Cover Fire 10/4/2023

The Most Fire Cover From This Wednesday’s Releases
10/4/2023
 
NO INCENTIVE VARIANTS OR STORE EXCLUSIVE VARIANTS ARE COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE. THIS FEATURE IS ABOUT COVER AESTHETICS, ONLY, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEC.
HOWEVER… For this week’s INCENTIVES and EXCLUSIVES needs, check out the weekly “COVER LOVERS” podcast with TEAM NERD HERD and me, RIGHT NOW!

Weekly Rundown…
Welcome back, friends, to yet another edition of Cover Fire. This week (unlike last week) is kind of a letdown. There are a few covers worth noting. However, I wouldn’t disagree if you decided to lock up your wallet and skip the week. I don’t really have very many notes other than that I’m disappointed in so many of the Transformers #1 offerings. Also, Star Wars covers are a bust for the week and even MotU is kind of a drag this time around. Oh well, it can’t rain all the time.
And this week’s winner is…

Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #11c
PUBLISHED: DC – 10/3/23
ARTIST: Marco Mastrazzo
I’ve said it many times and I’ll gladly reiterate it; Mastrazzo is a genius and people don’t talk about him enough. This cover is proof-positive of that fact. With incredible detail, lighting and just overall feeling, this cover seemed like the clear winner. I had it up against one other for the week, but in the end the choice seemed obvious. At this stage in the game 70+ years since his inception, it’s awfully tough to come up with a Joker cover that feels unique, but somehow Marco manages to do it.
*****
RUNNERS UP
*****

Vampirella: Dead Flowers #1d
PUBLISHED: Dynamite – 10/4/23
ARTIST: Sara Frazetta & Bob Freeman
In full disclosure, I came VERY close to choosing this as this week’s winner. There is just something so intriguing about its simplicity. I actually love that it’s just inks over sepia as it feels like vintage Vampi art to me a la Enric Torres Pratt and/or Jose Gonzales… and the lines are perfect. This is a gorgeous cover and it will likely go WAY under the radar. Keep in mind that this is by Frank Frazetta’s granddaughter.
 

Alien Annual #1b
PUBLISHED: Marvel – 10/4/23
ARTIST: Marco Mastrazzo
And here is Marco crushing it on a second cover this week. This one is a little less original than his Joker cover, but it is still unbelievable. Alien covers all begin to look the same after a while, but this one’s unique perspective, breathtaking lighting which provides excellent depth, and wonderous detail send it WAY over the top. Providing some environmental foundation is what really makes this such a great composition.
*****
STIFF COMPETITION
*****

Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest #4b
PUBLISHED: Marvel – 10/4/23
ARTIST: Meghan Hetrick
Really cool background and “power” effects make this one a win. I love Hetrick’s style as Cap looks simultaneously sexy and powerful. The contrast is amazing and the cover (albeit with too much trade dress) is compelling.
 

Sheena: Queen of the Jungle #2a
PUBLISHED: Dynamite – 10/4/23
ARTIST: Lucio Parrillo
There’s a little bit of “rinse and repeat” going on with this cover and lighting is a little strange, but it is difficult to deny the artistic prowess of such a powerhouse master of oil paint. His understanding of anatomy and pose is brilliant every time… oh, and it is dead sexy as usual.
 

Poison Ivy #15c
PUBLISHED: DC – 10/3/23
ARTIST: Sozomaika
Not my favorite Sozo, but certainly solid. I think I love the attitude of it more than anything else. The colors and flow of the linework is also outstanding. We’ve seen similar depictions of Ivy from other artists, but somehow Sozomaika’s rendition is better as I feel her understanding of design aesthetic is keener.
*****
WORTH A 2nd LOOK
*****

Fire and Ice: Welcome to Smallville – Greg Smallwood – DC – 10/3/23

Not the most compelling composition in the world and an even less intriguing book, but the art is really solid and worth a closer look.


Disney Villains: Maleficent #5e – Erica Durso – Dynamite – 10/4/23

We’ve certainly had better covers in this series, but this is the most solid from this issue’s bunch. Good-not-great.


Disney Villains: Maleficent #5o – J. Scott Campbell – Dynamite – 10/4/23

I mostly love this as a departure in an artist’s style, but the overall effect is also good. Simple is sometimes better.


Vampirella: Dead Flowers #1a – Lucio Parrillo – Dynamite – 10/4/23

Not as good as his Sheena for the week (the face seems a little off to me), but a very nice homage to the OG Frazetta Vampi #1.


Transformers #1a – Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer – Image – 10/4/23

The only decent regular cover. It has a nice classic 80’s vintage TF feel to it. Nothing to write home about, though.


X-Men #27f – Martin Coccolo – Marvel – 10/4/23

Dark and creepy Wolvie. Cool in my book!

AS A NOTE, there was no solicited image of the Legend Fell #3 painted Dragons limited cover at the time of this writing, but if it is anything like the other two, it would probably make this list. 
*****
Like I said in the intro, not the biggest banger of a week. Like usual, I’m sure I left a few off that you liked. Let me know what I missed down in the comments. Until next time, stay cool, be good to each other, thanks for reading and happy hunting.


 
*****
NOTE: All products, pictures, names, descriptions and logos are property of their respective copyright and trademark holders. No items are listed for sale. All information is for educational purposes, only.
*****
 
 

 
 
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