Judging (DC's March) Books By Their Covers

DC's March 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!). Notably, this month has this thing that they're calling "One Year Later." You may have heard of it. I think they're just ripping off Comic Should Be Good' first anniversary, to be honest. But that might just be me.

Let's begin!

Jock makes it so simple to describe his covers. I just have to say, "Will Jock ever NOT draw a cool looking cover?"



Strong homage-y cover.



Weirder concept, but he still makes it look awesome.
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Does this even look like Simone Bianchi to you?



Nice cover, though.
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THIS, though, is clearly Bianchi.



Nice cover, but in both of the covers, it doesn't have the same OOMPH that a lot of his other covers have been.

Still, oomph-lacking Bianchi is still excellent.
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Do you think there is, like, a pool in the DC Offices, over who gets McDaniel next?



"Yes, he only really fits dark books like Nightwing and Batman, but those books have artists already! So you take him!" "No, you take him!"

Nice cover, though.
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All Terry Dodson covers should be in silhouette.


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Striking Superman cover, though.


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I gotta tell you. This costume irritates me.



The previous costume was SOOO perfect, I really do not like the idea of changing it. I mean, think about it, for FIFTEEN years, throughout all the times of "New costume!" comic books, this costume was kept. But it gets changed NOW? I think that is silly. The costume was designed by Neal Adams. Who is going to improve on it?
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The costume looks a little better on this cover.



By the way, wouldn't it be cool if the other Titans are just shadow-like creatures, and that costume isn't hiding their identities in the shadow?
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Another good Perez cover.



Not great, but definitely gets the job done.
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Similarly, here is a strong Garcia-Lopez cover.



"Getting the job done" is how I would describe this cover, as well.
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My pal Chris had a funny line about this cover.



"You're no Jason Todd, but you'll do!"

Very good cover by Wagner.
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Surprising job by Gulacy.



I am pleased to see a strong return by Gulacy.
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I'm getting a good vibe from this series...



Chaykin's art and Simonson's story ideas...looks like a winner here.
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Wouldn't it have been awesome if the comic was as cool as this cover?



It wasn't.
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This Stelfreeze cover will haunt my dreams.



Or rather, my nightmares.
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I think we've handled this one quite well already...



Although I have to say, whoever came up with the "Maybe it's Ted Kord, coming back from the dead as a Hellspawn" joke - well done.
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I really like this Byrne cover.



Spooooky cover.
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OH NO!



The Shadow Thief is on the team now!

Oh...that is just hiding a character?

Never mind.
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I think we've handled this one well as well...



but still, COOLNESS!!

Although, I sure hope there's a good reason why he looks so close to the original Aquaman.
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TWO SHADOW THIEVES?!!? What wonders One Year Later has given us!!!



I bet this will be a fun looking cover.
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I don't think Pat Lee even knows what he was thinking with this cover.



Yuck.
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I love that all you need to do is have Catwoman turn her back, and you can't tell if it is Selina or not...hehe.
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While not all that memorable, these are nicely drawn Olivetti covers...




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Woah.



Is Ladronn taking classes from that guy who did the JLA Classified computer covers?

Not Ladronn's best work, by a mile.
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Very striking cover.



I enjoy how Kitson made her not look so freaky.
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Some hot planet on planet action!



The New DC, there's no stopping us now!
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What a great job by Brian Hurtt on this cover!!



Depicting the sort of "aura of girliness" around "her." Soooo well done.
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They keep making it hard on Ross and Kieth with the covers to this book!



What a clever idea by Bolland!
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This cover definitely makes you want to pick this book up.



Just to see why Manhunter is defending Tattoo!
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My take on this cover is as follows:



The cover is like a photograph of the team, and Nightwing is turning around, startled and embarrassed to be seen with the others.
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Bart Sears is going a WHOLE different direction!



I do not dislike it.
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SEVEN SOLDIERS COVERS!!

Kinda hard to not do this one well, which I guess was the point...


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This certainly captures the spirit of the comic well...


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Now that...that is just freaking awesome.


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That is one weird looking Klarion.


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What a clever use of technology by Gibbons.



Cute without being TOO cute.

Sorta like the little kid in The Goodbye Girl.
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I love Joe Kubert's work...



but I am not loving the cover theme on this title.
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Ty Templeton really should be getting more work.



This was a good cover.
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There is less going on that last cover, so no Top Five, but man...Tommy Lee Edwards sure is good as war stuff.


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This is like that episode of Star Trek where Data has sex.


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I can't wait to see what JH Williams does next.



He is on a ROLL.
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I don't think this was a great cover.



There is just not enough going on. It is a bit blah. Harris does this, it seems. He'll have an outstanding cover, then a couple of blah ones.
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Here are two great examples of artists using their background SO well to create a vivid depiction of the situation.



and



I think Leon does a slightly better job than Massimo Carnevale, but I think both jobs are impressive.
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This is meant as a joke, no?



Please?
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Yep, that IS a picture of a monster.



I don't know if it works a cover, but that is a fine monster drawing.
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Looks like Bradstreet is getting a run for his money on "Indecipherable Hellblazer covers"...



Well done, Greg Lauren!
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Is that the lady from He-Man?



What was her name? The one who hung out in Greyskull.
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This is a good example of depicting mood subtley.



This is very important on a book like 100 Bullets, which is all mood.
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OMIGOD!



LOOK OUT!

It's STITCH, from Lilo and Stitch!!
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I think this cover would be strong...



...if we had any idea who this character WAS.
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This was disappointing.



I think this is the least creative DMZ cover so far.
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HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR TOP FIVE COVERS

Kieth, to me, has been treading water with his recent mainstream work, so this Batman cover was a welcome change of pace.



Look at how strong this cover is! Impressive job by Kieth.
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I just love how Powell can think up this monsters!!



Awesome.
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MY TOP FIVE COVERS OF THE MONTH

5. Now THIS cover, I think, works really well as a cover.



Paul Pope is awesome.
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4. This is a VERY strong piece.



Another cover this month that is bold, while still managing to be subtle. Very impressive job. I wish the insides of Loveless was as good as this cover.
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3. Very strong piece from Bianchi.



Much better than the Batman ones.
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2. WOW!

What a great cover by Quitely!



The only question is, what artist could possibly unseat Quitely as the #1 pick?!!?
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1. You'll have to excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.



WOW.

Just...WOW.

I mean....just....WOW.
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Okay, that's it for me, folks!

Feel free to share YOUR prejudices!!

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