Cover Fire 11/1/2023

The Most Fire Cover From This Wednesday’s Releases
11/1/2023
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! –
There was no episode this week, but re-watch last week’s for some cover lovin’ (and hatin’)… 


Weekly Rundown…
Happy Halloween, everyone! Be safe out there tonight. It is a bit of a slow week for covers, but there are a few bangers. Here are a few quick notes before we get rolling:

Man, the Nunez cover for MotU is almost really good. Darn!
I’m already sick of Spider-Boy. Am I alone?
Lots of “meh,” this week.
I expected better Halloween stuff this year. Oh well.

That’s all I’ve got. Let’s dive into the goodies…
And this week’s winner is…

White Widow #1d
PUBLISHED: Marvel – 11/1/23
ARTIST: Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
The far-and-away winner for the week. This is prime-time ‘germ! I love that it isn’t the same stock bust-up pose we usually get and there is exquisite lighting. I know, I know… it’s another sexy lady cover winning the week. HOWEVER, the past three weeks’ winners have NOT been. Anyhow, this is sexy, powerful and is quite simply a masterful composition.
*****
RUNNERS UP
*****

Ultimate Universe #1b
PUBLISHED: Marvel – 11/1/23
ARTIST: Ben Harvey
I have been waiting a long time for a Thor cover that has the attitude I want. This one finally delivers! It is regal, powerful and timeless. Bravo, Harvey! It has impeccable attention to background and depth along with excellent detail and composition.
 

Supergirl Special #1c
PUBLISHED: DC – 10/31/23
ARTIST: Will Jack
This cover goes against everything I USUALLYH like (a glamour pose and a clearly digital piece)… HOWEVER, when a digital artist can get a piece to the level of looking like a painting, all bets are off. This may be a bit of an Artgerm rip-off, but honestly… who cares. It is lovely, nonetheless. He really got the lighting and the face right on this one and thus, it is quite alluring.
*****
STIFF COMPETITION
*****

Usagi Yojimbo: Ice & Snow #2b
PUBLISHED: Dark Horse – 11/1/23
ARTIST:Jared Cullum
I have to say that there have been some outstanding Usagi covers NOT by Sakai over the past year or so. This is right up there as it has great dynamics, depth, color palette and amazing lines while creating a mood that captures the Eastern aesthetic perfectly.
 

Transformers #1L (2nd Print)
PUBLISHED: Image – 11/1/23
ARTIST: C. Lewis LaRosa
This piece is so good that it could easily have been the poster art for the 1986 Animated movie. It is REALLY difficult to make a team shot compelling and not feel cluttered. LaRosa manages to nail it. Also, it is really nice to see Arcee getting the cover love she deserves after decades of getting the shaft.
NOTE: There is a Decepticons companion cover to this one, but it just isn’t quite as good.
 

Sensational She-Hulk #1i
PUBLISHED: Marvel – 11/1/23
ARTIST: Adam Hughes
A mediocre Hughes, but that’s still better than 90% of the week’s covers. I particularly like the trade dress being employed into the art. It’s fun and sexy… the AH! formula. If it ain’t broke…
*****
WORTH A 2nd LOOK
*****

Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War –  Scorched Earth #1c – Kendrick Lim – DC – 10/31/23

Lim has not really impressed me since his first couple of covers a few years ago, but I have to say he’s back on his sexy game with this one. For me, this one is too digital, but some people don’t care about such things.


Detective Comics #1056b – Jason Shawn Alexander – DC – 10/31/23

I’m hit or miss on Alexander’s covers, but this one has a great feel to it. There are some weird choices to be sure, but those choices lend to the impressionistic mania of it. (The Christopher Mitten “C” cover is pretty cool, too).


Supergirl Special #1b – Frank Cho – DC – 10/31/23

I am a huge Cho homer, but I haven’t loved  a lot of his recent work. This is an exception, however. Just the right level of sexy.


Savage Red Sonja #1a – Dan Panosian – Dynamite – 11/1/23

Just a solid piece by an excellent artist.


Savage Red Sonja #1b – Frank Cho – Dynamite – 11/1/23

I like that this isn’t the same Cho Sonja pose that we get over an over. There is something strange about the right eye, but it’s a coloring issue as it doesn’t look weird in the lineart variant.


Vampirella: Dead Flowers #2a – Lucio Parrillo – Dynamite – 11/1/23

A good-not-great Parrillo. He still blows almost everyone else away, but he didn’t quite get the face/head right on this one. The rest of it, though…!!!


Doctor Strange #9a – Alex Ross – Marvel – 11/1/23

There are a few decent Ross covers this week, but this one is the hit with amazing color that exudes excellent emotion. The man is a genius. Thre is just something timeless about his best covers.


Scarlet Witch #10c – Felipe Massafera – Marvel – 11/1/23

This one is perhaps a little overworked and I wish it had just been Scarlet Witch on the cover, but either way it is amazing work and mastery over the medium.


Star Wars #40c – Mike Del Mundo – Marvel – 11/1/23

LIFE DAY! So bad that it’s amazing! I have to have this. Honestly, compositionally, this is an outstanding cover. That said, it is a little silly and only for a select small group of fans. Thus, it is down here.


Hard Case Crime: Heat Seeker – A Gun Honey Series #4a – Fay Dalton – Titan – 11/1/23

I like-don’t-love this one. I am usually in love with Dalton’s work and it is a nice piece, but there is something about it that doesn’t thrill me. Either way, it ends up just making the list.

*****
There were a bunch of other “almosts” that could have made the list, but something about each of them was uninspiring to me. Thus, as 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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