What's New Comic Book #5

Welcome back to another instalment of What’s New Comic Book where I flip through the Previews catalogue and spotlight some of the upcoming comic books that shouldn’t be overlooked.  Each month there’s so many titles being released that it’s difficult to keep track of them all.  That’s where I come in!  I’ve also provided the special ordering number (Item Code) for each of the comic books listed.  Take that number and give it to your Local Retailer and let them know you’re interested in getting the comic.  This is the easiest way of making sure there’ll be a copy waiting for you.

BUDDY COPS
Nate Cosby (W), Evan Shaner (A/CA)
FC, 32 pages, $2.99
Item Code: JAN130100

This was originally released as individual segments in the pages of Dark Horse Present and collected here with a new cover and bonus material.  I loved these stories, thought they were very funny and reminded me a lot of the Bwa-Ha-Ha Justice League comics.  Not many comics I read leave a genuine smile on my face, let alone have me laughing, this one did everyone should check it out.

STAR WARS: LEGACY - PRISONER OF THE FLOATING WORLD #1
Corinna Bechko (W), Gabriel Hardman (W/A), Rachelle Rosenberg (C), and Dave Wilkins (CA)
FC, 32 pages, $2.99
Item Code: JAN130110

It was during Gabriel Hardman’s run on Agents of Atlas that I first came across his work.  Really dig his style and the way he conveys a story.  With Plant of the Apes under his writing belt he and his partner Corinna Bechko are now turning their attention to STAR WARS. The story may not take place during the original trilogy (see Brian Woods title for that!) as it’s set much more in the future but it does feature Han and Leia’s great-great granddaughter.   


G.I. JOE: SPECIAL MISSIONS #1
Chuck Dixon (W), Paul Gulacy (A/CA), Sean Chen, Brandon Peterson, Jamal Igle, Jim Rugg (CA)
FC, 32 pages, $3.99
Item Code: JAN130356 - Gulacy & Chen regular covers shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio
Item Code: JAN130357 - Brandon Peterson - Subscription Variant
Jamal Igle - Wraparound Cover
Jim Rugg - “Untold Tales of G.I. JOE” Cover

I’m going to be honest I’ve been on a Paul Gulacy kick lately.  Going as far as recently picking up an old Epic comic called SIX FROM SIRIUS he worked on.  So seeing him illustrate a new G.I. JOE comic has caught my interest in addition to the great covers that are being offered.  I personally dig Igle’s wraparound but I haven’t seen what Rugg, who is awesome, has done with a special theme cover.  


MYSTERY SOCIETY SPECIAL 2013
Steve Niles (W), Andrew Ritchie (A/CA), Miran Kim (Variant CA)
FC, 32 pages,  $3.99
Item Code: JAN130436

MYSTERY SOCIETY was one of my favorite comics from 2010 and I’m happy to see it’s returning even if it’s only for a one shot.  Bit of cool history behind this title is that it was originally illustrated by SAGA’s very own Fiona Staples.  If you dig SAGA I highly recommend tracking down the first series in singles or TPB.  What’s also great is the variant cover being offered by Miran Kim.  You might remember her work from the X-Files covers she produced which is really a perfect fit for this title.


DREW HAYES' POISON ELVES #1
Robb Horan (W), Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller (A/CA), Darick Robertson, Terry Moore (CA)
BW, 32 pages, $2.99
Item Code: JAN130830 - Darick Robertson - Main Cover
Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller - Retailer Incentive Cover
Terry Moore - 1:20 Chase Cover

I have very mixed feeling over this comic book.  On the one hand I was (still am really) a huge fan of the original series, and of Drew Hayes, POISON ELVES was one of the first indie comics I picked up and I don’t want to see anything affect the titles long run.  On the other hand I’m really interested in seeing what Drew had planned for the story and see where he'd take the characters next.  It’s good to see Robb Horan is on board writing from Drew’s notes.  He was the publisher of Sirius, the company that released POISON ELVES for most of its run.  Also impressive is the artists providing covers.  I’ll definitely give this a try, the first couple of issues at least.


ALL CRIME #1
Erik Warfield, Paul Grimshaw (W), Edward LaRoche, Marc Sandroni (A) Bruce Timm (CA)
FC, 36 pages, $3.95
Item Code: JAN130866

I’m always looking for new comics to check out and a great way for catch my attention when flipping through the pages of Previews is to included blurbs from creators I respect.  In this case both Ed Brubaker and Steve Niles provided comments and that’s enough for me to stop and look into it a bit more.  ALL CRIME is reminiscent of the old classic crime comics of the 50s wrapped up in a amazing Bruce Timm cover.  

