By Molly Jane Kremer, Clyde Hall, Brendan F. Hodgdon, and Jami Jones. Undercover is our opportunity to lovingly gaze upon gorgeous works from magnificent artists. From Duncan Fegredo’s ‘Death or Glory’ to Ben Caldwell’s latest from ‘The Snagglepuss Chronicles’, here’s what we’re loving this week.
DC Nation #0 by Jorge Jimenez & Alejandro Sánchez. (DC Comics)
JamiJ: With DC Nation #0 Jorge Jimenez creates a feeling of kinetic motion with bold lines. The sense of movement on the page is great, allowing the eye to follow the curves of the figures while keeping its focus centered on the featured characters. Zatanna dances near the dreaded backbreaking pose but she isn’t oversexualized, and neither are any of the other ladies gracing this cover. Wonder Woman has a great power stance, and Starfire is definitely bringing the fire.
Alejandro Sánchez provides a green glow which surrounds each of the ladies, giving them a sense of unity while creating a great border between the cosmic background and our foreground characters. It’s a gorgeous cover with rich colors, solid lighting, and a fantastic sense of energy and fluidity. DC Nation #0 is coming to shake things up. If we’re meant to judge the book by its cover then we are in for a dynamic ride.
Death or Glory #1 by Duncan Fegredo. (Image Comics)
CH: Not everyone may embrace a comic book series described as a cross between Convoy, Thelma and Louise, and The Professional. But artist Duncan Fegredo’s variant cover for the premiere issue of Death or Glory certainly fires on all cylinders (the automotive and firearm types) for those who do. Glory lives in a world where only the strong and nomadic survive. She’s off the grid, in a world where teamsters haul any cargo for the right price, though Fegredo makes it clear she’s calling the shots when it comes to navigating her own fate. He composes a fittingly pulp arrangement that again proves his reputation as a genre chameleon. And it’s a beauty, centered on a beauty, refraining from the usual gratuitous nature of such covers.
Refraining from the overtly carnal, yes, but not from the action and violence inherent in such a title. He’s stamped even that with spectacular innovation, though. A full-on car chase replete with crashing squad cars and vehicular occupant ejections — on and in the barrel of a revolver positioned to show us its business end! And the quarry of their pursuit jumping her ride using the front gun sight as a freaking ramp! Outrageous!
There are so many ways Fegredo could have taken the same theme and simply homaged it. Instead, he’s pulled out all stops, all speed limits, and most of the usual trappings to convey his own brand of inspired action for a first issue promising even more inside.
Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #5 by Ben Caldwell (DC Comics)
BFH: Over the last few years, writer Mark Russell has carved out a niche as one of the premiere satirists in mainstream comics. He first staked his claim to this with the DCYou book Prez with artist Ben Caldwell. It’s fitting, then, that Caldwell provide the cover to this concluding chapter of Russell’s latest gem. And what a cover it is!
There’s something almost… droll about it all, between Snagglepuss’ posture, the dangling cigarette holder, and his expression. He almost seems like he’s exchanging witticisms with the noose dangling just out of frame. It’s only the shadow of that object, stretching across the carpet, that conveys the menace and tragedy looming over our cat about town.
Caldwell’s cartoonish style makes him an ideal choice to depict this anthropomorphic feline. But it’s his careful sense for composition that makes this cover such a haunting and melancholy delight.
Captain America #701 by Michael Cho. (Marvel Comics)
MJ: Michael Cho is not only a magnificent artist but also an excellent designer, which one might say is just as important a talent — especially for cover work. His bold linework and seemingly simple choices in color only emphasize this. Cho’s cover to Captain America #701 is brilliantly centered, making this cover not only attractive, but incredibly intelligent in its layout. It’s the work of a master.
We see a statue of Captain America from almost the same perspective as a father and child standing before it. We, like them, look up at one of the most aspirational characters in comics, literally placed on a pedestal. Not immediately apparent is the retro-futuristic details: flying cars hurtle past the Sentinel of Liberty, the idyllic surroundings colored in comforting soft teals and pastels. It sets an optimistic, forward-thinking mood.
Not often do stylistic choices work this well aesthetically, though this is what we’ve come to expect from Michael Cho — and this cover is, even for him, exceptional work. Cho reminds us that we all look up to Captain America, and perhaps we always will.
Don’t forget to share your favorite covers from this week in the comments section below. Best response wins a pack of DoomRocket stickers!
