10/30 - Hitting the bottom

If the last couple weeks were not all that great in terms of sexy covers, this last Wednesday hit rock bottom. There is not a single cover that one can confidently say it's a sexy cover, at least not  without some qualification. A fact to be sadly noticed is that after last week's Mary Jane bonanza, Marvel didn't make our selection. A comic book house famous for some of the most sexiest characters ever - the Scarlett Witch, Dazzler, Dagger, Crystal, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Gamora, the list goes on and on - couldn't provide a single cover for this week's roundup.

DC, on the other hand, provides three covers; but all of them featuring female characters covered from head to toes in Kevlar-like bodysuits - even the usually more undressed Wonder Woman. Katana, on the cover of BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS ANNUAL #1, looks quite boobalicious, although Dexter Soy and his collaborators didn't resist the old sword/phallus semiotic substitution. Freud seems to be alive and kicking in this post-modern politicaly correct cultural atmosphere. Top marks goes to the best cover of the week - DCEASED #6 - that boasts three wonderfully bodacious anti-heroines (although one of them is a zombified Catwoman). Harley's costume's decoration marks merit a special reference, as they help our subconscious to substitute Quinn's nipples for the enticing star and diamond.

Closing this week's meager selection comes Image's KICK-ASS #18 whose cover dares to bare some cleavage, although in a bloody scenario that somehow seems to lessen the erotic impact of the cover illustration, when it should do the exact opposite.

Covers for: DCeased by Mark Brooks; Wonder Woman Annual by Tyler Khirkham & Arif Prianto; Batman and the Outsiders Annual by Dexter Soy, with Arif Prianto & Riley Rossmo; Kick-Ass by Marcelo Frusin.

Update: Red Sonja & Vampirella meet Betty and Veronica

As a late addition to this week's cover selection comes two covers from Dynamite and Archie Comics's RED SONJA AND VAMPIRELLA MEET BETTY AND VERONICA #6. As is usual with Dynamite, this issue comes out with nine variant covers (although five of them are mere color variants), so two out of four ain't bad. And the top one, at least to this scribe, comes once more from the amazing Fay Dalton that mixes perfect colouring with even more perfect anatomy, in a wonderfully spooky context, all of it slithering mists and chiaroscuro background (never mind the obvious vampire looming large). Fay Dalton's Betty is so sexy (as has been the case in all previous covers by Ms. (?) Dalton for this series) that one is led to forget that both Sonja and Vampirella are in the cover as well. And then we have the marvellous sunny cover by Laura Braga, with its evocation of a balmy mission-acomplished summer afternoon. Enjoy.

Covers by: Fay Dalton, and Laura Braga

Mary Jane

Mary Jane (Watson-Parker) is one of the most - if not the most - beloved female characters of the Marvel Universe. Having been in a on-and-off romance with Peter Parker/Spider-Man for over forty years (and married to him for almost half that time, i.e. 1987-2007) it felt as if she was also the girlfriend of all the readers that have grown up with her (in a time, remember, when the overwhelming majority of readers were of the male sex). So, when Marvel launches a new comic book with the daring prefix AMAZING on its title, aping Mary Jane's husband's most famous book, it comes as no surprise that every comic book artist wants to do the cover. And, with almost twenty variant covers to choose from, and with such an enticing subject to represent, one would naturally expect that many of those covers should be extremely sexy. And one is not defrauded. Above all, by the breathtaking Ashley Witter cover. If there is a painting that can make you feel closer to paradise, well... this is it. And then the gorgeous covers by veteran J. Scott Campbell, that encapsulate Mary Jane's evolution through the decades from that distant THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #42 (1966) until today. It's a sassy trip down memory lane. And then both Jay Anacleto and Stanley Lau remind us that inside that fiery red-head lay a diva-class actress, with the sultriness of a fire-heared Lauren Bacall, and the down-to-earth beauty of a...well, why not, Kirsten Dunst. Finally, closing up my selection of covers, Mark Brooks (why does he draw such masculine faces on his females?) evokes a time when both MJ and Gwen Stacy were tearing apart Peter's (and the reader's) hearts. All in all, a well deserved homage for a character that became larger than life...and, more important yet, part of our lives.

