January 22

It’s a cold, cold night… and the wind was blowing through the poplar tree…

That was something my dad would say on cold nights. And we are in a stretch now that is really cold. So cold that school has been canceled for tomorrow. That gives me a chance to get these new comics read. Since I got new comics the last two days, it is time for the Favorite Comic Covers of the week!

Also Rans: Terrorbytes #4, Bloodland #1, The Beauty #3, The New Avengers #8 (VARIANT), and Rogue #1.

Bronze Medalist

Mortal Thor #6

Cover art by Alex Ross

Alex Ross is a former winner of the Comic Cover Artist of the Year and he has consistently given us class covers, such as this Thor cover with the Cobra on it. It is a classic Alex Ross cover!

Silver Medalist

Amazing Spider-Man #20

Amazing Vision Variant

Cover art by Lee Bermejo

This a cool cover (even though Juggernaut is not in this issue). Bermejo has become one of the best Spidey variant artist around as this is a beautiful action moment between the two characters.

Gold Medalist

Captain America #6

Variant Foil

Cover art by Ivan Tao

I have been ignoring foil covers lately, but I could not pass this one by. It is so beautiful, especially the big, silver star on the chest of Captain America. This foil is a masterpiece.

January 15

A busy week with some good comics, but honestly, not as many comic covers this week as some have been. Most of them are good, but few that really pop out among the others.

Also Rans: The Monster and the Wolf #2 (Cover E)- Last week I got these early, but this week I picked up cover E with Creature of the Black Lagoon on it. It just fell short of being the first variant to metal in consecutive weeks. The Ultimates #20, Uncanny X-Men #22, Space Ghost #7, and Like A Bell in the Month of May #1 (a comic from local creators in Davenport).

Bronze Medalist

Wonder Woman Black and Gold 2026 Special

Cover Art done by Cliff Chiang

The coloring of this book is what makes it the bronze medalist this week. I love the gold and black with Diana in the middle. Really stands out.

Silver Medalist

Logan: Black, White & Blood #1

Cover art by Alex Maleev

An awesome and brutal looking feral Wolverine. The black and white cover with just a few splashes of red for the blood makes this truly beautiful.

Gold Medalist

Geiger #20

Cover art by Sean Von Gorman

Spotted this variant cover on the stand and I loved it. It is an homage to Wicked, with Geiger playing the role of Elphaba. It works on so many levels, with the green and black and the white cloak on the side.

January 8

Welcome back to the EYG Favorite Comic Covers of the Week. The more things change, the more they stay the same. You’ll see what I meant by that in a little bit.

Also-Rans: Godzilla Kai-Sei #6 (Superman #75 homage cover), The Twilight Zone #3, Blue Falcon and Dynomutt #5, Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Justice League #6, Absolute Superman #15, Absolute Batman: Ark-M #1, and Ultimate X-Men #23 (B cover).

Bronze Medalist

Amazing Spider-Man #19

Amazing Visions Variant

Cover art by Lee Bermejo

A lovely cover featuring the Punisher. Bermejo really made this epic. Punisher looked unhinged… just as he should look.

Silver Medalist

Batman #5

Variant 1:25

Cover art by David Aja

This is an awesome cover with Batman and a crow (or raven, perhaps) squawking on his shoulder. The expression on Batman’s face is priceless. I have always been a fan of white backgrounds.

Gold Medalist

The Monster and the Wolf #2

Cover B

Cover art by Mark Spears

2026 looks to be just like 2025. Our Cover Artist of the Year for 2025 is back on the top in 2026. Technically, this book shouldn’t be out yet. It is released next week, but Keenspot sent this to me today, so they must have known that Mark Spears was heading back to the Gold Medal stand. This is a really creepy cover with disturbing imagery.

January 1

Happy New Year!

We start off with the 2026 Favorite Comic Cover Artist race. Year one was won by Alex Ross and year two was won by Mark Spears. Will either of them repeat for year three? Spoiler: neither are in the medalists this week.

It is a skip week for DC and there were not very many other books released this week.

Also-Rans: Sorcerer Supreme #1, The Punisher: Red Band #4 (Cover B), The Undead Iron Fist #4,and Escape #5.

Bronze Medalist

Harley Quinn x Elvira #1

Variant Blind Bag Virgin

Cover art by Amanda Conner

This was from the Harley Quinn x Elvira Mystery Variant Blind Bag. It was a virgin cover from Amanda Conner, who did several different covers for the bags. I love the sketch version of the art, though she apparently had a few special, hand-drawn version in the bags. This is not that, but still a cool idea. Blind Bags are all the rage right now.

