Cover Fire 7/12/2023

The Most Fire Cover From This Wednesday’s Releases
7/12/2023
WARNING: SOME IMAGES MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO SENSITIVE VIEWERS!
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 to Cover Fire, fine folks! Lots of meh, this week. However, there are also some bangers. It was really tough to choose the winners.
Here are a few notes:

I wish the Knight Terrors Robin Stokoe was just the Batman “Bats” elements. It might have been the winner if it had been released like that. Oh well.
No, I don’t like the Kunkka Lim cover for Knight Terrors Zatanna before you ask. Not every butt cover is a good one.
I’m upset with the Rocketeer covers this week. Sigh!
Really?! TMNT/Stranger Things crossover?! Who asked for that? Ugh!
I am also not choosing Frison Sirens of the City, this week. Meh.

Let’s get right down to it, shall we?…
And this week’s co-winners are…

Ascencia #18
PUBLISHED: Wake – 7/12/23
ARTIST: Lucio Parrillo
My goodness gracious! Albeit, this is sexy, but the understanding of anatomy (especially the back musculature) is unbelievable!!! This is artisically the clear winner for the week. I realize that this might be a little too sexy for some collectors, but it is hard to deny the artistic mastery.
NOTE: This book hardly ever comes out when it is scheduled, so don’t be surprised if you don’t actually see it this week.
 

Frank Frazetta’s Death Dealer #14b
PUBLISHED: Opus – 7/12/23
ARTIST: Frank Frazetta
One of Frazetta’s classic pieces which has graced other covers before (which is why it isn’t the real winner). However, it is still far and away one of the best pieces of art from one of (if not THE) master of comic covers.
*****
RUNNERS UP
*****

Battle of Britain 2020 Special #1b
PUBLISHED: Rebellion – 7/12/23
ARTIST: Keith Burns
Woh! Man, do I love the drama and action of this thing (not to mention the bold color palette). For some who thought the above covers were both a little too lascivious, this one might be your winner.
 

Planet of the Apes #4b
PUBLISHED: Marvel – 7/12/23
ARTIST: John Giang
Wow! Just the detail alone make this outstanding. Some of the proportions are a little weird which is why it isn’t the winner, but otherwise, you get the grit, drama and ferociousness you’d want in an Apes cover. Giang kills it.
 

Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #36c
&
Star Wars: Darth Vader #36c
PUBLISHED: Marvel – 7/12/23
ARTIST: Jerry Ordway
Classics! Perfect. ’nuff said. Buy both.
*****
STIFF COMPETITION
*****

Danger Street #7b
PUBLISHED: DC – 7/11/23
ARTIST: Bill Sienkiewicz
An incredibly dynamic Sienk which is sure to get the $$ from fans like me. Great colors and motion on this one for The Joker. This feels like it should have been an incentive, but I’m glad it isn’t.
 

Dark Ride #7a
PUBLISHED: Image – 7/12/23
ARTIST: Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas
Wow! This is creepy. This entire series has had some incredible covers, but this one may take the prize. Whenever ther are kids on a cover, it is unsettling.
 

Bettie Page #2c
PUBLISHED: Dynamite – 7/12/23
ARTIST: Rebeca Puebla
I have been watching Puebla’s art very closely and hoping to feature her. Finally, I get to put her on the list as I really love this one. It has old-school 1950’s advertisement illustration written all over it which is perfect for a Bettie Page book.
*****
WORTH A 2nd LOOK
*****

Knight Terrors #1b – Francesco Mattina – DC – 7/11/23

Another excellent Mattina for this Knight Terrors “thing” DC is doing. He really has stepped up his game for these “B” covers. Great detail and lighting on this one and thankfully not too dark! I mean, how often do we get a great Deadman cover?!


Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU #5c – Helene Lenoble – DC – 7/11/23

Some people will absolutely love this cover. I am not among them, but I thought I should include it, regardless.


Bettie Page #2a – Joseph Michael Linsner – Dynamite – 7/12/23

Tough to hate this classic pin-up styled cover. Linsner still doing the “thing” and doing it perfectly. This is the perfect book for his style.


Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1b – Alan Quah – Dynamite – 7/12/23

The image looks a little distorted (like it’s stretched in a strange way), but the art is awesome. I hope this is just the solicitation image and that the real cover doesn’t have that weird stretch to it.


Lord of the Jungle #6a – Philip Tan – Dynamite – 7/12/23

Man, there is great detail and motion on this one. I’m not a huge fan of seeing a character’s back on a cover, but other elements make up for that on this one.


Lord of the Jungle #6e – Ken Haeser – Dynamite – 7/12/23

Proof again that it doesn’t take earth-moving art to create a great cover. This one has the color, drama, lighting and depth it needs to be outstanding and yet it is really simple.


Something Epic #3d – Szymon Kudranski – Image – 7/12/23

At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked these covers all having no color on them, but it really allows the pencil work to shine and it is GREAT pencil work at that. There is a color “A” cover, but it has a bunch of other elements that clutter the cover.


Void   Rivals #1h (2nd Print) – A Jason Howard – Image – 7/12/23 d

Will people go as crazy for this one as they did for the 1st print variant? Probably not, but it is still a great Jetfire cover.


Amazing Spider-Man #29c – Giada Periss- Marvel – 7/12/23

Perhaps the worst of the Disney 100 variants, but still a must if you’re completing this run. It is really fun, though.


Fallen Friend: The Death of Ms. Marvel #1c – Adrian Alphona – Marvel – 7/12/23

Not sure if I like this one or not. The art is excellent, but it looks a little bit like clip art the way it is against the black background.


Loki #2b – Matteo Lolli – Marvel – 7/12/23

I like the concept. Not sure I love the execution.


Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #36d – Salvador Larroca – Marvel – 7/12/23

A very good but not terribly original Boba cover.


Midnight Western Theatre: Witch Trial #1 – Julianne Griepp – Scout – 7/12/23

A gorgeous Art Nouveau styling from Griepp.


Ghostlore #3b – Vanesa Del Rey – BOOM! – 7/12/23

Del Rey has a really macabre style and it is on display in full force on this creepy thing! It has been awhile since I’ve seen her do a cover, but it was worth the wait.

*****
There we have it. A little something for everyone for this week and LOTS of covers (especially in the “Worth a 2nd Look” section), so I’m positive I missed something. Chime in with a comment and let me know what it was. 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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