Archive for category Covers
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 5/16/12
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Devil’s Engine #1 by Duncan Fegredo
As soon as I saw the smoking cyborg demon, ‘The Devil’s Engine’ tagline made sense to me. If the devil’s engine was a living breathing thing, I’m pretty sure that mechanical maniacal monstrosity would be a fair representation of it. It almost looks like Hellboy, had he discovered steampunk in his rebellious years. Anyway, the different shades of red with the ominous plumes of smoke and fire engulfing the background really do it for me. That train better get up to speed, or else it’s totally screwed! Another wonderful job by Mr. Fegredo.
Scalped #58 by Jock
Maybe it’s the pearl necklace and earrings, but with that combo and the representation of her nose and mouth with the graveyard motif, it really reminds me of some of the Mexican skull art, only with flesh instead of bone. It’s a beautiful design, and wonderfully executed, but something about it still gives me the willies (only slightly). There’s a great use of color too, with the pinkish tones highlighting her eyes and the left side of her face. It says ‘graveyard’, ‘sunset’, ‘she worries’ to me. This being Scalped, all three are definitely a possibility.
Glory #26 by Ulises Farinas
Once again, I’m completely astounded by the level of detail Ulises Farinas puts into his covers. Every one I’ve seen illustrated by him is poster-worthy, for I find myself just in complete awe with his attention to detail. You can’t just quickly flip past a cover like this; like a fine wine, you must take it all in to really appreciate the amount of effort put into it. Bodies of all races, sizes, and species strewn across the battlefield and beyond; an entire kingdom conquered by a badass named Glory, and she’s coming for you the reader next…if you don’t buy this issue! Wonderful stuff, without even realizing it my hand made a dash for my wallet.
Dancer #1 by Nic Klein
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
-Elton John, Tiny Dancer
Fury MAX #2 by Dave Johnson
My favorite cover of the week, hands-down. Johnson strategically placing everything we need to know about this issue in the outline of a sexy French babe. Wearing the images like a dress, almost. Somewhere out there on the runway, Donatella Versace was just inspired for her spring collection (I didn’t even know she was a Nick Fury fan!). Beautiful and sexy, how every cover should be, Dave Johnson proves once again with ease why he’s the best.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 5/9/12
Higher Earth #1 (Cover C) by Frazer Irving
First things first; I love the cooler colors popping-off the warmth of the circle behind them. This sword-wielding duo had me at ‘hello’ when I first saw the press release for this series a few months ago. I’m a big fan of Irving’s dynamic style, and the background images have their own story to tell as well to the careful observer. The positioning of the characters feels intense as they make their way up, up, and away! Fantastic cover to start things off with, and I love the overall intensity of this image.
Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #5 by Dave Johnson
Reminding me of the movie posters from days long gone, this cover does a superb job at capturing the look and feel of the time period. The protagonist, Lobster Johnson, firing his way through an army of undead ghouls, while the villains are highlighted front and center. It may just be the layout, but I love that there’s no panel borders keeping everything separate. The images are the boundaries themselves. It all flows together smoothly, and really captures your attention. Another job well done by the Reverend Dave Johnson!
Mystery In Space #1 by Mike Allred
So that’s where Tobias Fünke has been hanging out! Actually, the more I study this azure alien, the more it slightly reminds me of a cosmic Dr. Manhattan of sorts. The theme being space and mysteries and the combination of the two, I really enjoy the inclusion of the toy robots and rocketships. Forget whatever psychic waves or transmissions you’re picking up; there are some awesome retro toys floating right next to you! Play with them already! Great job to Mr. Allred, for this cover is truly…out of this world.
Wolverine #306 by Chris Samnee & Javier Rodriguez
I think the main thing that draws me to this cover is just how outright bizarre it is. As if the floating decapitated head with blood dripping from the nostrils wasn’t enough, let’s make it look like Logan’s having some sort of brain lobotomy by actual-yet-freaky brains. Don’t even get me started on the inconvenient location for that cabin! Overall the image is simple and effective, and absolutely intriguing. The veins/tentacles of the brains are enough to make your skin crawl, and the blank stare from Logan is the cherry on top. Great job Mr. Samnee, you sick bastard!
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 5/2/12
Posted by Cammy in Covers, Weekly Reviews on May 4, 2012
Dial H #1 by Brian Bolland
If there’s something strange, in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Brian Bolland! The thing I love about Bolland is that his style is always so consistent. Everything from the incredibly detailed characters, to the natural shine gleaming-off all skin. The creature in the top-right corner is particularly disturbing to me, with the long and pointy fingers. Reminds me slightly of a character in Locke & Key, which leaves me wanting a Bolland / Rodriguez team-up really badly. The dude is a master, as this cover clearly demonstrates.
Daredevil #12 by Paolo Rivera
Va-Va-VOOM! Oh Mr. Murdock, you naughty boy. Then again, I can see how having that special sense would come in handy on the dating scene. Fake, or natural? Matt Murdock is on the case! I just simply enjoy the mixed styles, with the radar-sense intertwining with the sexiness of the situation. “Here comes Daredevil” indeed!
Mind The Gap #1 by Rodin Esquejo & Sonia Oback
If there’s one thing I’m a sucker for, it’s vibrant colors mixing together. And to have them mix in someone’s hair?! Why aren’t girls rockin’ this ‘do’ yet?? I totally would if mine were long enough. I think it’s the rosy nose and pink, slightly-parted lips that completely sink their hooks into me, having me completely embrace this cover. Esquejo and Oback really knocked this one out of the park, and it’s just a complete joy to stare at (but not in a creepy way).
Spider #1 by Francesco Francavilla
My favorite cover of the week, hands-down. I don’t feel the need to explain my pick because it’s from the extremely talented Mr. Francavilla, and I’ve exhausted my thesaurus when it comes to praising him this week. So sit back, soak this masterpiece in, and thank whatever gods you worship that people like Francesco Francavilla exist in the world.
X-O Manowar #1 by Esad Ribic
When Ribic was on art duties with Jonathan Hickman’s Ultimates, I wasn’t that much of a fan of the slight shift in his art style. With his return to covers like this one though, he’s instantly won back my heart once more. With the faint illuminating glow from the electric sword, to capturing the intensity of the fight in facial expressions and body movement, Ribic does a superb job illustrating this cover. It helps get me pumped to read this new ongoing series again from Valiant; Esad Ribic leading the way with style!
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 4/18/12
Fables #116 by Joao Ruas
This cover reminds me of what my childhood fantasies consisted of; Calvin & Hobbes re-imagined. The zig-zag lines are first thing to catch my eye, popping on the muddled yellow background. Then to have the boy and mechanical tiger in the foreground in light grays? Beautiful. So many images to study in this cover, that I can’t help but smile at the end result. For a title like Fables, this is the perfect cover to hook the readers with, informing you what to expect on the inside.
Uncanny X-Force #24 (Variant) by Julian Totino Tedesco
Immediately A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte came to mind, and it’s very cool homage when you add superheroes into the mix. I especially chuckled at the presence of Hulk, and how he’s looking the wrong way.
The Secret History of D.B. Cooper #2 by Brian Churilla
For such a trippy and exciting comic, comes the perfect matching cover for it. This cover tells you all you need to know about this series, and the psychedelic mayhem that ensues on the inside. The several different elements competing for your attention works marvelously, all entwined together in an explosion of chaos and colors. This cover is a drug, and I never want to stop chasing the white rabbit because of it.
Wolverine and the X-Men #9 (Variant) by Alex Maleev
My favorite cover of the week, hands-down. Alex Maleev does a brilliant job producing such a gorgeous piece of abstract art fit for any museum, and yet it’s a variant cover for a comic book. The smudges, the different tones, all just simply stunning. I love the slimmer Thor, the simplistic Iron Man, and the James Dean-esque look of Captain America. I want this framed on my wall, pronto.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 4/11/12
Dark Matter #4 by Garry Brown
An explosive start to the covers this week! Garry Brown (as usual) blows my eyeballs away with another action-packed cover for Dark Matter. His covers remind me of the big blockbuster Sci-Fi movies that Hollywood loves cranking out, only if this were an actual movie poster, I’d be buying tickets to the midnight showing in a heartbeat. I love the jagged blasts from the guns, as the commandos are engulfed in flames all around. Add the destroyed spaceship above the title and this cover just kills it!
The Unwritten #36 by Yuko Shimizu
Donnie Darko; the later years.
Alabaster Wolves #1 by Greg Ruth
Maybe it’s just because I’m in the current mindset, but The Hunger Games slightly comes to mind when viewing this cover. I say this only because the gal with the knife reminds me a little of Katniss, and this four-headed specter is just another one of the game pieces in play at the arena. Seriously though, this cover is intense and intriguing, all rolled into one. I love the details in the long and tangled black hair, and the talon-like claws are just downright freaky. Even if I didn’t already see Steve Lieber’s name on the title, I would definitely would have picked it up based on the cover alone. Beautiful stuff!
Resurrection Man #8 by Rafael Albuquerque
Looks like Resurrection Man is The Flash all of a sudden, trying to outrun death. As awesome as this cover is, it just still kinda freaks me out a little seeing Albuquerque doing covers for other series outside of American Vampire. It almost feels like I caught him cheating on Scott Snyder, and this bastard is the result of him fooling around with other series. On a more serious note though, I love the different layers presented to us on this cover; map, death, and an active trail. The washes are gorgeous, and Rafael shows us once again why he is the master of his craft.
Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #4 Variant by Mike Mignola
As much as I marvel at the beauty of this cover, it upsets me a little at the same time. It upsets me in the sense that while Lobster Johnson is my favorite Mignola-verse character, I’ll never get a series starring him illustrated front-to-back by Mike Mignola. I remember the good old days (as many of us do) when it was Mignola writing and illustrating, with coloring by Dave Stewart. I understand that he’s a busy dude with the writing nowadays, but this cover just makes me long for that Mignola style on another Lobster Johnson miniseries. While I go cry in the corner, take a few minutes to take-in the essence of this cover, and then come join me. I’ll have the Kleenex ready.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 4/4/12
Animal Man #8 by Travel Foreman
I’ve always been a fan of black & white on a background of vibrant crimson. The sharp teeth of the wolves are terrifying, and just seeing the look on Buddy’s face is equally haunting. It’s almost like he’s trying to convey “I’ve made a huge mistake.” The ‘vs’ between the title is a also a nice touch, going along with the man versus beasts theme. Great cover to start out the weekend right with.
Daredevil #10.1 by Marcos Martin
I’m a fan of Martin taking the road less traveled when it comes to covers. This is a layout that’s a little less conventional, and a little more experimental. Am I looking at a cover for a comic book, or the latest Hollywood movie poster? The colors and imaging works well, with a little white box highlighting what he’s sensing in each situation. Finally, nice use of braille dots. At first I thought they might be bullet holes, this is a Daredevil comic after all, so it could work both ways.
iZombie #24 by Mike Allred
If you really want to impress me, try tuning them all at once! Not sure what this gal’s story is, but something tells me she’s bad news, and she makes it look good! The red and purple eyes captivate me, and with the devil-horns she’s throwing up, she could be the musical female equivalent of Dr. Strange! Now only if she had enough Marshall amps to hook them all up to. RIP, Jim Marshall.
Fanboys vs Zombies #1 (Cover E) by Ulises Farinas
“And the man at the back said
‘Everyone attack’ and it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said
‘Boy, I wanna warn ya, it’ll turn into a ballroom blitz’
Ballroom Blitz!“
-The Sweet, Ballroom Blitz
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 3/28/12
Avengers vs X-Men #0 by Frank Cho & Jason Keith
Alas, the controversial ‘vagina cover’ that we’ve been hearing about since it first appeared in previews. Cho has a history of ‘controversial’ covers, but one man’s ‘controversial’ is another man’s ‘art’, and for me it’s definitely the latter. I mean, let’s focus on the two characters we see; Scarlett Witch, and Hope. Both powerful women, and both have a much larger role to play in this event. I think it’s not only beautiful, but fitting that Cho has wrapped them in a cape that Wanda got in the Georgia O’Keeffe Collection. I think they have that collection available at Sears.
Daredevil #10 by Paolo Rivera
Where to begin with this cover? If it were up to me, Rivera would never leave this title. The way the man understands Daredevil’s vision and way of seeing things is one of the reasons I keep coming back to the title. So much fine detail in this cover, that it reminds me of those paintings you would see back in Middle Ages, framed and hanging on a museum wall somewhere. Rivera does a spectacular job of creating a combination of action and dread as Daredevil is in a fight for his life with the Moleman and his minions underground. Just the simple use of the color red works its own special magic, making the protagonist pop-out at the audience. This cover belongs in a museum!
Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #4 by Francesco Francavilla
First things first before I once again gush about Francavilla; I really like the specks and lines on the cover, making it seem like it’s an artifact from the 1940s. I simply marvel at the illustration of the lion, and the coloring on his face and mane. This cover also makes me laugh, because how can Flash Gordon not notice that gigantic lion to his right?! I almost expect a dialogue balloon to appear with him saying “clever girl” before being eaten alive. Great cover nonetheless!
Secret Avengers #24 by Arthur Adams & Laura Martin
My favorite cover of the week, hands-down. Adams and Martin do a superb job on this cover, making your eyes frantically dash about the image, trying to absorb the entire scene. So many characters, so many colorful costumes, all seeming to have a bone to pick with Captain Britain as they rocket towards the streets of London. Just the small detail of a few characters flying in front of the Secret Avengers logo makes me giddy! With Adams, it’s his line-work that always makes my jaw hit the floor, because he’s consistently amazing with every cover he produces. This one took a while to do I’m sure, but he makes it look like child’s play. Bravo Adams and Martin, my eye-orbs eternally thank you.
The New Deadwardians #1 by Cliff Chiang
A detailed black & white Cliff Chiang image on a mustard yellow background. I think I need a cigarette, and I don’t even smoke! I haven’t a clue what this new series is about, but this cover alone has gotten my undivided attention. Vampires, zombies, and the Victorian Era? I sense a new hit with the cosplayers! I want this image as a poster. I want this image painted on the hood of my car. But most importantly, I want this image on a mustard yellow t-shirt. Make it happen, DC.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 3/21/12
Star Trek / Legion of Super-Heroes #6 by Jeffrey Moy
So many pretty things are happening in this cover! I love the dominant purple shadings for each character, and with Saturn Girl in particular, I love the vertical pinkish streaks. The positioning of the trio of powerful women is also ascetically pleasing, with the water color space background so beautifully radical. Finally, it wouldn’t be a sci-fi cover without some USS Enterprise goodness sneaking onto the left! Great cover, and I’ll definitely miss this series.
Rebel Blood #1 by Riley Rossmo
This has to be by far one of the creepiest, most disturbing covers I’ve seen done by Riley Rossmo. And I love every inch of it! The amalgamation of both deer and rotting human carcass is a thing of my nightmares, and for whatever reason having the setting take place at the woods at night makes it even creepier. The discoloration on the skin, the intestines, all painted magnificently on a canvas, judging by the texture. Even though it would freak me out every time I passed by it, I would totally hang this up in my hallway!
B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth: The Long Death #2 by Duncan Fegredo
I’m not going to lie; I almost was driven to insanity trying to figure out what painting Duncan Fegredo based this cover on. The positioning of both monster and the body it’s eating was was so familiar, yet I could not for the life of me recall what painting, or artist, was the source. So for twenty minutes I was on Google image search, typing in different keywords and descriptions, when I finally found it: Saturn Devouring His Children by Goya. I kid you not; I’m going to sleep well tonight now that I’ve finally solved the mystery. Oh and by the way Mr. Fegredo, wonderful job!
Fables #115 by Joao Ruas
“The unconditional surrender of Germany has just been announced. At midnight tonight, the war is over. Tomorrow you’ll begin the process of looking for survivors of your families. In most cases… you won’t find them. After six long years of murder, victims are being mourned throughout the world. We’ve survived. Many of you have come up to me and thanked me. Thank yourselves. Thank your fearless Stern, and others among you who worried about you and faced death at every moment. I am a member of the Nazi Party. I’m a munitions manufacturer. I’m a profiteer of slave labor. I am… a criminal. At midnight, you’ll be free and I’ll be hunted. I shall remain with you until five minutes after midnight, after which time – and I hope you’ll forgive me – I have to flee.”