Silver Medalist

Feral #19

Variant Cover B (Horror Homage)

Cover art by Tony Fleecs, Trish Forstner & Allen Passalaqua

The horror homages from Feral continue to be some of the best covers on the market. This one is in honor of Five Nights at Freddy’s, but this book is much better than that one.

Gold Medalist

X-Men: Age of Revelation-Finale #1

Variant Cover C

Cover art by Marcus Martin.

The big finale for the X-Men event has this awesome Cyclops variant cover, showing off future Cyclops blasting his optic blast into the air. The white with gold is a real standout among a bunch of great covers for the finale issue.

December 27

So we have come down to the final Comic Covers of the year. Of course, these are the lame duck ones, since none of these will go into the vote for Best Comic Cover artist of the Year. We have already given the medals for that, with Mark Spears winning the 2025 Award.

Also Rans: American Caper #2, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #4, Gray Lady #1, The Will of Doom #1, The Lion King #2, and Cloak or Dagger #3,

Bronze Medalist

Hello Darkness #17

Variant Cover B

Cover art by Jenny Frison

A Jenny Frison cover always awesome, and this one is just so with that eyeball lollipop. I love the red in the background as it matches her eyes.

Silver Medalist

No Man’s Land #4

Cover art by Szymon Kudranski

This is actually the first of the four No Man’s Land covers that did not end up with a Gold Medal. It is still beautiful with the snow white on the cover and the blood splatter in the middle. Kudranski wound up with the Silver Medal for the Cover Artist of the Year.

Gold Medalist

DC KO: Red Hood vs. The Joker #1

Variant Cover C

Cover art by Guillem March

This variant cover of the DC KO fight books jumped off the stand as I was looking at the DC books. The veiny arm of the Joker holding that crowbar, which means so much to Jason Todd. It is a stunning piece of art and a fine, final gold medal cover for 2025.

Next week will start the new year’s Comic Cover Artist competition fresh for 2026.

December 19

This is the final, official EYG Favorite Comic Covers of the Year. After this one, I will compile the year’s winners for the Year in Review. While it is a foregone conclusion which artist is going to be the Gold Medalist, Silver and Bronze are up in the air, and the Medalists for the Best Comic Covers (Regular and Variant) are up for grabs as well.

Also Rans: Survive #4, Space Ghost #6, The Mortal Thor #5 (A Cover), Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #5, Black Cat #5, and Power Fantasy #14 (B cover).

Bronze Medalist

The Mortal Thor #5

Knullified variant

Cover art by Netho Diaz

The Knullified Variant cover gives us a powerful image of Thor with the lightning and the rain around him. This was a book that attracted me off the stands, as I had already bought the A cover for Mortal Thor #5. Beautiful work.

Silver Medalist

Exquisite Corpses #8

Variant Cover D

Cover art by Jorge Fornes

Another book that I saw on the shelf and my exact thought was… “What is that?” I saw that other variants of Exquisite Corpses were around this book, so I guessed it was that one. Another gorgeous cover that many weeks would be #1. However….

Gold Medalist

Mark Spears Monsters #8

Blind Bag Foil Variant Cover A63

Cover art by Mark Spears

I picked up one blind bag at Comic World and as I opened it up, I saw the foil on the back and I got really excited. This cover is 1:666 (funny) and it is stunning. The clown is always a personal favorite and the foil only made it all the better.

December 13

Okay, I know I am late.

Things started off on Thursday with some weather. I decided I would wait until Friday to go to Bettendorf to pick up those comics.

Then, when I got back on Friday, the covers of the week slipped my mind until just a few minutes ago.

Also-Rans: Absolute Batman #15 (B cover), Crownsville #2, Terminator Metal #3, Geiger #19, Iron & Frost #3, The Beauty #2, Unbreakable X-Men #3, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13 (virgin variant).

Bronze Medalist

Pop Kill #1

Cover art by Alison Sampson

Merry Christmas! Another awesome cover from the world of Pop Kill. This series always had some fun covers and this one makes me wonder what is going on.

Silver Medalist

Ordained #1

Cover art by Jorge Fornes

This is a dramatic cover with this new comic from Bad Idea. Intriguing new book with a cool cover that gives us a great outlook into the new characters, a priest who can protect himself in ways most priests can not. The cover is a great start.

Gold Medalist

Absolute Batman #15

Cover art by Nick Dragotta

The hottest comic of the week has the top cover. The picture of the new absolute Joker is compelling and amazing. This has been selling out all over the place. The cover is a big reason why.

