A few thoughts about covers

I'm currently putting together my first book (outside of my writing for Marvel). One of the points my editor made recently was the importance of the cover in selling the book - the weight which the cover bears in attracting customers.

To that end, I want to look at a recent Marvel Comics trade paperback cover. I should note that I used to be a freelance employee of the collections office during the eight years I worked on the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and other projects (2004-2012). Consequently, I know a few of the people who put this collection together, particularly the researcher/layout designer Jeph York, who was also a member of the OHOTMU team. But I really have to say something about the cover to Wolverine Epic Collection V.13: Blood Debt.

Blood Debt is a real hodgepodge of material. It reprints Wolverine's 1999 Annual, Wolverine#150-158 and the entire mini-series Origin#1-6. The book is titled after the story 'Blood Debt' which ran through issues #150-153 and was written & drawn by Steve Skroce. Skroce, strangely, never became a big name in the comics industry, even though he was the guy who storyboarded the film The Matrix, which you'd think would have parlayed him to the top tier; it was enough to get him his own Wolverine story, but he's mostly worked in movies. When he drew the mini-series We Stand on Guard for Image a couple of years ago, it was his first monthly comics work in a decade. Skroce was always considered a talented guy and there was precious little of his work in print. So as the collection is titled 'Blood Debt' you'd think the cover would be a beautiful Steve Skroce image, right?

That's right; you're wrong.

See, after Skroce, Wolverine was very briefly taken over by Rob Liefeld, who only managed to squeeze out two issues of art (and two more on plot) before leaving. There's no shortage of Liefeld in the world - even though he has burned many bridges in his career, the industry keeps asking him to come back. Why then, with so much Liefeld already out there, would you turn to him instead of Skroce? Or, for that matter, Joe Quesada & Andy Kubert, who drew the Origin series also included in this volume?

Deadpool, obviously. Yeah, that's Deadpool on the cover, and that's the only reason I can think of that the collections department chose this reprinted cover for the front honours. But it's not even a good image of Deadpool - it isn't full-body, he's pushed off-centre, and even though Liefeld is Deadpool's creator, it doesn't look especially on-model. It was already a bad cover, but I suppose the hope was that Deadpool's presence would shift a few more copies than Skroce, Quesada or Kubert would. And perhaps the collections department is right. From a marketing standpoint, maybe this was the right call... but from a philosophical and logical standpoint, it makes no sense. It's a bad image of Deadpool and it does not reflect anything about the title of this trade. It's disappointing.

Creator Credits for Deadpool (2016)

So, this is probably the only time Joe Kelly will be listed as the most influential creator in a Marvel super hero film. More's the pity!

Links to my other lists found here.

Joe Kelly: co-creator of Blind Al, a blind woman who Deadpool abducted and forced to live with him; of Deadpool's belt icon; of the expressive, emotive eyes on Deadpool's mask; of Deadpool's mask folding behind his head; of Deadpool breaking the fourth wall to comment on the storytelling tropes in the adventure he's having; of Deadpool calling himself "Merc with a Mouth"; of the Deadpool logo; of Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Children, a hangout place for various mercenaries where they receive assignments (Deadpool #1, 1997); of Francis, one of the people mutated by the same project as Deadpool (Deadpool #14, 1998); of Ajax, Francis' attempted codename (Deadpool #15, 1998); of Wade Wilson admitting himself to a program which he thought would transform him into a super hero and cure his cancer but was instead subjected to a battery of near-death experiences until he lost his sanity; of Cunningham, one of the test subjects tormented alongside Wade who befriended him; of Wade Wilson taking his codename from the "dead pool" placed on his own life (Deadpool/Death 1998 Annual, 1998)