George
@GLGJ

Quarter Boxes is now on the tumblr

That's right! QBHQ is now on the Tumblr, we can be found at quarterboxes.tumblr.com!  Woohoo!  

 

Born of fury! Sworn to Vengeance! He is .....

The Destructor 1
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Penciler: Steve Ditko
Inker: Wally Wood
Cover Artist: Larry Lieber & Wally Wood
Publisher: Atlas Comics
Cover Date: February 1975
Cover Price: 25 cents

While hitting up my local comic shop on a particularly light week I walked up and down the wall seeing if anything else would jump out at me.  Not wanting to leave empty handed I figured let’s see what being stocked in a couple of the short boxes labeled 25 cents each.  Pulling out the first box I found a bunch of titles by Atlas Comics from 1975.  My knowledge of Atlas is limited to its early days as a precursor to Marvel Comics and then the recently relaunched line of titles which I really haven’t checked out or know much about.  The handful of titles I found in the box was published somewhere in the middle I was completely in the dark about them.

Out of the various Atlas Comics I saw I had to pick up the first issue of THE DESTRUCTOR for two reasons, the first being the creative team involved and secondly the story takes place in New Jersey (represent!).  Archie Goodwin and Steve Ditko can be considered legends in the comic book field, Wally Wood as well but sadly I’m not as familiar with Wood’s work as I should be.  This is an area of comics I need to dive into.  As for my second reason I’m a Jersey fella and I’ve been reading comics for a long time and I can’t off the top of my head think of a hero patrolling the streets of Newark.  So that’s pretty cool.

The cover showcases a great action scene with our hero, THE DESTRUCTOR, bursting through a wall with bullets flying at him and a masked villain is holding a girl hostage (spoiler warning: this doesn’t actually take place in the comic).  I also like the look of the boxy uneven font used for the logo.  There is something about the design sense of silver and bronze age comics that’s missing from today’s books.  

The story starts off quickly and introduces the major players, Jay Hunter a young guy running numbers for the mob and looking to move up the ladder, Max Raven the head of the organization who doesn’t like Jay’s overeagerness, a hired killer called THE SLAYMASTER paid to do the dirty work, and Jay’s father a scientist who’s perfected a formula that can greatly increase your 5 senses.  If you’ve been reading comics for as long as I have you’ll have a pretty good idea of how the story progresses.  I don’t wanna break it down too much outside of telling you that I did enjoy it and you’ll find that this issue does have a beginning, middle, and end.  This was a great example of a done in one “origin story” comic book.  Some of the fun things that stood out for me included Jay always calling Raven on the phone and gloating after he and THE DESTRUCTOR finished busting up one of his operations.  There’s also a flashback sequence halfway through the issue that recounts the events on the 3rd page.  This might be what my reading habits are now opposed to how comics were produced in the 70s but as I was reading I found that I liked the mob versus sci fi angle more and if the superhero aspect was dropped it would’ve been just as good (if not better).

As for the art it’s Ditko and its impressive.  The characters have distinctive looks, each panel on the page is fully utilized, and similar to the cover the interior pages have just as much action.  When the hero of our story gets more comfortable using his new powers toward the end of the comic his body language resembles a bit like Spider-Man, which isn’t a knock, it’s what only Ditko can bring to the page.  The introduction of THE SLAYMASTER was also well designed.  We first see him making a hit on someone hiding out in a two story house.  The composition of this scene was great I could easily see it taking place on TV or in a movie.  There’s also a montage of of Jay taking down the mob that helps move the story move forward and speed up Jay learning his craft.  Montages in comics are tough but Ditko pulls it off.

If you can find a copy of THE DESTRUCTOR for a decent price definitely pick it up.  As far as I can tell the series only lasted 4 issues and the character hasn’t appeared since.  Comics like these are forgotten gems and can only be discovered when flipping through those quarter boxes.  You’ll never know what can be found unless you look.

George
@GLGJ

Comic Book Kickstarters: Dr. Goyle

I don't actually remember where I first heard about Dr. Goyle.  It could've been through a link from someone I follow on Twitter or while searching open projects on Kickstarter, however I'm glad I did.  I'm always on the lookout for something new and when I read the description for this comic book I had a feeling I'd get a kick out of it.

