific, give it a whole new polish, life. His line and proportions are much more sophisticated. Looking back, his cover for issue #5 is really good too. @bencaldwellart #redsonja #boomstudios #bencaldwell |
SCORCH TP Devil’s Due Ashley Witter Appropriately Devil’s Due brings us an updated second printing of Ashley Witter’s SCORCH, the tale of a demon living in the world as a young teen in suburban America.I believe this was first a web comic. Ashley Witter is wildly talented and the art in this book blew me away when I first saw it a couple of years ago. She is talented enough to flip from cartoony to super realistic like in another project of hers #SQUARRIORS. @ashleymwitter @devilsdue #Scorch #ashleywitter #Devilsdue |
 |
 |
| NIOBI: SHE IS LIFE TP Stranger Comics Hyoung Taek Nam Certainly well drawn with great, uncluttered detail, but what is most striking is the character’s expression. It just draws you in and catches your breath a bit. @rednight81 #Noibi #HyoungNam #strangercomics |
FANTOMAH: UP FROM THE DEEP Chapter House Djibril Morisette Well drawn, negative space cover. Very clear, very captivating. Hints at the story within. #fantomah @djibrilMP #chapterhouse #djibrilmorisette @chapterhouseca |
 |
 |
| KID LOBOTOMY #1 IDW Peter Milligan Just a note, Kid Lobotomy looks pretty cool this month from IDW.Peter Milligan is awesome in surreally way maybe even a bit psychedelic, but makes all his stories work is unpredictability. He seems never to be satisfied with an easy out and favors complicated ideas over tropes. Who knows what he’ll do in the unfettered environment at IDW. As a primer both “Minx” (1998) & “Girl” (1996) from Vertigo are two of my favorite mini-series. His work on “X-Statix” for Marvel was way out of the bounds of a normal super hero book and enjoyable because of it. Another off the beaten path title you might like was his “Greek Street” for Vertigo in 2009. #kidlobotomy #petermilligan #IDW @1petermilligan @idwpublishing |
MOTOR GIRL TP Abstract Studios Terry Moore Yeah, you’re right, while good the cover is not so spectacular. So why include it?I include it because Motor Girl has been an absolute pleasant surprise since it came out,And it’s a gift that keeps on giving. If you haven’t picked it up yet, now is your chance.It is just a totally enjoyable romp, peppered with sincere moments of poignancy. It is a great character driven story, with great art, and characters to care about. #Motorgirl #terrymoore @terrymooreart |
Please follow and like us:
