Most comic book fans have a solid idea of what they buy each week when they go to their local comic book store. That said, there’s still a lot of fun to be had in skimming through the week’s new releases and trying out books that look promising, interesting, or scary. That’s where the cover comes in. Great images make a difference. You can either try something new or you can say, “No, I’m not going to do it this week.”
In that spirit, we present the covers that caught our attention this week, along with an entry by comics editor Chris Coplan. This can be determined by the cover.
Ultimate Spider-Man #11
Variant cover by Terry Dodson
Based on the solicitation alone, Spider-Man is in a lot of trouble in issue #11. There’s talk about tension between Spidey and the Green Goblin, a new villain, and a big role for Black Cat. But why focus on thrilling danger when you can have a little fun with this holiday-themed Terry Dodson variant cover? Admittedly, holiday covers can feel a bit hit or miss (at least for me). The best covers are always around Halloween, and Christmas often feels a little too gimmicky. But Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show that even amidst the turmoil of his burgeoning superhero career, Peter Parker is still able to make time for his family. Not only that, he’s not afraid to show his love to his wife with an intricate upside-down kiss, even in front of their kids. (Perhaps some of us would adjust better if our parents showed us more of this kind of love.) The Norman Rockwell vibe is clearly on point. , which brings to mind the simple relatability and charm of this cover. And that dynamic works the magic of the holidays, opens up this issue’s big thread, and ultimately complements this version of Spider-Man, providing a fantastic cover that shows the undeniable core of humanity, regardless of events. Feels like a way/bad guys. Good luck, Spider Fam!
Wonder Woman #15
Variant cover by David Tarasky
And speaking of “things are about to get serious for our heroes,” Wonder Woman #15 is a huge deal for everyone’s favorite Amazon. In “The Beginning of the End of the Sovereign,” Princess Diana struggles with her career in the midst of a major loss and the birth of her child. With all these emotions in the air, it seems like it’s time to look back with this gorgeous David Tarasky variant cover. So why not choose, for example, the main cover (by Daniel Sampere and Tomeu Mory), which masterfully captures the enormous emotion of Princess Diana wrestling like a 2,000-pound magical crocodile? Well, if you look at this cover, you can see that the Invisible Jet uses invisible bolts. It’s great to see this (even if it feels like a given). Or maybe there’s something classic and timeless about Princess Diana that makes retro homages as relevant today as they were in the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s. All of this is to say that this cover proves that Diana can always (sometimes literally) come out on top, and that no matter how brief things get, it’s the heart that defines her. , joy, and power. We can always rely on her for something inherently human, and she carries burdens that we cannot always manage. We are her invisible jet birds and it’s really great to share the same space.
Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs #1
Cover by Kelsey Ramsey and Jose Villarrubia
The Horizon Experiment spotlights a variety of creators, offering their own unique twist on genre storytelling. For example, we’ve already seen Muslim John Constantine, and now writer Tanariv Due and artist Kelsey Ramsey have teamed up to tell the story of an “East African werewolf secretly living in Miami.” are. And if that premise alone wasn’t already howling at the moon, the #1 cover (by Ramsay and series colorist Jose Villarrubia) came at us like a ravenous wolf. It will jump in. Feeling true shades of cyberpunk/Akira (mainly from its sweet cycles mixed with crumbling architecture), it feels like an interesting update to your average werewolf story. I also like how the werewolves are portrayed as a perfect balance between human and beast here, which feels both innovative and eloquent to the scope of this story. And of course we have to talk about the Miami/tropical influence and vibe. You don’t always associate Will Smith’s favorite city with werewolves, but it’s another thread/layer to this story that makes it pop with newness and intensity. So far, Horizon Experiment has offered some thoughtful new takes, but this time it’s able to shine a little more light and love on some deserving characters and creators.
Godzilla Rivals: King Ghidorah vs. SpaceGodzilla #1
Cover by Kevin Anthony Catalan
Now that he’s done with skateboarding, it looks like he’s going to tell the story of his lost family in Godzilla Rivals: King Ghidorah vs. SpaceGodzilla #1. (OK, faithful Godzilla, I know there’s a difference between the Big One and SpaceGodzilla, so don’t come at me for my little freedom.) Dave Baker and Kevin Anthony Catalan This story follows Ryuichi after he loses most of his things. Entrusting his family to the monsters, he heads to Musashi Island to rescue his estranged father as the battle royale between King Ghidorah and Space Godzilla continues. That’s all you need to know. A moving story of loss and the fading flame of hope in the midst of a giant monster that bites and shoots atomic flames. This is proof that the best Godzilla stories have it all, and a really good entry point into this story makes the resulting madness and monster carnage all the more satisfying. It means that it will become. If anything, the monster’s actions are often a direct translation of what humanity is all about, a way to work out these big ideas and emotions in a way that feels particularly immediate. (You’ve probably never thought of that before, have you?) Either way, the more Godzillas doing dope work on our shelves, the better off the world will be, even in the short term. It seems to be the case.