Taken from Dr. Goyle's successful Kickstarter campaign: Dr. Goyle is the story of a slam-bang monster fighter with a chiseled jaw (literally)! Aided by his brainy sidekick, Wilbur, Dr Goyle battles the things that go bump in the night, as well as the ones that go crash, bang, and thud.

Cut to the other day when I find waiting for me at home a package I wasn't expecting.  Ripping it open carefully I was surprised to get not one but two Dr. Goyle first issues.  The first was from all the back in 1999 with art by non other then Mike Norton.  Yes, the same guy who's bringing us Battlepug (a favorite here at QBHQ) co-created Dr. Goyle.  The second comic book in the envelop was the new #1 by Mark Stegbauer (co-creater) who along with writing, inking, and lettering the original comic also handled the pencilling for this issue as well.  

The best part of being a Kickstarter backer for this project is that it included a sketch of Dr Goyle by Mark.  I couldn't be happier with getting a couple of fun comics and this great sketch.    

If you'd enjoy a light hearted Hellboy or even the action comedy adventures of Atomic Robo then Dr Goyle is the right comic book for you.  I don't want to give anything away with what happens inside the pages, other then expressing my desire to have a Kirbytronics computer system for myself.  Someone get the scientist working on the technology.  And I want to pass this along, for $1 plus $4.95 S/H you can the get the Mike Norton pencilled issue from Arrow Comics website (linked below for easy clicking).  Now I'm not sure if the new issue has been officially released but I believe that if you run into Mark Stegbauer at a convention he'll probably have copies with him.    

There aren't many fun all age heroes that enjoy a pipe while wearing a smoking jacket and that's just one of the many reasons I'm looking forward to getting more Dr. Goyle comic books.     

George
@GLGJ

Related Links:

First issue of Dr. Goyle (1999) on sale from Arrow Comics for $1 

Like Dr. Goyle on Facebook

Mark Stegbauer's Twitter handle @inkermark  

Information on Dr. Goyle's Kickstarter campaign

What's New Comic Book #4

And we are back after a brief hiatus with a new edition of What’s New Comic Book!  Now more then ever it's important to pre-order in this market as Marvel and DC are releasing so many titles that crossover into major events that's it’s causing the smaller publishers to get lost on the self.  Just the other day Joe and myself went to a comic shop in Rahway, NJ that we haven’t visited since the new 52 was rolled out from DC.  It was a shop that had large wall space for Marvel and DC while also providing a huge section for Image, Dark Horse, and the other various smaller publishers and indie titles.  When we stopped back in recently the amount of non Marvel and DC rack space was cut in half and what was there was overcrowded and prominently featured good girl / bad girl comics.  It was disappointing because I was really looking to discover something new to read.

Why is pre-ordering the comic books you want so important?  To start with your local comic shop has a lot to work with as they’re placing orders in March for what they plan on selling in May.  The Previews catalogue for May shipping titles has 346 pages that they have to wade through.  Then there are the different discount levels they receive per publisher.  Higher the discount means the more money they make for each copy sold.  There’s a lot stacked against non Marvel and DC comic books and I like using this column to showcase a handful of new books that I feel deserve an extra look.  As always if you see something you might find interesting let your LCS now as soon as possible.  It’s the word of mouth from their customers that can help retailers determine where the demand is.  I’ve included the Previews catalogue page number for reference as well as the item codes that can be given to a LCS when placing orders.

X-O MANOWAR #1
(W) Robert Venditti (A) Cary Nord
Publisher Valiant Entertainment
In Shops 5/2/2012
Price $3.99, 32 pages, FC
Cover by Esad Ribic - MAR121221
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by Cary Nord - MAR121222
Variant Cover by David Aja - MAR121223
QR Voice Variant by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic - MAR121224
Catalogue pages 326 - 331

Let’s start things off with not just one of my most anticipated comics, this really covers the publishing line as a whole.  X-O MANOWAR is the first of 4 new titles coming from the launched Valiant Universe.  I want you to forget about the recent Dark Horse line, even when Acclaim came in and took over, this looks like it’s going back to its roots and that is what has me excited.  I got into comics big back in the day when Valiant and Image where at their height, reading and collecting comic books at that time was something special.  I’m also happy to see is such strong creative teams being attached, Cary Nord is a perfect choice of artist here.  

