Cover Story: Best Comic Book Covers of December 2013

Fairest #21 (Vertigo) - Artist: Adam Hughes

Each month, hundreds of comics are released to stores for the hungry masses of fans around the world. To stand out on the shelves, you have to put the great art up front. You can judge a book by its cover.

Welcome back to our continuing monthly column, where the covers tell a story of their own. It’s the final Cover Story wrap-up for 2013, and there’s some amazing inclusions this time out. Mike Mignola had several covers on the shelf, but the one for Dark Horse Presents #31 was beautiful in its simplicity. Even the incomparable Alex Ross was inspired by some classic this month, signing his Doc Savage #1 (Dynamite) cover as “Ross After Steranko”, following on from the classic layouts of Jim Steranko’s Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #4. Speaking of inspired, the James Bond influenced cover to The Illegitimates #1 (IDW) is just that, with Jerry Ordway portraying his sirens as heavily pregnant silhouettes. Jenny Frison gets two looks in this month, in a season when Fiona Staples and Amanda Conner turn in some of their best work. We’ve restricted Cover Story Cover Artist of the Year Francesco Francavilla to just one entry,just to be fair to the others. PLUS: it wouldn’t be December without a bit of sex and Christmas with Howard Chaykin’s Black Kiss, right? This is Cover Story.


Black Kiss Christmas Special #1 (Image Comics) - Artist: Howard Chaykin

Black Kiss II Christmas Special #1 (Image Comics) – Artist: Howard Chaykin

Dark Horse Presents #31 (Dark Horse) - Artist: Mike Mignola

Dark Horse Presents #31 (Dark Horse) – Artist: Mike Mignola

Dead Boy Detectives #1 (Vertigo) - Artist: Mark Buckingham

Dead Boy Detectives #1 (Vertigo) – Artist: Mark Buckingham

Doc Savage #1 (Dynamite) - Artist: Alex Ross

Doc Savage #1 (Dea) – Artist: Alex Ross

Drumhellar #2 (Image Comics) - Artist: Riley Rossmo

Drumhellar #2 (Image Comics) – Artist: Riley Rossmo

Fairest #21 (Vertigo) - Artist: Adam Hughes

 Fairest #21 (Vertigo) – Artist: Adam Hughes

Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight #3 (Dark Horse) - Artist: Francesco Francavilla

Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight #3 (Dark Horse) – Artist: Francesco Francavilla

Harley Quinn #1 (DC Comics) - Artist: Amanda Conner

Harley Quinn #1 (DC Comics) – Artist: Amanda Conner

Hinterkind #3 (Vertigo) - Artist: Greg Tocchini

Hinterkind #3 (Vertigo) – Artist: Greg Tocchini

The Illegitimates #1 (IDW) - Artist: Jerry Ordway

The Illegitimates #1 (IDW) – Artist: Jerry Ordway

Indestructible Hulk #17.INH (Marvel) - Artist: Mahmud Asrar

Indestructible Hulk #17.INH (Marvel) – Artist: Mahmud Asrar

The Maxx Maxximized #2 (IDW) - Artist: Sam Kieth

The Maxx: Maxximized #2 (IDW) – Artist: Sam Kieth

Mind the Gap #16 (Image Comics) - Artist: Jenny Frison

Mind the Gap #16 (Image Comics) – Artists: Jenny Frison

Origin II #1 (Marvel) - Artist: Adam Kubert

Origin II #1 (Marvel) – Artist: Adam Kubert

Revival #16 (Image Comics) - Artist: Jenny Frison

Revival #16 (Image Comics) – Artists: Jenny Frison

Saga #17 (Image Comics) - Artist: Fiona Staples

Saga #17 (Image Comics) – Artist: Fiona Staples

Shaolin Cowboy #3 (Dark Horse) - Artist: Geof Darrow

The Shaolin Cowboy #2 (Dark Horse) – Artist: Geof Darrow

Superior Foes of Spider-man #7 (Marvel) - Artist: In-hyuk Lee

Superior Foes of Spider-man #7 (Marvel) – Artist: In-hyuk Lee

Thunderbolts #19 (Marvel) - Artist: Julian Totino Tedesco

Thunderbolts #19 (Marvel) – Artist: Julian Totino Tedesco

Wonder Woman #19 (DC Comics) - Artist: Cliff Chiang

Wonder Woman #26 (DC Comics) – Artists: Cliff Chiang


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