-Oskar Schindler, Schindler’s List
Monocyte #3 by Ben Templesmith
My favorite cover of the week, hands-down. The way Templesmith combines each of his strengths (painting, washes, digital) into one image just completely blows my mind, leaves me craving more. Just the wraparound cover layout intrigues me, and I find my eyes taking their sweet time studying every piece of the illustration. Who is this black angel of death, with a bloody sword and a body full of souls? No clue, but my gut tells me to be very afraid. Spectacular stuff, Mr. Templesmith, consider me once again charmed by your never-ending talent.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 03/14/12
Haunt #22 by Nathan Fox
Now that’s what I call a vacation! A margarita in one hand, a katana in the other, all while observing a topless ginger beauty crawling around on all fours over a bed of broken bones. Wait, what?! While the naked woman is very intriguing (as they always are), I found my eye wandering to the landscapes behind all the action. The green hills with freckled patches of red plants pleases me, as do the blue crushed bones in the foreground. So yeah, your eyes definitely get some pleasant stimulation from all the colors and images spread about the cover.
The Unwritten #35 by Yuko Shimizu
What more can I say about Yuko that I haven’t said already? She gives us nothing less than perfection with these covers, that I almost feel the need to induct her into a Cammy’s Favorite Cover Artists Hall Of Fame just to give other artists a chance! But where would the fun in that be? It would prevent me from sharing with you all her utter brilliance when it comes to her brush connecting on a blank canvas. Or in this case, text. Suppose it would form complete sentences if she got cornrows?
Journey Into Mystery #635 by Stephanie Hans
I absolutely love the use of colors in this cover! The fire just explodes right off the page and singes my chin hairs! The swirls really grab my attention as well, so nice use of serpents being incorporated in the battle. As if regular serpents weren’t bad enough, this guy ups the ante with magical serpents! What an absolute prick. I’d love to see this cover as a poster, but I gotta deduct Marvel (not Hans) points due to that annoying banner at the top. Banners; the destroyers of art.
Warlord of Mars #16 by Joe Jusko
I think my months-long dry spell is finally catching up to me, for this is the second cover this week that involves a topless woman. Again, nothing wrong with the female form, but it’s the other things on this cover that really seduce me. First of all, the whole image being seen as a vision is spectacular, as the whole scenario flows smoothly from his eyes like smoke from a fire. Then there’s the use of warm and cool colors, differentiating what’s going on through the eyes of the beholder. Finally, the use of negative space creeping-up along the sides, focusing on just the front and center. Usually covers from Dynamite Entertainment tend to be dark horses in this covers race, but I gotta say this is my favorite cover of the week. It’s just so enchanting, that I can’t stop looking at it.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 3/7/12
Fatale #3 by Sean Phillips
This cover is just another fine example of Sean Phillips at his best. You have the haggard and serious character front and center, as a fiery explosion engulfs everything else on the cover. Brilliant use of washes and colors, and you just know this issue you’re about to read will definitely be action-packed. The slanted placement of the guy in such a stylized way really brings that extra taste of dramatics to this wonderful cover.
The Manhattan Projects #1 by Jonathan Hickman
I couldn’t find a website that would verify it, but I’m 1,000% certain Jonathan Hickman did the cover. His simplistic designs (and love of circles) are a staple with his style, and instantly I can recognize a Hickman cover. Hell, I did an entire paper on the man a few years ago in a graphic design course! And yet, I’m still hesitant. Boldly going forward with my assumptions, I must say this cover does a great job intriguing you. The hybrid figure and a brief synopsis are all I need, but let’s face it; you had me at the very beginning with ‘Hickman’.
Fairest #1 by Adam Hughes
When Adam Hughes does a cover, Adam Hughes does a cover. And a wrap-around cover, no less! What is this, Christmas AND my birthday?! With all that gushing being gushed and onto a more serious note, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hughes illustrate an ugly woman. I don’t think it’s in his DNA to ever do so. He couldn’t even if he tried! With a title like Fairest highlighting the adventures of Fables‘ finest (and fairest), it’s a perfect fit for Adam Hughes to be involved with this cover. He does a fantastic job distinguishing one maiden from another, with their various quirks and features. This is the poster you need not only for your bedroom, but for that one Fables fan you have in your life (and face it, we all have that one person).
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