When James Jean first started working in comics I was running a comic store in Iowa City, Iowa. Suddenly all these wonderful covers began appearing on DC comics, and I honestly thought DC was, at first, gleaning covers from one of the old illustration masters from the heyday of magazine illustrating. The paintings were just so beautiful that they looked almost out of place in the Deadline NOW oriented world of comics. So I looked into the covers and found that one guy was producing cover after cover… stunning covers full of sensual overtones, other-worldly elements… where every leaf and every smile was full of grandeur and danger, both. James has now largely left the world of comics for work in the illustration field, and the world of Fine Art… but to me he’ll always be one of a select group of men and women that revolutionized comics by opening a brand new floodgate of creativity. Thanks, James.

A painted cover for Umbrella Academy, and then a cover rough for Batgirl # 58.

A note to anyone looking at this at work. We’re coming up on some images that rather prudish people would go pale upon seeing, so you might consider parts of the remaining post NSFW, sadly.

Hey… it’ s Gallery Time!

Those last two are a book about James Jean’s covers for Fables, and then a partial cover study for Fables #19. You know you’re doing fairly well with your covers when they put out a book about them. I should put out a book about going bald. I did it really well.

A painting for Fables # 33… and a look at the finished cover design.

Parts you’ve probably read in earlier posts:

The Disclaimer:

You might not see your favorite artist during this countdown. That’s okay. Don’t get mad. Some of MY favorite artists aren’t here. Hugo Pratt, Bernie Krigstein, Mike Wieringo… these guys (and others) are fantastic artists, but their covers just don’t strike me. Some people need sequential panels in order to have their art sing… and that’s okay. Furthermore, this list is subjective to my moods of the moment, so if you disagree with me, then rest assured that I probably disagree with me, too. That said, I welcome any and all comments as this list progresses over time.

THE FINE PRINT: (Why I’m doing this)

Recently, on a trip to a comic store, I was DISGUSTED by the overall lack of design on covers. Most covers were nothing more than two or three characters punching each other and snarling, the exact kind of design that I would have worked out when I was eight years old, and spat on by the time I was ten. So, why do such covers proliferate the shelves? One reason is for trade dressing… so that any cover can be put upon almost any trade compilation, which is one of the reasons behind the other Far Too Common cover design… that of the character or team standing at attention, looking tough, staring at the viewer. Fuck that. I’m lucky enough to work largely with editor Nate Cosby, who does very good work at hiring talented cover artists and creating covers that don’t piss me off, but in consideration of my other less lucky friends, and the industry as a whole, I’m going to spend the next few weeks counting down my own personal Top 40 Comic Book Cover Artists… the ones who got it right.