This cover is horrible, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar! 5 5

[buttock]

On 7/2/2023 at 2:56 PM, paqart said:

I guess you are serious then. The best celebrity covers I've seen integrate the celebrity seamlessly into a normal comic book cover. Think of Neal Adams' old Bob Hope covers, or Jack Kirby's Fourth World inclusion of Don Rickles (why him?). This image of Obama is over-rendered, too large, too pandering, and too oppressive. It takes up all of the real estate on the page, leaving next to nothing for Spider-Man. Of course, other ASM covers do the same thing, such as a couple of Campbell covers that feature Mary Jane. Spider-Man is there, but way off in the distance, even smaller than Obama in this cover. So, as a drawing, I don't like it (it looks like the kind of thing a high school would make in art class). As a comic book cover, I am amazed it was printed. I just don't see it as professional or appropriate to the subject.

It's exactly what the editors wanted, and it's exactly what the buyers wanted.  A big ol' picture of him so they could all show their friends.  Artistically it sucks.  From a business perspective it was on point. 

[Ken Aldred]

I like the Spidey snow cover, the physical isolation. Haven’t read the story, whether it deals with emotional coldness, isolation, loss, depression.

Could actually be quite an appropriate image for a bleak storyline.

[Ken Aldred]

Reminds me of this cover, though more minimalist…

[paqart]

On 7/2/2023 at 6:59 PM, buttock said:

It's exactly what the editors wanted, and it's exactly what the buyers wanted.  A big ol' picture of him so they could all show their friends.  Artistically it sucks.  From a business perspective it was on point. 

Not necessarily. I've spoken with a few creative professionals, including art buyers, who say they have accepted things they didn't want for a variety of reasons. I've done the same myself when I worked as an art director. For instance, you have a deadline and all your preferred artists are unavailable, so you hire someone you've never worked with before. Or, you hire someone you trust, but he's having an off day and then he delivers it right when it has to go to the printer. You don't like it, but don't have time to make another, so you send it in.

A friend of mine once spoke with John Romita about some of the modern ASM covers. He said that back when he was art director at Marvel, he would have never allowed them to go to press. That includes the Campbell MJ covers. The reason? They don't focus on Spider-Man and there is no serious effort at storytelling. On top of that, "not dynamic". Romita's simple cover design for ASM #50 reminds me of the snow cover here, but is a lot better in my opinion. No snow, but imagine snow added to it and it is a better composition. Another that does the trick more effectively in my opinion is Iron Man #182.
 

[paqart]

On 7/2/2023 at 7:24 PM, Ken Aldred said:

Reminds me of this cover, though more minimalist…

I was just looking for this. Much better in my opinion.

[Cat]

On 7/3/2023 at 10:16 AM, paqart said:

A friend of mine once spoke with John Romita about some of the modern ASM covers. He said that back when he was art director at Marvel, he would have never allowed them to go to press. That includes the Campbell MJ covers. The reason? They don't focus on Spider-Man and there is no serious effort at storytelling. On top of that, "not dynamic". Romita's simple cover design for ASM #50 reminds me of the snow cover here, but is a lot better in my opinion. No snow, but imagine snow added to it and it is a better composition. Another that does the trick more effectively in my opinion is Iron Man #182.

 

I would have started with anything by his son. 

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 7/2/2023 at 7:24 PM, Ken Aldred said:

Reminds me of this cover, though more minimalist…

Love this cover 

[D2]

I don’t understand what the fuss is all about.

It’s an entirely forgettable cover.

I do understand that value can make something worse. 

For instance, this cover is far worse because of its value. The fact that it goes for so much is amazing and pathetic all at the same time. 

[Cat]

On 7/4/2023 at 1:50 AM, ak47po said:

Don't know how to feel about this.

Enjoy two more masterpieces. 

[D2]

On 7/3/2023 at 12:05 PM, Cat said:

Enjoy two more masterpieces. 

 

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 7/3/2023 at 12:05 PM, Cat said:

Enjoy two more masterpieces. 

 

That wolvy has to be the worst rendition.....ever.

[Dave2739]

On 7/3/2023 at 12:05 PM, Cat said:

Enjoy two more masterpieces. 

Let's not stop there.

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 7/3/2023 at 12:34 PM, Dave2739 said:

Let's not stop there.

How many more are there? 

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 7/3/2023 at 12:45 PM, ak47po said:

I know he’s doing a cover for The Incredible Hulk.

Ugh

[THE_BEYONDER]

 

Edited July 3, 2023 by THE_BEYONDER

[THE_BEYONDER]

On 1/15/2018 at 10:06 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

Hello.

Whilst perusing price variant finesse, I was reminded of how totally unsatisfactory, nay compositionally hideous, this rotten Spidey cover from Byrne (every copy please) is:

 

 

Let's take a closer look (Yes, I know....)

Firstly, Byrne achieves what should be technically impossible - making MJ look like a horse faced ugly dragon woman:

 

 

Next, we have a bizarre podgy left leg extending, so it seems, from Spidey's left arse-cheek:

 

 

Ouch!

Next, we have a ridiculously unnecessary 'person in the background' disturbing the visual flow of MJ and, bizarrely, they're the best drawn thing on the cover:

 

 

Especially silly given the lack of detail elsewhere on the cover (note the laziest webbing you've ever seen cutting through the void. Hardly McFarlane is it:

 

 

Back on MJ, ahem, the only possibly titivating piece on the cover - a nice shot of thigh - is obscured by inane wording:

 

 

Get out the way! 

And Spidey is frowning, as usual, probably because his oversized head has no neck and extends from his chest, which can only hurt (my eyes):

 

 

Look, he can't even sign his flippin signature in a way that's identifiable:

 

 

What a horrible cover!

What is he, 3 years old? I say Burn 'baby' Byrne!

 

Your turn 

 

At least he doesn’t have toes....

[D2]

On 7/3/2023 at 1:01 PM, THE_BEYONDER said:

At least he doesn’t have toes....

This actually makes sense. He should have toes. Looks like  though. 
 

Spider-Man sticks to walls because of his skin, so how does he stick with clothes on?

Edited July 3, 2023 by D2

[Get Marwood & I]

On 7/3/2023 at 6:01 PM, THE_BEYONDER said:

At least he doesn’t have toes....

[ADAMANTIUM]

[Get Marwood & I]

Talking of Hulk, has his sheer brute rage ever been more adeptly rendered than here: