Judging (DC's January) Books By Their Covers

DC's January Solicitations are up, so now is as good a time as any for us to make prejudgements based just on the covers (as we all love to make prejudgements, don't we? And DC's covers are at least detailed enough that we CAN make prejudgements based on them!).

Let's begin!

First off, just to screw with me, no Jock Batman cover for me to say how good it is!!

Luckily, there at least was some Cliff Chiang goodness for me to look at.



Man, Cliff Chiang RULES!
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I think Chris Weston did a great job, once again.



I think this is a striking piece.
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Wow.



A Castellini cover that actually seems to WORK for the title!
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Wow.



A Pat Lee cover without any clear problem.

Good to use a lot of shadows when your design work is flawed.
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Great Wagner art, but really doesn't do much for the story.


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Tim Sale sure does know how to use color well.


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WOW.



Never has so much good been mixed with so much bad.
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Phillips seems to be vibing on some other artist here. Any clues, people? It almost look European to me.
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Hmmm...I am torn.



Is Nightwing looking like a pansy Hester's fault, or is Hester just drawing him like he is currently being written?
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Man, McDaniel has his niche, where he draws certain characters well enough.

Don't take him out of that niche, DC!
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Livewire as a really evil character?!? What's next, having a comic relief character beat a superhero to the death with his fists?!?!
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Good work by Kerschel...



but it is too bad it came out the same time as THIS piece...


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I really wish Ed Benes' Superman could make like this cover...



..and be up, up and AWAY.
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Someone really ought to give her a thread to keep that sewed on.



By the by...seriously, how can THIS cover be drawn by the same guy who drew THIS cover?



Just doesn't follow (NOTE: The second cover came out already).
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BATTLE OF CRISIS HOMAGES!



vs.



I think Perez wins.
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Did someone just inform Aquaman that Patrick Gleason was off his book?
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Great cover by Byrne.
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Well.



This is SOMEthing.

What, I don't know exactly.

But it is definitely SOMEthing.
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Another way too dark Gleason cover.
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BATTLE OF THE GREEN ARRROW COVERS!

Merlyn vs. Green Arrow in a pink flower tree field?



or

Old School Green Arrow?



Who wins?

I choose Old School.
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Hey!



Hard Time is a good book!
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Ooooh...even good artists hid a bump in the road every once in awhile.



Here is new DC stud Acuña's bump.
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Nice Bennett piece, and it works as a cover, as well.



Nice.
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Oooh...



Jose Garcia-Lopez.

Drooool.
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Poor Luke Ross.



Now Phil Noto?!?!

A lot to live up to.
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I really dig Jesus Saiz.



I wonder where he will end up, post-Infinite Crisis.
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Ouch.



ANOTHER Acuña bump in the road.
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Dale Keown drawing Captain Atom.



That's right up there with "Odd pairings."
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Acuña! What will we do with you?!?!



Oh, okay...this one wasn't bad.
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Idea is not bad.



Execution leaves a little to be desired, though.
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Chuck Dixon, Doug Mahnke, War



A good combination.
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Good cover.



But a bit like repeating the same theme a bit too much. Will all the Arabian Nights covers look the same?
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I love the cover designs for this series.


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We'll miss you, JG!



See you soon on 52!!
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Hey kids, check it out, the Freedom Fighters!!



If you like reading about them HERE, be sure to check out their cameo in Infinite Crisis #1!!!

Nice timing there, DC.
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SEVEN SOLDIERS!!

Good



Bad



Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio (or Paschal Ferry?)
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TOP FIVE COVERS OF THE MONTH FOR ME!!

5. It's Phillip Bond drawing a big ass bug.



Come on, who wouldn't pick this comic up?
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4. Walt Simonson should do a monthly book again.


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3. Seven Soldiers pays dividends!


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2. Joe Kubert is amazing.


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1. I don't even LIKE super realistic art that much, but man, Bolland is so awesome!



Okay, that's it for me, folks!

Feel free to share YOUR prejudices!!

AND your top five choices!

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