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My Favourite Covers
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Okay, so our journey through the past is complete for this week but which covers reign supreme? For Green Arrow, the crown goes to: Green Arrow Vol. 2 #79. Oliver Queen is not happy, not at all. We are drawn in by this close-up shot of the Emerald Archer, the first thing grabbing us being his piercing eyes. We connect with them immediately and then our own eyes gravitate to the poster that he is tearing up: an Outlaw poster starring Green Arrow himself. The cover hints that our hero is going to partake in some vigilante activities (no surprise there), activities which will apparently draw the ire of the police, a fact that Oliver feels is so asinine. This powerful image captures our attention but it is the contents inside that keep us coming back for more. That is what I call a success on both levels. For the Punisher, the title goes to: The Punisher Vol. 2 #62. A simply terrific shot of the Punisher that excels on multiple levels. First there is the unusual perspective as Frank Castle plummets through the air, unleashing a hailstorm of bullets. Second there is the use of colouring from the cool blues on the buildings to the warm yellows and reds on Castle to the stark white sky. The colouring of Frank in particular is phenomenal and makes him appear more than human while showcasing him as a man not to trifle with. Finally there is the coup de grace: the hidden image. Take a look at the placement of the flagpoles and the structure of the encircling buildings and you see that it forms a giant skull. Such a clever and creative cover that even without this awesome motif would still be pretty darn cool.
So that’s it for this week. Agree/Disagree? Which covers are your personal favourites from this week? Comment below!
The Speech Bubble 
Well, I really liked Green Arrow Vol II #73 with Green Arrow depicted in the stain glass window. This cover really jumped out at me, so clever and really striking. Love the use of color here as well. Punisher vol II #72 is my choice for this title this time around, think the cover blurb says it all really, a game of chicken, Punisher style! Such an exciting cover!
“Well, I really liked Green Arrow Vol II #73 with Green Arrow depicted in the stain glass window. This cover really jumped out at me, so clever and really striking.”
This was my personal runner-up. I agree it is very awesome indeed!
“Punisher vol II #72 is my choice for this title this time around, think the cover blurb says it all really, a game of chicken, Punisher style! Such an exciting cover!”
The Punisher VS an oncoming car? Something tells me that I should place my bets on the Punisher. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your choices. It is much appreciated!
Yes, that Green Arrow cover is really impressive. I agree, somehow I don’t think that car will stand much chance against the Punisher!
I agree with Paul Bowler that Green Arrow # 73 is by far the most beautiful and eye – catching cover of the year.
Silver medal for issue # 80: Green Arrow sitting on a gothic building, the pouring rain all around him, the fire escape… this cover shows many typical elements of dark comics, so I instantly fell in love with it.
Bronze medal for issue # 81, because of the detailed background, the perspective leaning to the right and the bullets flying all over Green Arrow.
As for Frank, when I saw the cover for Punisher # 58, I instantly understood it would have won the gold medal, even if I hadn’t seen the other covers yet. The lighting, the colouring, the giant gun, the giant bullets on Frank’s left leg, Frank’s giant muscles… every single detail of this cover is pure awesomeness.
“I agree with Paul Bowler that Green Arrow # 73 is by far the most beautiful and eye – catching cover of the year.”
As I said to Paul, this was my runner-up. As for my third place cover, I’d give the prize to #75: a nice look back at the previous 74 issues of this series.
“As for Frank, when I saw the cover for Punisher # 58, I instantly understood it would have won the gold medal, even if I hadn’t seen the other covers yet.”
My runner-up would go to #65. A villain ominously holding up the bullet-riddled shirt of Frank Castle? A villain…that has a gun for a hand? How can I pass it up? 🙂
Thanks, as always, for providing your selections!
“As for my third place cover, I’d give the prize to #75: a nice look back at the previous 74 issues of this series.” Speaking of looking back to Mike Grell’s run on Green Arrow, here’s a wonderful post about his marvellous work on the character: http://comicspectrumtpb.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/green-arrow-1988-v1-hunters-moon-dc/.
Also, here’s another worthy article I recently read: http://untilwegetthere.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/top-5-anti-heroes/.
“A villain…that has a gun for a hand? How can I pass it up?” I love cyborgs as well, so I can’t pass it up as well… but Punisher # 65 is my bronze pick. The silver medal goes to the cover for issue # 61, because it’s so full of energy that it makes you feel thrilled even before starting to read the issue.
By the way, I think I’ll order the 4th volumes of Superboy and Teen Titans. A lot of bloggers (you included) panned both these series, but what I saw on http://tessatechaitea.tumblr.com/ makes me think that I would enjoy them, so I’ll give them a chance.
“Thanks, as always, for providing your selections!” Thank you as well for your replies! : )
Thanks for sharing those links!
As for Teen Titans and Superboy, you’ll have to let me know your feelings once you’ve read them…if you indeed pick them up that is.
I realized that most of the issues collected in those volumes have already been published in the italian edition, so I think I’ll pick them up when I go to my LCS.
Another trade that caught my attention is Birds of Prey Vol. 4, because of the very enticing description I read on Comic Book Resources: “The traitor in the Birds of Prey shows her face in these stories from issues #18-24 and 26 and TALON #9.” How could I pass it up? : )
Without spoiling it, the revelation of the traitor and said handling of it was the final nail in the coffin of this series for me. Maybe you’ll have a different take?
Let’s hope so! I think I’ll read Birds of Prey in the italian edition: the U.S. trade comes out in July, and I can’t wait that long. Thank you for your replies! : )