Rocket Fellers #1
Variant cover by Mike Del Mundo
Indeed, the premise of Rocketfellers is both new and entirely familiar. Because while an entire future family in a dangerous situation might cry out that the Robinson family is lost in space, the fact that the fate of the Rocketfeller family is tied to the larger destiny of humanity as a whole is especially Because it’s innovative. (What else would you expect from a creative team like Peter J. Tomasi and Francis Manapul?) It’s this old-new dynamic that led me to this truly lovely Mike Del Mundo variant cover for issue #1. That’s why I chose it. Again, there’s something about the whole approach that feels like the Norman Rockwell of indie comics, and that one-two explosion of charm and cheese is really powerful. At the same time, no alligator has ever appeared in Rockwell’s work before, and this feels like the perfect piece to confound the family of time travelers hiding in our timeline. And there are other touches here, too, including a dog that may or may not be a biological experiment (why else would it look that way?) and a dog that may or may not be a biological experiment (why else would it look that way?) and a dog that may or may not be a biological experiment, or something like this is a postcard from the past or the future. Things like the fact that it’s printed in a way that makes it feel like something. (And that uncertainty is a joy). All of this strikes a balance between warm and familiar and new and exciting themes and ideas, and that balance may be the key to how the book goes. Welcome back (?), Rocket Fellers.
Inbokodo #1
Cover by Katlego Motown
Some people avoid new books because they don’t have the time or patience to watch a new story world unfold. Especially if you have a book that you’ve been following for years. (And to those people, I fired off a raspberry that will forever resonate.) But I have a feeling that Invodko might be different — based on the solicitation alone, this story is fleshed out intensely very early on. While I do so, I won’t dare try to summarize it here, but the stability and prowess are huge for this book’s potential. . However, if you don’t want to read about the scope and features of this Afro-futuristic tale, take a peek at the cover by series artist Katlego Motaung. The use of dark hues and overall shading gives this piece great power and almost immediately sets a certain emotional tone. There’s also a strangely retro tinge to the weapons and clothing here, which extends and enhances the futurism in a really clever and convincing way. The detail work alone, where you can actually feel things tearing and tearing apart in real-time, goes a long way toward adding to the sheer power of this cover and the corresponding series. Whatever this story has planned, this cover means I’m ready to roll head over heels with joy and curiosity.
Catwoman #70
Cover by Sebastian Fiumara
Just like Spider-Man and Wonder Woman, Selina Kyle finds herself in a difficult situation. Chased by an unknown assassin, she travels to Berlin to “reconnect with one of her old accomplices from her wanderings as an international thief” in order to solve the case before it’s too late. Depart for. And certainly they could have shown, for example, Catwoman hanging from a building in a dangerous situation to show the current danger. But I love what Sebastian Fiumara did with this variant cover. Because this presentation feels powerful in a story where Selina explores and confronts her past identity. (It’s like she stepped into the weirdest performance art in a small Berlin theater.) Add in an old steamer case and other knick-knacks, and you’ve got “Selina Kyle” at its most painful and gut-wrenching. It’s like you’re looking at a different version. , this is your life. Catwoman has always had a strong sense of self and what she wants and who she is. This mysterious killer hit Selina where it hurt the most. Serena is forced to reconsider what she did (and why), where her life is headed, and maybe what it really means. It’s a harsh and powerful exploration of Selina, the kind of unflinching portrait that benefits this multifaceted character.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1
Variant cover by Vincenzo Federici
Described as “the coolest ninja showdown you’ve ever dreamed of,” the match brings together Naruto and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in a story that will dropkick the hearts of people around the world. Now, is there a story explanation for how these universes collided? Of course. Does it really matter now? no. Because you get to play one of my favorite games in the history of “Judging by the Cover”: “Which of these 1,376 variant covers would you choose?!” This Hendry Prasetya production is great because everyone is well posed and it positions Shredder as a powerful villain. Alternatively, this “Dichotomy” piece by Felipe Smith does a great job of visually comparing and contrasting Naruto TMNT in a fun and effective way. Pizza has such a great unifying force that I almost chose this David Nakayama cover. But in the end, I went with this Vincenzo Federici variant cover for two important reasons. For one, it felt like Naruto’s “gang” was doing TMNT at its best, and the Turtles were channeling Naruto (even if it’s just in their wacky runs) ). And two, it captures the kinetic energy and overall silly joy that was supposed to characterize this book. That, and the TMNT wearing these sigils somehow feel like they’re extra important. Like a pizza covered in gummy bugs, this could be a sweet and wild fun treat.
Arashi #2
Cover by Mateusz Manhanini
I hope this isn’t a spoiler (it’s been a month, guys), but Storm #1 was a great start to a standalone book. Without compromising much of her means, Ms. Storm found herself staring down her final days after the Oklahoma incident “turned her cells into a ticking time bomb.” So in issue #2, she either gets life-saving help from the Night Nurse’s medical abilities, or magic courtesy of Doctor Voodoo. And while it seems as if Voodoo is the best/only bet based on this cover by Mateusz Manhanini, I think it goes deeper than that. A storm engulfed by magic and wild animals is a very powerful metaphor for death. She finds herself being dragged along by something she doesn’t fully understand or connect with. And that’s a terrible ending, if there ever was one. And there’s a kind of shock mixed with defiance on Storm’s face, as if she’s trying to overcome all the sharpness and suddenness and keep herself together in this slowly creeping horror. Add small details like water on your hands. — which makes the situation feel both reminiscent and undeniably real. Despite her best efforts, Storm ultimately finds herself in a universal position, which only makes her more relatable and appealing. I hope this isn’t the end, but if it is, it’s forever.
