Tag Epic Covers

Epic Covers: Seinfeld, Superman, and Batman

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

For Christmas this year, Mrs. Primary Ignition gifted me a copy of The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book, which of course is based on the web series starring Jerry Seinfeld. To my great surprise, one of the first images seen in the book is this variant cover to March’s Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1.

Illustrated by Dan Mora, the cover shows us Seinfeld driving the classic 1966 Batmobile, with Superman in the passenger seat and Batman along for the ride as well. I’m a fan of everybody on this cover. So to see it come to fruition was a treat. I also love that Mora’s art is exposed to a whole new audience via the Comedians book. Everybody wins, including/especially the fans.

Batman:Superman World's Finest 1, Jerry Seinfeld, variant cover, 2022, Dan Mora

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Epic Covers: The Avengers #63 by Tom Reilly

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Tom Reilly has proven (in this space as a matter of fact) that he’s good at keeping things simple. That’s exactly what he does here with this variant cover to this week’s The Avengers #63, and we all benefit from it. A simple yellow background, combined with what I would call a simply rendered image of Cap, and the reflection of other Avengers in the iconic shield. That’s a pretty tough formula to beat.

The Avengers 63, cover, December 2022, Tom Reilly

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Epic Covers: Justice Society of America #1 by Dan Hipp

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The New Golden Age #1 had its ups and downs, which isn’t necessarily what you want to say about the lead-in to your new Justice Society of America series, which begins this week.

But nevertheless, the issue had a strong cover game, as evidenced by this really fun variant from Dan Hipp. Though I must confess, I’m a little confused as to what they’re supposed to be doing. It seems like it’s morning coffee/tea, as evidenced by the cups some of them are holding. Not to mention what appears to be the glow of a sunrise. But then you’ve got Hawkgirl who’s…eating oatmeal? If this cover had a title, it might be “Breakfast with the Justice Society.”

Justice Society of America, Dan Hipp

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Epic Covers: The Riddler: Year One #1

Rob Siebert 2 Comments

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Time to get on my soapbox: The more time that goes by, the less impressed I am with The Batman. Was it a decent movie? Sure. But was it as great as everybody seems to think it is? Not for my money…

I wasn’t enthralled with the way the movie presented the Riddler. I’ve come to call this version “S&M Riddler,” because he looks to me like he’s wearing a raincoat with an S&M mask and glasses.

All that being said, I can give credit where credit is due. Last week’s The Riddler: Year One #1 knocked it out of the park with a great cover by Bill Sienkiewicz. It really captures the creepy, domestic terrorist, DIY supervillain vibe the movie went for with this version of the Riddler. The yellow markings almost look like they were done with a sharpie or a highlighter, and the greenish color scheme is consistent with the movie as well. And of course, you’ve got the creepy image of the Riddler in full costume in the background.

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Epic Covers: Star Wars: Darth Vader #28 by Rahzzah

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

They’ve been doing a long-term storyline in Star Wars: Darth Vader where Vader teams up with one of Padme’s former handmaidens, Sabe. While I can’t say I’ve been following along, this cover for today’s issue by Rahzzah caught my attention. The Emperor tends to have that effect, doesn’t he?

Darth Vader 28, cover, 2022, Rahzzah

This cover has a lot going for it. The blocking is wonderful, placing Palpatine behind Sabe with his hand on her shoulder, like he’s a vampire or some undead creature reaching for her. The detailed fashion in which Rahzzah renders his face certainly accentuates that idea. Along those same lines, Sabe looks just like Natalie Portman. That might actually be the one thing I dislike about the image, as Sabe was played by Keira Knightley in The Phantom Menace. Do they not have the rights to her likeness?

Then you have the obvious color contrast between the two characters. Palpatine is in black, while Sabe is all in white. Good and evil, etc. The red background also gives the image a certain intensity. Of course, it helps that red is synonymous with the Sith in Star Wars.

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Epic Covers: Carlos Pacheco’s Last Piece

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This week’s “Epic Covers” comes to us on an extremely sad note.

On his Twitter page, Carlos Pacheco announced last week that this cover to Damage Control #2 would be his last piece. Not because he’s going into retirement, but because he’s been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It’s a horrific disease which I saw up close for a story I did back in my newspaper days.

But Pacheco can hang his hat one a stellar career in the comic book industry that has spanned over 30 years. And here’s to going out on a high note, not to mention one that comes with a smile…

Damage Control 2, cover, 2022, Carlos Pacheco last piece

Godspeed, good sir. Our hearts are with you.

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Epic Covers: Tim Drake: Robin #1 by Sweeney Boo

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This week’s Tim Drake: Robin #1 has been a long time coming. As in, more than 10 years. Tim’s Red Robin series, which was really good, ended when the New 52 began. Then he got that awful costume, and he was downplayed, and it was just bad, and-

I fear I’ve gotten off topic.

I always appreciate when artists create content that’s sexy without beating us over the head with it. That’s exactly what Sweeney Boo does with this variant cover for Tim Drake: Robin #1. Yes, it shows off Tim’s muscles. But it’s all in the hand being behind the ear. It creates a shy sexuality that’s fitting, given all the emphasis on Tim being bisexual over the last year. That’s something that will no doubt be explored in this new series.

Here’s to a new era of Tim Drake stories!

Tim Drake Robin 1, cover, 2022, Sweeney Boo

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Epic Covers: Venom and Batman by Clayton Crain

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Venom as a patriotic, flag-waving hero? Stranger things have happened, I suppose. At the very least, Clayton Crain juxtaposed the black and white of the Venom character with the bright colors of Old Glory for this C2E2 exclusive variant cover for 2020’s Venom: The End #1.

This cover is pretty epic on its own. But what brought it to my attention this week was the recent revision Crain did for it on his Instagram page, featuring yet another “dark” hero in the same pose with the American Flag…

Who wore it better? You make the call.

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Epic Covers: The Joker #15 by Brian Bolland

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

With Batman Day coming up this weekend, it may or may not be an appropriate time to feature the Clown Prince of Crime…

With The Killing Joke in 1988, Brian Bolland cemented his status as one of the definitive Joker artists of all time. So any time Bolland draws the character, it’s noteworthy. We were treated to Bolland’s latest rendering of the character with a variant cover for The Joker #15, which came out last month.

I talked recently about my fondness for single-color backgrounds on covers. This cover meets that criteria with a basic black background. We also have the Joker’s fake eye, which is a byproduct of recent events in Batman. So the character obviously has a different look than we’re used to getting from Bolland.

But what I dig more than anything about this cover is that it’s a modern take on Bolland’s classic cover for The Killing Joke. If The Killing Joke were released today (Which it would never be…), the cover would look something like this, given the advent of smartphones.

The Joker 15, variant cover, 2022, Brian Bolland

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Epic Covers: Atom Smasher by Kaare Andrews

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I don’t normally do two installments of “Epic Covers” in a week. But this one from Kaare Andrews was enough to sway me.

I dig the point-of-view, combined with the pose Andrews puts Atom Smasher in. But I think what really clinches it for me is the texture of the character’s costume. That level of detail adds a certain realism to an image that otherwise is very unrealistic.

Black Adam the Justice Society Files Atom Smasher 1, cover, 2022, Kaare Andrews

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