MAN OF GOD #1 (of 6)
(W) Craig Partin (P) Yvel Guichet (I) Stu Berryhill (L) Jonathan Swinney (CA) Yvel Guichet & Dan Brereton
Publisher Pinwheel Press
Price $3.50, 36 pages, B&W
MAR121160
Catalogue page 311
 
That’s a nice segway into our next title featuring Yvel Guichet one of Valiant’s alumni.  Now I didn’t find out about MAN OF GOD through the catalogue, or any of the various comic book news sites I visit, not even though twitter.  I stumbled across this title while clicking around Kickstarter.  This is a site where creative people can bring their projects to get funded by everyday people by offering various levels of incentives.   It was Brereton providing covers that caught my attention and as I read up on this it sounds like it could be interesting.  Right now I’m not reading any horror comics and this could fill that void.

MIND THE GAP #1
(W) Jim McCann
(A/CA) Rodin Esquejo (C/CA) Sonia Oback
Publisher Image Comics
In Shops 5/2/2012
Price $2.99, 48 pages, FC
Cover A - MAR120401
Cover B - MAR120402
Catalogue pages 182 - 185
 
MIND THE GAP looks like it’s going to be an incredibly suspenseful mystery comic book.  There are a lot of interesting titles starting up this month for Image but I just want to focus on this one today.  In addition to a great concept the creative team behind this comic is a must see.  Rodin Esquejo well known for his cover work mostly on creating the stunning look for MORNING GLORIES every month brings his talents here illustrating the interior.  I can’t wait to see what Rodin along with Sonia Oback bring us.  If you’re not familiar with Jim McCann I highly recommend trying out his HC book with Janet Lee titled RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN.  Or if superheroes are more your thing he was very instrumental in bringing Hawkeye & Mockingbird to the forefront at Marvel.  If you’re looking for something completely different then what’s on the selves now MIND THE GAP is for you.

MIKE NORTON’S BATTLEPUG VOLUME 1 HC
(W/A) Mike Norton (C) Allen Passalaqua
In Shops 7/4/2012
Price $14.99, 72 pages, FC, 8 1/2" x 12"
MAR120034
Catalogue page 48
 
Everybody knows Mike Norton right?  He has a huge backlist of outstanding work including THE WAITING PLACE, QUEEN AND COUNTRY, GRAVITY, and most recently FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT.  He’s currently working on his own web comic BATTLEPUG, yes a web comic.  Just go to http://battlepug.com/ and you can read it right now for free.  Much like me you will fall in love with it.  Why buy a collected edition when you can get it for free?  Honestly there’s nothing like holding a book in your hands and reading it.  Also for the collector that has to have everything there’ll be extras included that aren’t even available at the website.  

That’s it for this month. 4 titles that can be found in the newest Previews catalogue, issue #282, that are honestly completely different from each other.  Superheroes may dominate the market but if you look a little deeper you’ll find so much more.  Check out our link section on the site located at the upper right hand side for more information on everything listed. 

 
George (@GLGJ) 

Would you like a digital copy with that comic?

Okay stay with me here this will make sences soon.  I love my LCS but because I didn't tell them to stop pulling a title soon enough I had to keep buying it.  In this instance it's Ultimate Spider-Man ... oops I mean Ultimate Comics Spider-Man.  I've decided to take it off of my pull list, now don't get me wrong I've loved reading this comic.  And I undestand that anything to bring in new readers is always a plus.  Really as long as the creative team is telling the best stories they can even if they made Peter Parker a 65 year old woman I would've enjoyed it too. ... well maybe not but you get what I'm saying.  So back to the question of why I'm cutting this comic.  It's not because of the story or art, both are truly great, it's because of this "Free" digital copy code.  It may seem little and meaningless but to me free doesn't expire.  "While Supplies Last" or "For a Limited Time Only" does tell me I have to act quickly.

Digital comics are fastly becoming the new way to read your comics.  Be it old or new, having them at your finger tips is just a nice feeling.  Want to read a new issue of The Last Of The Greats?  Just download it and enjoy whenever.  Can't remember what happened in Savage Dragon some odd months ago, which happened to me all the time,  and you have WAY to many long boxes to dig throught,  just scroll throught you digital libery and Bob's your uncle.  As time goes by and digital seems to be the easy answer to solveing where to keep your 1,000 issue plus colloection.  Now that's great and all but I still want to buy old, favorites, or missing issues in physical form.  But with the new comics using the keyword "Free" but only giving a 2 day window to redeem the code it turns me away from your comic books.