Stan Lee: co-creator of Spider-Man, who received his powers from a radioactive spider's bite (Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962); of Daredevil (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Nick Fury (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Nick Fury wearing an eye-patch; the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, a mobile headquarters designed like a flying battleship (Strange Tales#135, 1965); of Mutants, a collection of humans with powers who are feared by other humans; the X-Men, a team of mutant heroes based at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester County; the X-Men's yellow & black uniforms; the Beast, one of the X-Men; Professor Charles Xavier, the founder of the X-Men (X-Men #1, 1963)

Fabian Niceiza: co-creator of chimichangas as Deadpool's favourite food [or thing to say] (Cable & Deadpool #19, 2005); of Bob, a henchman who befriends Deadpool (Cable & Deadpool #38, 2007); of Weasel, a criminal weapons-maker and best friend of Deadpool; of Deadpool's fast-healing ability (Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1, 1993); of Deadpool, a costumed mercenary in a red & black costume with a motormouth; Deadpool's swords; Cable as Deadpool's adversary (New Mutants #98, 1991); of Deadpool talking to himself (X-Force #4, 1991); of Cable as a time traveler (X-Force #8, 1992); of Vanessa, Deadpool's longtime love interest (X-Force #11, 1992)

Jack Kirby: co-creator of Nick Fury (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Nick Fury wearing an eye-patch; the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, a mobile headquarters designed like a flying battleship (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of Mutants, a collection of humans with powers who are feared by other humans; the X-Men, a team of mutant heroes based at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester County; the X-Men's yellow & black uniforms; the Beast, one of the X-Men; Professor Charles Xavier, the founder of the X-Men (X-Men #1, 1963)

Ed McGuinness: co-creator of Blind Al, a blind woman who Deadpool abducted and forced to live with him; of Deadpool's belt icon; of the expressive, emotive eyes on Deadpool's mask; of Deadpool's mask folding behind his head; of Deadpool breaking the fourth wall to comment on the storytelling tropes in the adventure he's having; of Deadpool calling himself "Merc with a Mouth"; of the Deadpool logo; of Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Children, a hangout place for various mercenaries where they receive assignments (Deadpool #1, 1997)

Steve Harris: co-creator of Wade Wilson admitting himself to a program which he thought would transform him into a super hero and cure his cancer but was instead subjected to a battery of near-death experiences until he lost his sanity; of Cunningham, one of the test subjects tormented alongside Wade who befriended him; of Wade Wilson taking his codename from the "dead pool" placed on his own life (Deadpool/Death 1998 Annual, 1998)

Rob Liefeld: co-creator of Cable, a militant, hard-nosed mutant soldier (New Mutants #87, 1990); of Deadpool, a costumed mercenary in a red & black costume with a motormouth; Deadpool's swords; Cable as Deadpool's adversary (New Mutants #98, 1991); of Deadpool talking to himself (X-Force #4, 1991); of Cable as a time traveler (X-Force #8, 1992); of Vanessa, Deadpool's longtime love interest (X-Force #11, 1992)

Chris Claremeont: co-creator of Colossus, a Russian X-Man who can transform into organic steel; Wolverine as an X-Man (Giant-Size X-Men #1, 1974); of Xavier's School residing on Graymalkin Lane (Uncanny X-Men #152, 1981); of the Blackbird jet, the X-Men's primary mode of transportation (X-Men #94, 1975)

Len Wein: co-creator of Colossus, a Russian X-Man who can transform into organic steel; Wolverine as an X-Man (Giant-Size X-Men #1, 1974); of Wolverine, a mutant hero (Incredible Hulk #180, 1974); of the Blackbird jet, the X-Men's primary mode of transportation (X-Men #94, 1975)

Dave Cockrum: co-creator of Colossus, a Russian X-Man who can transform into organic steel; Wolverine as an X-Man (Giant-Size X-Men #1, 1974); of the Blackbird jet, the X-Men's primary mode of transportation (X-Men #94, 1975)

Walter McDaniel: co-creator of Francis, one of the people mutated by the same project as Deadpool (Deadpool #14, 1998); of Ajax, Francis' attempted codename (Deadpool #15, 1998)