December 4

Happy December all. We are into the final month of 2025 and we are underway with the Year in Review here at EYG. One of the big awards we added last year was Comic Cover Artist of the Year as well as providing medals for the top three regular covers and medals for the top three variant covers of the year. We gave one cover the Platinum Medal for the overall best cover of 2025. While the comic cover artist is wrapped up, the other medals for the Year in Review are still up for grabs. These will be reveal in a couple of week!

So we are up to this week’s medalists…

Also-Rans: First are the runners up of the week. They included Doctor Strange #1, Fantastic Four #6 (Jusko cover), Batman #4 (Bat-Gadget Variant), The Terminator: Santa Claus is Coming to Town #1, The Phantom #3, War Wolf #2, and Wild Animals #5.

Bronze Medalist

Dark Souls: Mother of Mourning #1

Foil Variant

Cover art by Bjorn Barends

I have never heard of this, but the shiny foil cover attracted me and I grabbed this new book from Titan Comics.

Silver Medalist

Blue Falcon and Dynomutt #4

Cover art by Lucio Parrillo

Blue Falcon bursting from out of the center of a fiery explosion? Yes, please. This series from Dynamite has had some real winners for covers in its short four month existence.

This is one more winner.

Gold Medalist

Something is Killing the Children #45

Virgin Foil Variant

Cover art by Stefano Simeone

A beauty of a cover for this epic Boom! Studios series. I loved this one and had to take it off the shelf. The gold foil teeth of Erica’s mask provides that perfect touch for the variant.

November 26

Last week was a big week. This week is another big week of covers. While I was able to narrow it down to just three, there are several books that could have medaled if I had adjusted it. I sure hope this is the rule moving forward. I could get used to having to make these tough decisions every week.

Two foil covers this week. All of them are variants.

Also-Rans: Department of Truth #34 (virgin variant), Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3 (virgin variant), Absolute Batman #14 (C cover), The Undead Iron Fist #3, Cloak or Dagger #2, Mortal Thor #4, Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #4 (Cover B), DC KO #2 (cover E), Justice League Unlimited #13 (cover C), and Black Cat #4

Bronze Medalist

Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1

Virgin Variant Cover D Foil

Cover art by Denys Cowan & Bill Sienkiewicz

It is a beautiful foil cover for this new DC series and it is awesome to give a medal to a legend as Bill Sienkiewicz.

Silver Medalist

Infernal Hulk #1

Foil variant

Cover art done by Dan Panosian

A stunning foil cover with the new version of the Hulk. It is very distinctive with this grey creature and the green glowing around it. Loved it.

Gold Medalist

Detective Comics #1103

Variant Cover C

Cover art by Lee Garbett

I love the Black and white contrast with the shadowy Batman in the middle of the cover. The bats flying out of Batman’s cape gives that a creepy look as well. Another great variant cover this week.

November 13

Yet another good week. There are several really good covers this week. Three independent books this week so no DC or Marvel in the medal winners.

Also-rans: Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #4 (Here it is, Todd!), Batman: Dark Patterns #12, Transformers #26, Spider-Man Noir #2, Redcoat #15, 1776 #1, Fantastic Four #5, and The City Beneath Her Feet #2.

Bronze Medalist

Blue Falcon and Dynomutt #3

Cover art by Lucio Parrillo

This Dynamite Comic has had some beautiful covers in its short span of publishing. This with Blue Falcon in the rain just looking majestic dead center is an awesome cover.

Silver Medalist

American Caper #1

Cover art by Tyler Boss

I did not know what this book was from Dark Horse. However, the cover drew me to it, so I picked it up. What a lovely and yet painful cover.

Gold Medalist

Die Loaded #1

Cover art by Stephanie Hans

First issue with Image’s new book with one of the most compelling covers. The giant bear with his open mouth and a character inside… with a fox too. It makes me wonder about what this book will be about.

November 6

Good evening cover lovers. Welcome to the EYG Favorite Comic Covers of the Week for the first week of November. If I am being honest, this week’s covers were a little weaker. There were not as many also-rans this week even though the top three are still very strong.

There is just a few weeks to go until the 2025 Cover Artist of the Year is named in the Year in Review. Spoiler… I think this year’s winner is among the medalists this week. Should not be a surprise if you have been paying attention.

Also-Rans: DC KO: Knightfight #1, Crownsville #1, No Place #1, Amazing Spider-Man #15, Batman #3, and Alien vs. Captain America #1.

Bronze Medalist

Star Trek: Red Shirts #4.