The thing is I don't go to my LCS every wednesday or thursday.  I mainly go on a friday or over the weekend so with me not showing up on the day when UCSM is released or even the very next I'm out of luck for the free digital copy.  Only giving buyers 2 days to use your FREE code just doesn't seem right to me.  Even the people who work at my LCS didn't know that was how Marvel's FREE code worked!  So I ended up being forced to buy a $3.99 comics with an expired FREE digital code.  Marvel should at least put this information on their comics so you're aware when putting down your money, that there's a tiny limited window.  

Over at DC Comics if you just paid $1 more over the cover price there seems to be no time limit.  I bought Batman #6 on 2/26, it came out on 2/15 and I was still able to get the digital copy.  This really comes down to wanting it free with a 48 hour window or be willing to pay a $1 more for your free digital comics. 

So unless Marvel is willing to sell copies of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man for $2.99 WITHOUT the free digital copy code, I'll just look for the comics I've missed in the quarter boxes when I attend my next Comics Con.

-Joseph (@AliasJoeG)-

Update on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 8:01PM by JMG

I know this post went up a months ago & it's mainly about how Marvel's FREE digital comic isn't really free... Don't ask me why but I never noticed the year as '13. I just saw it as a two days window to get the free digital copy after it has been released. But I still feel the same way. If Marvel wants to impress me they should make a normal copy, without free digital, of their comic for only $2.99. While DC comics add $1 to their Combo Pack ($3.99 comic to $4.99 digital copy). That would really make me see Marvel Comics in a different light.

-Joseph (@AliasJoeg)-

The Afterlife of Deadman

 

DC Universe Presents

Deadman in "Twenty Questions"

Issues 1 - 5

Writer: Paul Jenkins

Artist: Bernard Chang

Colorist: Blond

Letters: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Price $2.99 (each)

I really loved DC Universe Presents!  Hopefully DC Universe Presents or DCUP for short will not end up getting cancelled anytime soon.  It's a great way to learn more about DC's New 52 (do I really still need to call it "New"?)  as well as finding out about the characters that aren't featured in their own titles yet.  The first story arc introduces us to Deadman.  Yes he had a large role in Brightest Day and Blackest Night but those stories were from the Old DCU.  With Deadman also appearing in the monthly Justice League Dark (which I LOVE as well) we get to see a new take on the story of how Boston Brand became Deadman.  With DCUP we're getting the origin stories set for this new universe.  This is just the beginning and I already want more!

So the long/short version of the story: Boston Brand dies (how did you think he got the name "Deadman"?) and goes to this Purgatory-ish place and meets Rama, some kinda Alien-Goddess being, who tells him he must "jump" into other people for "enlightenment" so he can get closer to finding himself.  Basically similar to Quantum Leaping into other people, helping them out with the problems that they have.  So why doe he have to do that?  Ummm ....... well Deadman (and myself) don't really know.  Rama never truly did explain why he has to do this.  We move onto Deadman finding out about this club where in the basement there are books about everyone's lives guarded by a sweet old blind fallen angel.  Think of your Grandma but with wings.  She wouldn't give him a straight answer.  Deadman had to threaten setting her place on fire before she would tell him about the Morning Son.  Now where would one find this Morning son?  Why at a carnival of course.  One weird roller coaster ride later that also looked back at all the lives Deadman has touched, Deadman and Morning Son play 20 questions and Deadman finally had his answer (but I was still lost).  It seems Rama has been looking for a new question to answer, that's why she had Deadman leaping through so many people. Just to find her a new question. 

The artwork in this arc was stunning.  The way Bernard Chang and Blond manipulated the pages to make some panels stand out more was genius!  Really loved the way the panels where arranged into the roller coaster in issue 4.  Even every time you saw Deadman's face you felt his pain, that's how powerful the art was.  Also having Ryan Sook illustrating the covers really made these issues stand out on the shelves.  But the true sign of a great storyteller is making you enjoy a character that you don't truly know.  Paul Jenkins did that and then some.  Jenkins' story had me wanting to find older comics with Deadman appearances just to learn more about his past.  I would truly love to see this creative team come back to tell more Deadman stories. 

Hopefully DC Universe Presents can keep this feeling on the upcoming story arcs.  Stories from Abra Kadabrao to Zatanna, from John Constantine to Captain Marvel..... oops, I meant Shazam, and every DC character in-between.  Here's to more first time great reads and the growth of the DC Universe!

