It's a great piece of artwork, either way. I like them both & find it hard to pick a fave, but if I had to I'd take the original because of the detail. just a matter of taste. Personally, I like the side panels, too. I used to hate them for the same reason as Sterling, but they have grown on me over the years. I think of them as "extra treats" now.
In a similar vein, one thing I still haven't changed my stance on is needless word balloons on a cover. Nothing like ruining a great piece with a big old "Look! It's your husband! He's come back from the dead for revenge!!!" balloon.