Cover art by Chris Shehan

Rough day for this cover Red Shirt. The skeleton with the sword in its guts, chained up. Feels like overkill, but it is a stunning cover that really tells you what the series is about. Killing off red shirts!

Silver Medalist

Wild Animals #4

Cover art by Andy Kuhn

Wild Animals has been a sensational series and this cover continues some awesome work. I love the white background with the giant gun and the yellow tint. It is just a real standout among the covers this week.

Gold Medalist

G.I. Joe #13

Variant Cover B

Cover art by Mark Spears

Mark Spears is back in the gold medal round with a beautiful cover featuring Cobra Commander. I was very surprised to see Spears doing a G.I. Joe Cover. He is undeniably going to be out cover artist of year unless there is some kind of massive push by someone. He is certainly the leader in the clubhouse.

I probably have to thank Todd for putting this in my box… he gets twitchy when I don’t mention him.

October 30

The 5th week of the month is always a little short with comics, but there are several really good covers any way.

One variant and two A covers this week. All three are very apropos for the time of the year we are (Happy Halloween everybody!)

Also-Rans: Mighty Thor #3, Undeadpool #1, Runaways #5, Cloak or Dagger #1, The Phantom #2, Sleep #6 and Return to Sleepy Hallow #1.

Bronze Medalist

Black Cat #3

Cover art by Adam Hughes

Felicia has herself a top notch cover. I have not read the book yet, but that sure makes me think about Sandman. The black suited Felicia sure stands out beautifully from this sandy background.

Silver Medalist

Stake Presents Jessamy #1.

Cover art by Francesca Fantini

I had no idea what this book was, but this cover was so beautiful that it drew me to it. What a stunning cover with some wonderful imagery. The blood roses and the bats around the big moon… just exceptional.

Gold Medalist

Feral #17

Variant Cover B

Cover art by Trish Forstner

I love these horror film homages that Feral has been doing and there is yet another gold medal for it. This is a homage to Halloween and the jack lantern with the fangs just makes the cover. Love the black background against the orange pumpkin. Another sensational Feral Cover B variant.

October 23

This week’s favorite covers feature one variant and two A covers. One of the variants is a cool homage to a movie.

Also-Rans: Thanksgiving #1, Hello Halloween #1, Fantastic Four #4, Space Ghost #4, Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #3, Harley Quinn #55 (Pumpkin Spice Variant), and News from the Fallout #5.

Bronze Medalist

No Man’s Land #2

Cover art by Szymon Kudranski

A spooky cover using the skull formation mixing in with the snow. Szymon Kudranski is a great artist and I have missed his work. This cover is clearly a standout.

Silver Medalist

Terminator Metal #1

Cover art by Declan Shalvey

The new Terminator series from Dynamite kicked off with a solid issue one cover. The theme of the color scheme really worked with this book. The metallic look makes this a beautifully designed cover.

Gold Medalist

No Man’s Land #2

Variant Cover B

Cover art by Szymon Kudranski

I love the Silence of the Lambs homage for No Man’s Land #2, which lands twice in the metal round. In fact, No Man’s Land #1 was a gold medalist too. Szymon Kudranski had a big return to cover art with this two covers this week.

October 17

It is Friday, not Thursday because my Parent/Teacher Conferences played havoc with my comic schedule.

I received my box of books from Keensport that was the new Mark Spears book, The Monster and the Wolf. It was a blast opening those Blind bags of those books. I really thought that those would all take the top three medal spots this week… and then I went to Bettendorf and found a few other books that changed that choice.

Also-Rans: Blue Falcon & Dynomutt #2, Iron & Frost #1, Sonja Reborn #2, Amazing Spider-Man #14 (Cover B), Hello Darkness #15, Endeavor #1, and Unbreakable X-Men #1 (Variant Foil Cover).

Bronze Medalist

The War #3

Variant Cover B

Cover art by Bjorn Barends

What a beautifully powerful cover with the representation of death. The colors are amazing and work so well. It was a variant cover and I chose this over cover A.

Silver Medalist

They Choose Violence #5

Cover art by Rahzzah

This was the cover that led to the decision to NOT let Mark Spears’ new book own the top three spots. The brutal and bloody cover was as compelling as I have ever seen. In most weeks, this would be the number one book. I mean, look at the blood around the mouth of this person. It is so disturbing and beautifully frightening.

Gold Medalist

Mark Spears’ The Monster and the Wolf #1

Cover art by Mark Spears

I decided to take all of the Blind Bag books and bunch them together as the gold medalists this week. I used the Star Wars homage issue as the example because this is one of the standouts of the books I got. It’s a lot of fun.