Best Comic Book Covers – February 2011

There was a time before the Internet when a comic book cover was one of a reader's first hints about contents of a new comic, back before everyone knew what would happen months and months before it went on sale. While this function has been delegated to prodigious solicitation copywriters and an army of comics journalists, the art of the comic book cover has not been lost, although it may sometimes be taken for granted -- relegated to a thumbnail image in a Previews catalogue or sterile list of new books on any number of websites. There is a true and righteous art to creating a successful comic book cover, and it is a talent that comics' best illustrators continue to practice even in obscurity. It is to celebrate this work that we've created the Best Comic Book Covers feature.

Curated by ComicsAlliance editors Laura Hudson, Caleb Goelner and Andy Khouri, Best Comic Book Covers will celebrate that left behind art of cover creation, spotlighting what in our opinions were the most beautifully illustrated, impeccably designed or just simply the coolest images to be found on the stands throughout the month that was.

NOTE: With hundreds of new comics released every month, even art obsessives like us are going to miss something occasionally. Artists and publishers of all kinds (including manga!) can help make Best Comic Book Covers a stronger feature by making every month's solicitations as easily available as possible (ideally without logos). You can even email them directly to us, if you like.

In no particular order...

The Sixth Gun #9

Story by Brian Hurtt

Art and cover by Cullen Bunn

Published by Oni Press

Amazing Spider-Man #655

Story by Dan Slott

Art and cover by Marcos Martin

Published by Marvel Comics

Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis #5

Story by Warren Ellis

Art and cover by Kaare Andrews

Published by Marvel Comics

Batman, Incorporated #4

Story by Grant Morrison

Art by Yanick Paquette & Michael Lacombe

Cover by J.H. Williams III

Published by DC Comics