Retro versus modern comic covers

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:01 pm

Bit of discussion going on over at the IDW boards about the covers for Infiltration—basically, that some of the covers look like comic panel art and didn't draw attention.

Panel style covers, of course, were common on the UK comic.

So I had a play. Click for a readable version of the modified cover.

Thoughts? Would comics readers today (who consider themselves mature) scoff, or would it draw people in?

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:11 pm

It makes me feel all nostalgic.

I don't mind, to be honest. I like that cover both ways. What a difference the text makes, but the art is nicely old-fashioned in the first place.

It could be said it makes it more accessible if anything.

Often the speech balloons on the UK comic covers would be completely misleading wouldn't they?

http://www.transfans.net/popup.php?id=1569

Or just silly!

http://www.transfans.net/popup.php?id=1533

But always fun.

The only kind of covers I don't like is when it has jack to do with the story:

http://www.transfans.net/popup.php?id=555

But collecters like 'em so what do I know?

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:24 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Often the speech balloons on the UK comic covers would be completely misleading wouldn't they?

Yeah, rather like silver age titles—that sort of setup that engages regular readers as well as new-comers, because the hook is to make you pick up the issue whilst not giving too much (accurate) spoiler material.

These days, the tendency is to do team shots to do the same... unfortunately, so many books do it, the technique has long since meant homogenous racks in comics shops.

Except for Planetary, natch.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:41 pm

Hmm... I guess it could be used at times... But sometimes a word-balloon just ruins an simply stunning piece of art.

The trick is to deem when it could be used (sparcely in my opinion), and when it's not to be used. I'm not all that fond of the "nothing to do with the comic inside"-covers. But everybody is doing em' now. And granted, most of the looks cool.

They do get a bit misleading at times...

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:53 pm

Sure, sometimes an image speaks for itself...

http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/covers/ ... %20320.jpg

It struck me as I was going back over the UK covers, though, that almost every single one of them has tag text of some kind. It's only towards the end of the run that more "straight image" covers appear with any frequency.

It doesn't need to be as self-conciously retro as the mockup above, either...

http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/covers/ ... %20306.jpg

I'm thinking more about tagline text in general than bubbles or lines across the cover.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:04 pm

Ah, the more discreet way. Yes, that I'm sure could be used with great efficiency at many a cover.

jboyler · Post by **jboyler** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:35 am

I prefer a simple posed image, a sort of glamour shot of the character without any text on it. Occasionally a tagline is alright, but for the most part I prefer plain images. I also prefer painted covers done by an artist other than the one that actually draws the story.

-J

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:14 am

Denyer wrote:It doesn't need to be as self-conciously retro as the mockup above, either...

http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/covers/ ... %20306.jpg

Best. Cover. Ever.
Pretentious, moi?

Post by **Best First** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:19 pm

That Prime cover is classic.

I see the point about the above, i can't see it really leaping out of the racks unfortunatly.

With regard to more traditional covers, i don't see why a mixture can't be employed, for example the final Time Wars cover wouldn't be half as good as it is without the speech bubble, but then some covers don't need it at all.

Again all teamshots is dull, but the occasional one is great.

I'd also use the space to showcase different artists, although ideally not by having lots of multiple covers.

divebomb · Post by **divebomb** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:57 pm

Got a couple here that i've been playin around with from DW. I like the bubbles and phrases!

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:34 pm

Altho the Magnus-one is clearly a true spoof and funny at that,

the Hot Rod one is acctually quite fitting, and a bit cool really...

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:36 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:
Denyer wrote:It doesn't need to be as self-conciously retro as the mockup above, either...

http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/covers/ ... %20306.jpg
Best. Cover. Ever.
Pretentious, moi?

Actually, second best i reckon...

http://www.transfans.net/popup.php?id=472
Argumentative, moi?

To the topic in hand, i've got to agree with Besters (*grumble*

), i can't see any reason why a mixture couldn't be done, some with captions, some without. I don't think it's a necessity though.

But they've got to have something to do with the contents of the issue though, not just grandstanding characters that aren't even related to the story within...

Post by **Denyer** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:30 am

I think with multiple covers on each issue there's some room for experiment...

Slightly more modern style of tagline text for Preds:

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:39 pm

Legion wrote:
Metal Vendetta wrote:
Denyer wrote:It doesn't need to be as self-conciously retro as the mockup above, either...

http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/covers/ ... %20306.jpg
Best. Cover. Ever.
Pretentious, moi?
Actually, second best i reckon...
http://www.transfans.net/popup.php?id=472
Argumentative, moi?

*ahem* I think the Transfest cover is cleary the best cover Evar!...

oh I cant show it because we havnt released it for public viewing yet, I feel dirty again...

divebomb · Post by **divebomb** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:47 pm

I like these, its quite good fun. How about a little compy for producing the best custom captioned DW G1 covers? funny ones or serious ones??

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:02 pm

Denyer wrote:Slightly more modern style of tagline text for Preds:

Eey!

Now we're talkin'! If I'm not completely out of the blue, I think I've acctually seen some stuff like these from comics out of Marvel & DC during the recent years? They pretty much disappeared around the millenial-shift, they do pop up again now and then.

And Divebomb, make em' serious.

Cause then almost everyone can probably enjoy them on some level. As humour tends to be immensely diversified among people.

divebomb · Post by **divebomb** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:04 am

Got a new one. A bit more philisophical for Preds...

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:18 am

Swish!

Post by **Denyer** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:16 pm

Who's the quote from? Would round it off to credit it.

We're probably going to get some additional retro-stylin' on that Prowl cover, BTW...

http://forums.idwpublishing.com/cgi-bin ... =855;st=35

Ryall wrote:you should all know that Wildman's cover for issue 2 WILL indeed have an old-school dialogue balloon on it

Post by **Best First** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:20 pm

So... with one speech bubble ISW have shown more ability to listen to fans than DW ever did.

then again, not a high bar to beat...

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:38 pm

What the..?!

You did that, Denyer?? Well, uh.. props to you I suppose.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:41 pm

Hey, nice one Den.

divebomb · Post by **divebomb** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:51 pm

Yay! Speech bubbles. Yay Den! But Here's hoping it does have an element of cheesiness.

and I just found that quote lying about in a book, no name listed.

Post by **Denyer** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:08 pm

Predabot wrote:You did that, Denyer??

Eh? No, I'm sure they came up with something far better initially than me screwing around in Photopaint.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:24 pm

Nice work, Mr. Denyer! I'll be buying that cover, I think.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:55 pm

Denyer wrote:
Predabot wrote:You did that, Denyer??
Eh? No, I'm sure they came up with something far better initially than me screwing around in Photopaint.

Erm.. they better!

I was of course meaning the thing with you inspiring the IDW to make a cover with a word-balloon.

Post by **Denyer** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:51 pm

It was already being mooted as an idea when the artwork came in; we just gave 'em a bit of encouragement.

The covers will also have appropriate logos applied to characters for print; Comics Continuum got particularly early preview images this time (and obviously there'll be more covers than the two they have here right now.)

At a guess, #1 will probably feature the red "INFILTRATION" title we've seen on the #2 previews.

(edit: Nope, apparently it's more likely #2 won't be titled on the cover.)

Uberking Robert · Post by **Uberking Robert** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:52 am

IMO comic book covers should not have talking on them.

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 7:19 am

Uberking Robert wrote:IMO comic book covers should not have talking on them.

Why not? I think that in some cases talking on the cover will improve it - like Besty mentioned upthread, the final Time Wars cover wouldn't work as well without the speech bubble.