Paco Medina: co-creator of Deadpool using a pizza delivery service to catch the pizza delivery boy who is his target at the home of a man named Gavin (Deadpool #10, 2008)

Joe Madureira: co-creator of Weasel, a criminal weapons-maker and best friend of Deadpool; of Deadpool's fast-healing ability (Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1, 1993)

Daniel Way: co-creator of Deadpool using a pizza delivery service to catch the pizza delivery boy who is his target at the home of a man named Gavin (Deadpool #10, 2008)

Grant Morrison: co-creator of Negasonic Teenage Warhead, a mutant teenager who is taught by one of the X-Men (New X-Men #115, 2001)

Frank Quitely: co-creator of Negasonic Teenage Warhead, a mutant teenager who is taught by one of the X-Men (New X-Men #115, 2001)

Ian Churchill; co-creator of Wade Wilson, Deadpool's real name; of Deadpool's body ravaged by the effects of cancer; (Deadpool #1, 1994)

Mark Waid; co-creator of Wade Wilson, Deadpool's real name; of Deadpool's body ravaged by the effects of cancer (Deadpool #1, 1994)

Steve Ditko: co-creator of Spider-Man, who received his powers from a radioactive spider's bite (Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962)

Patrick Zircher: co-creator of chimichangas as Deadpool's favourite food [or thing to say] (Cable & Deadpool #19, 2005)

Shawn Martinbrough: co-creator of Angel Dust, a mutant woman with superhuman strength (Morlocks #1, 2002)

Louise Simonson: co-creator of Cable, a militant, hard-nosed mutant soldier (New Mutants #87, 1990)

Geoff Johns: co-creator of Angel Dust, a mutant woman with superhuman strength (Morlocks #1, 2002)

Reilly Brown: co-creator of Bob, a henchman who befriends Deadpool (Cable & Deadpool #38, 2007)

Mark Pacella: co-creator of Vanessa, Deadpool's longtime love interest (X-Force #11, 1992)

David Brewer: co-creator of Marrow, a mutant with bones growing from her back (Cable #15)

Bob McLeod: co-creator of Xavier's School residing on Graymalkin Lane (Uncanny X-Men #152, 1981)

Jeph Loeb: co-creator of Marrow, a mutant with bones growing from her back (Cable #15)

Mark Millar: co-creator of Nick Fury depicted as Samuel L. Jackson (Ultimates #2, 2002)

Bryan Hitch: co-creator of Nick Fury depicted as Samuel L. Jackson (Ultimates #2, 2002)

Herb Trimpe: co-creator of Wolverine, a mutant hero (Incredible Hulk #180, 1974)

John Romita: co-creator of Wolverine, a mutant hero (Incredible Hulk #180, 1974)

Mike Mignola: co-creator of Cable as a time traveler (X-Force #8, 1992)

Marv Wolfman: co-creator of Blade (Tomb of Dracula #10, 1973)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Blade (Tomb of Dracula #10, 1973)

Bill Everett: co-creator of Daredevil (Daredevil #1, 1964)

Deadpool Corps: Rank & Foul reprinted again!

It doesn't matter that I stopped working for Marvel in 2012 - with eight years of work, they were bound to keep reprinting some of it - and with a Deadpool movie on the way, naturally it's time for:

DEADPOOL CLASSIC VOL. 15: ALL THE REST TPB

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI, JOHN LAYMAN, STUART MOORE, CHRIS HASTINGS & MORE Penciled by PACO MEDINA, LEANDRO FERNANDEZ, LEE GARBETT, JUAN DOE, AL BARRIONUEVO, SHAWN CRYSTAL, BONG DAZO & MORE Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