~ Joseph (@AliasJoeG) ~

The Ray #1 (2012)

Writers: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Penciller: Jamal Igle

Inker: Rich Perrotta

Colorist: Guy Major

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $2.99

4 Issue Mini Series

To begin with forget everything you know about The Ray and the hero’s lineage as this is a brand new take on the character.  I know I was thinking the same thing, no more cool helmet or badass leather jacket.  If you where expecting the reintroduction of Ray Terrill into the New DCU you’ll be disappointed but I promise that will not last long as Justin, Jimmy, and Jamal have created a great launch and have produced the ideal jumping on point for new and existing readers.  Keen eyes will notice a mention regarding Happy Terrill, so not all has been forgotten.

Here's a couple of reasons why I found this comic book so enjoyable to read:

A Diverse Cast!  The lead Lucien is Korea, his parents are hippies (and Caucasian … interesting), his best friend Darius is African American, and Chanti his understanding girlfriend is Indian.

Comic books should be Fun!  The humor weaved together with the action made this story stand out.  I kept cracking smiles as I was reading and that will keep me coming back each month.

Secret Identity?  There is none (at this point), Lucien’s family and close friends all know what’s happened to him as well as supporting him in his new role as a Hero.

Shocking Ending!  Violent and shocking, what a way to end the first issue.  I did not see that coming and honestly it caught me off guard, in a good way.  I also liked how it incorporated a location from the Batman mythos, it helped cement this story into the DC Universe.

The next time you visit your local comic shop see if they still have a copy on the shelf.  The second issue is expected on or around January 11th.  It was the creative team of Justin & Jimmy working with Jamal that first caught my attention and if you enjoyed what they’ve produced here make yourself a note to look for some of their past work the next time you’re back issue diving.  I always make a point in trying any comic book that I see their names attached to. 

George (@GLGJ)

Which side are you on?

 Cover Art Team vs Interior Art Team

A while ago I was tweeting with a friend of mine, Lee Stone twitter tag @nwcomics, about what DC Comics New 52 titles he'll keep reading and he tweeted ”@nwcomics: @AliasJoeG @dccomics I, Vampire: More Bram Stoker & Dark Shadows than Twilight. Much more interesting than the covers give credit for”.  That made me think because there has been some comics were the cover art team didn't, to me, sell the issue the right way. I can see what he ment with I, Vampire, the interior art by Andrea Sorrention with colors by Marcelo Maiolo does not have the look or feel of the cover artwork by Jenny Frison. Now I love the interior art, it has a really nice Jae Lee feel to it, it's dark and gritty. But the cover art. . . . It's  has a "Teen Comics" Twilight feel to it. And I know that Twilight is a BIG deal with movies, novels, and has a storm of teenage girls (& boys?) obsessed with the franchise. So I can see why DC would want to try puling them into reading I, Vampire just with the cover alone. It will draw their attention and as new readers they'll get a really enjoyable comic. But that's where this post is going. The cover doesn't "sell" what's inside the issues. Heck! Make a 50/50 cover shipment. Let Andrea Sorrention and Marcelo Maiolo have a shot at doing some covers as well.

This isn't the first time I've felt this way. To me the most recent and noticeable one was DC's Identity Crisis. Before I go any further let me say I'm a big fan of Mr. Michael Turner's art.  I've loved his work from Witchblade to Soulfire and then some.  But seeing Rags Morales, Michael Bair, and Alex Sinclair's interior artwork was just . . . in a word: Breathtaking. Turner's cover art seemed to give Identity Crisis a different feel then what was inside the comic. As if to say the covers were an Action Movie but the interior was a Drama. When i see that I tend to worry that the company doesn't feel the comic will sell well without a "Big Name" cover artist or that the art team on the book just won't sell the numbers they want.

Now if an indie comic company is doing this then I can understand why you'll want/have a big name artist doing your covers. It's a great way to make your comic stand out and have more eyes on it. But having a Marvel/DC comic with a cover done by a Big Name that doesn't show the same style as on the inside that always turns me off.

There are exceptions, unless the Big Name is an artist who made a huge impact on the title. Like Todd McFarland coming back to Spider-Man. (that'll never happen, but it would be awesome to see) Stuff like that I wouldn't mind. Then there's Dynamite Entertainment line of comics which get shipped with 3 to 4 different cover for just 1 issue.  You can pick and choose which one you want. Granted, not all comic company's can do this with every issue. That's an  idea i would like to see more often though, having the option to choose what cover I'd want with out having to pay anywhere up to $25 bucks for the art team i like. I could go on and on about this, how I want to see more cover art done by the interior team and not just some Big Names or even an art team that looks nothing like what's in the interior of the comicbook.  But as long as comic fans keep buying them I guess they'll keep making them.

-Joseph (AliasJoeG)-