The Cool Kids Table: Art Attack: January 2013's Coolest Covers

-I don't know if it's the lingering Halloween spirit or what, but covers that evoked creepiness in various forms (some subtle, some over the top) got me going this go around. I'd include Batman #16, Batman Incorporated #7, Billy the Kid's Old Tymey Oddities & the Orm of Loch Ness #4, Haunt #30, Morbius #1, Revival #6 and Swamp Thing #16 all on that list. I'm the kind of guy who is too much of a wuss to watch horror movies, but I read the summaries on Wikipedia right after they come out because I need to know what happened; comic covers like these have a similar effect on me in that my curiosity will overcome my initial fear more often than not.

-Ethan Van Sciver is going to draw such a fantastic Mad Hatter.

-I'm impressed how David Mack was able to make Willow very definitively Willow (i.e. she looks like Alison Hannigan) as well as timeless (i.e. she looks like a younger Alison Hannigan) as well as distinctly his own (i.e. it looks very much like a David Mack cover). I'm interested in seeing him draw/paint more characters based on real people. David Mack should paint an Abraham Lincoln comic.

-That Captain America variant by Alex Maleev gives me chills, not just because it's beautiful, but because Cap feels like a character who should never feel that alone, y'know? He should always be basking in the glow of friendship and camaraderie. He did his time on ice. This image intrigues me for the story inside big time.

-Carlos Pacheco had done my favorite rendition of the new Captain Marvel cover to date in a recent issue of New Avengers, but the suit's designer, Jamie McKelvie, proves he's the master.

-Creator Owned Heroes #8 feels like Amanda Conner channeling Dave Johnson and I dig it.

-What the heck is going on in Dark Horse Presents #20?

-Love seeing Phil Hester drawing Green Arrow again, any Green Arrow.

-Has Mark Buckingham actually done covers for Fables before or just interiors? If not, I'm glad he is now.

-FF is the perfect book to have covers with word balloons, and Mike Allred is the perfect artist to incorporate them.

-I can't wait to see how that Hawkeye #7 cover looks on print rather than a computer screen.

-Damn right there are two Masters of the Universe covers on this list. Loving getting to see these characters done by skilled artists with a modern day sensibility.

-The New Avengers variant cover by Skottie Young is clever, but the Morbius one is adorable. And a bit disturbing.

-Todd McFarlane continues to make me smiles with his Spawn homage covers. I hope he keeps them coming for a long time.

-I was tempted to list Superior Spider-Man #2 with the list of creepy covers that topped this post, as Ryan Stegman definitely seems to be evoking an old school vampire or monster movie vibe, but I think it stands out beyond that. The black background really distinguishes the scene in front--the darker colors are definitely making it feel like a different Spider-Man book--but little touches on MJ like the panic/surprise in her eyes and the way her hair trails off in a weird direction make this one of my favorite covers not just this month but in a while. And that was all tough for me to write, because Stegman is a terrible person.

-David Yardin does top notch cover work month in and month out on X-Factor, so I'm psyched to see what he can do expanding his toolbox to Ultimates.

-Venom #29 makes the list as the first ever choice from my wife, who was looking over my shoulder as I was scrolling through covers and told me it was her favorite.

-Mike Del Mundo's covers on X-Men Legacy make him a dude to watch closely.

-So...does anybody not love Bryan Lee O'Malley's variant cover for Young Avengers? I'd be curious to hear why.

ALL-NEW X-MEN #5 by Stuart Immonen