Comic Cover Design

[miticis]

In an attempt to avoid 'first-comic-cover-foe-pah' I decided to design the cover of my recently printed book, Wings.

I'd like some post print feedback, before it hits the self/con/trash can, so I can have some idea of what to expect from the people who might buy it.

What do you think?

Let me know,

Thanks,
-Miticis

[Darren Schwindaman]

I think that pairing the X-rays of the man with other flying creatures is a great concept. Very intriguing. I think that including the interior pencilled art on the cover detracts from the impact of the X-ray arms image. That's a very iconic image and would be more impactful standing on its own. If the purpose of the cover is to intrigue the reader and give a sense of tone coming into the book, I think ultimately this is very successful.

[F!]

Way too many competing and superfluous elements: the masthead, the studio logo, the credits, the publisher logo, the repetition of the wing graphics, the tag line, etc.

Less really would be more.

[Mike.M]

Way too many competing and superfluous elements: the masthead, the studio logo, the credits, the publisher logo, the repetition of the wing graphics, the tag line, etc.

Less really would be more.

I agree, from a design standpoint, I'm not sure what's supposed to be more important, the black parts, or the art.

Should really try to knock down the focus to one important thing.

[jwillie]

Man, design is tough.
It's so much easier to criticize. But anyway, you asked...
The black bars are way to heavy compared to the image area. The x-rays really are cool, but they get lost in everything else. You repeat elements: the credits are listed twice, the wing silhouettes used twice and the black bars, but there is no benefit to the repetition. It just adds clutter. The title on the other hand is nice and simple, it works well with the x-rays.
I'd say for the version 2 alternate cover: Drop the black bars. Put the "think tank" logo up next to the title, but shrink it so it isn't dominant. Maybe put the other logo right beneath it, but this logo is hard to place. Anyway, then try and make the green background plain with the x-rays taking up the entire width of the page. Keep the title the same. I think that would look pretty nice...

(Sorry: my boss almost always gives annoying vague crits, so I may have gone a bit overboard! Take this as a sign that there are some very good elements to this design, it just needs a bit of refining.)

[FLINT79]

Looks a little redundant (sp) having "By Ken Kadet & Chris Beck" under the main wings logo, only to look over and see it listed again in the sidebar...

[miticis]

I really appriceate your thoughts. They are all valid. I was battling myself over the elments quite a bit. I did some research, and noticed that as far as the side panal goes, the more contrasty it is, the better it can be seen, when its stacked behind other books, or slotted vertically on the shelf.

That was my motivation, and design is fun, not all that hard. Sometimes its hit and miss. Maybe I missed this time.

I can take the critique, so keep it coming.

I have a few pages up in the Sequentials section, and no-one has replyed, so... feel free to hit me up there too.

Thanks,
Miticis

[F!]

As we've all said, a more simplified layout would work better. There are numerous ways to place the important elements, but I think a fairly traditional centered layout would be the most obvious and quickest solution.



Of course, I'm not saying that you should only do things the accepted way. My favorite cover designs are anything but traditional. However, the (mostly) centered composition is what readers have come to expect from their comic covers and meeting that expectation could instantly earn you some credibility.

[Aaron]

I think just take out the background panel images and you got something real nice.

[Mike.M]

I really appriceate your thoughts. They are all valid. I was battling myself over the elments quite a bit. I did some research, and noticed that as far as the side panal goes, the more contrasty it is, the better it can be seen, when its stacked behind other books, or slotted vertically on the shelf.

That was my motivation, and design is fun, not all that hard. Sometimes its hit and miss. Maybe I missed this time.

I can take the critique, so keep it coming.

I have a few pages up in the Sequentials section, and no-one has replyed, so... feel free to hit me up there too.

Thanks,
Miticis

I'd be way more worried about the cover art making people pick it up than the side panel.

Most shops I know put comics side by side on the shelf.