It's the latest and greatest volume in the increasingly flexibly named Deadpool Classic series! The ever-sociable Wade Wilson is back — rubbing shoulders with his bro Cable, laughing it up with his other bro Wolverine and forging an all-new bromance during FEAR ITSELF with...the Walrus? The "Identity Wars" take Deadpool, Spider-Man and the Hulk on a long strange cross-dimensional trip, but what twisted reflections of themselves will they see? And in the wake of Steve Rogers' return, will Wade Wilson become the new Captain America? (Spoiler: no.) Learn all there is to know about Deadpool and friends, right here! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WON'T WIELD THE SHIELD #1, CABLE (2008) #25, DEADPOOL & CABLE #26, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #38, DEADPOOL ANNUAL (2011) #1, INCREDIBLE HULKS ANNUAL #1, WOLVERINE/DEADPOOL: THE DECOY #1, FEAR ITSELF: DEADPOOL #1-3 and DEADPOOL CORPS: RANK AND FOUL #1. 360 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$34.99 ISBN: 978-0-7851-9690-7

Besides the profiles I wrote for Rank & Foul, I was also the one who named the book. I'm still kinda proud of that pun.

Deadpool Corps: Rank & Foul collected!

If you ever wondered when and where the Deadpool handbook would be collected, well, wonder no more; coming in December:

DEADPOOL TEAM-UP VOL. 2: SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP HC

Written by ROB WILLIAMS, DAVE LAPHAM, FRANK TIERI, JAMES ASMUS & JEFF PARKER Penciled by MATTEO SCALERA, SHAWN CRYSTAL, CHRIS STAGGS, MICAH GUNNELL & STEVE SANDERS Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

Everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth continues hacking and wisecracking his way across the Marvel Universe in this second volume of riotous, ridiculous and outright reprehensible team-ups! First up, Deadpool goes to England where he squares off with Captain Britain over a fabled weapons haul. Then, what happens when the only person a demonic sorceress named Satana can find to help her is our lovable and slightly deranged Deadpool? Well, telling you would be telling, but if you listen real hard you might hear the distant chimes of...wedding bells!? Also, Mr. X has traveled near and far and faced some of the best fighters the world has to offer. But can anything prepare him for what happens when Deadpol is contracted to kill him? Then Deadpool’s destructive past catches up with him when he gets a call from the indestructible robot (and part-time insurance agent) Aaron Stack AKA Machine Man! All this plus GORILLA MAN! Collecting DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #893-889 and DEADPOOL CORPS: RANK AND FOUL. 192 PGS./Parental Advisory …$24.99 ISBN: 978-0-7851-4711-4

Deadpool Handbook & Iron Man Index tomorrow!

Tomorrow is release day for Deadpool Corps: Rank and Foul, the first-ever Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe devoted entirely to Deadpool! Truly, comics have finally come of age. More about this book can be found here.

Tomorrow is also release day for Iron Man: Official Index to the Marvel Universe, which collects all of the Iron Man index material from OITTMU#1-14 under a single cover (with a few extras). The solicitation is here.

There are nine Deadpool comics in March; you only need to buy one.

DEADPOOL CORPS: RANK AND FOUL

Written by JEFF CHRISTIANSEN, MICHAEL HOSKIN, RONALD BYRD, MIKE O'SULLIVAN, ERIC J. MOREELS, JACOB ROUGEMONT, MADISON CARTER, MARKUS RAYMOND, KEVIN GARCIA, STUART VANDAL, CHRIS BIGGS, MIKE GAGNON & ROB LONDON Select Character Artwork by GUS VAZQUEZ Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

In the Marvel Universe Handbook style, this one-shot has everything you need to make sense of Deadpool! (Is that even
possible?) In this issue, there are more ALL-NEW profiles than 'Pool has voices in his head -- from "allies" (Outlaw, Weasel,
Zombie Deadpool), to enemies (Ajax, Dr. Bong, Madcap), to the hotties (Dr. Betty, Blind Al, Big Bertha) and the sheer
awesomeness of the Sack! How could you pass this up? You know at least one of your personalities will love it! Featuring NEW ART for dozens of characters! More fun than a barrel of gun-wielding monkeys! 64 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

I came up with the title of this book; you're welcome.