Covers by: Ashley Witter, J. Scott Campbell, Jay Anacleto, Stanley Lau, and Mark Brooks

10/23 - Not so Great a Week for Sexy Covers

Well, one has to qualify such a statement. In a week dominated by a bevy of wonderful covers for Marvel's AMAZING MARY JANE #1, one of the sexiest characters in the history of comics, any other book's cover was bound to look pale by comparison. But even if Mary Jane hadn't hit the stands with the power of a viral event, this week's covers are really not that sexy. Marvel seems to have exhausted its libido in Mary Jane's covers, while DC, continuing its Year of the Villain event and correspective penchant for characterless death-and-desolation covers, doens't even try to be sensual. So, most of the covers that make up this week's selection, are included through somewhat of a knee-reaction process: sure, VAN HELSING vs THE DAUGHTER OF DRACULA #3's cover is not that great, but it features Liesel Van Helsing on the cover, with big gun, strong thighs and sexy fishnet stockings, so it's in.  Almost the same for Zenescope's UNBOUND #1: Vitorino and Nunes's main cover makes the selection not because it features a sexy new action-girl with bustier and looks-like-they're-painted-on leggings, but for the involuntary tittilation that results from its pairing with Keith Carvey's lingerie variant cover.

In their cover for DETECTIVE COMICS #1014, Mahnke and Baron resort to the timelessly erotic subconcious motif of the beautiful blonde in short white virginal dress (or dare I say, nightgown?, for it sure looks like it) inadevertently masturbating a big symbolic phallic gun. It is this motif, more than the drawing itself (too full of pencil lines that should have beeen erased insted of inked), that justifies its inclusion. So, for me, the best cover from this week's DC roster comes courtesy of Lee Weeks in BATMAN BEYOND #37, with its wonderful "Batwoman Beyond" emerging from the surrounding blackness like a furious erotic dream, all of her sensuous curves, solid flesh, and flaring hips.

Finally, the two best covers of the week, although, like the others I've already addressed, not that sexy, are the ones for ARCHIE vs PREDATOR II #3, wich emulates the iconic movie poster for 1985's Andy Sidari's cult classic MALIBU EXPRESS, substituting Betty and Veronica for the original actresses, and with the Predator's thumb daringly caressing the underside of Betty's breast; and Lukas Ketner's cover for COUNT CROWLEY: RELUCTANT MIDNIGHT MONSTER HUNTER #1, because I can't resist an Elsa Lanchester/Bride of Frankenstein-like hair in any circumstance, and even less when it comes together with sexy ghoulish girl with big breasts, a looks-like-it's-been-sprayed-on tank top and Dracula-like cape, stting on an electric chair and being menaced by furry claws.     

Covers for: Van Helsing by Anthony Spay & Ivan Nunes; Unbound by Igor Vitorino & Ivan Nunes; and Keith Carvey; Detective Comics by Doug Mahnke & David Baron; Batman Beyon by Lee Weeks; Archie vs Predator by  Robert Hack & Kelly Fitzpatrick; and Count Crowley by Lukas Ketner

Celebrating Wonder Woman Day

On October 21, 1941, DC's ALL-STAR  COMICS #8 hit the stands. In its pages was featured the first ever appearance of Wonder Woman, a comics character that needs no introduction, wherever you are in the world, even if you've never read a single one of her adventures. That's the kind of icon she became throughout the years. And so, October 21 is Wonder Woman Day, despite the opportunistic and commercial decision of DC to have it celebrated on June 3rd, 2017, due to the premiere of Patti Jenkin's film. Here, in this humble abode to sexy comics covers, I choose to celebrate it with eight of the sexiest covers ever from WW seventy-eight year history. One could argue that any cover featuring Wonder Woman is a sexy cover just by having Wonder Woman in it. I won't debate it. However, when one lays eyes on George Pérez's detailed artwork, or Irv Novick's particular way of drawing the most sensuous Wonder Woman, or even Brian Bolland's celebration of the female form in every drawing, one knows one's entering an all-new ball game.

And, since we are on the approach to Halloween, I picked up some covers with not only supernatural and horrific elements - by no means an exaustive selection - but also with sexy supernatural and horrific elements. And among those, what can top tentacles? Obviously, this is neither the occasion, nor the place to tackle a theory of tentacle erotica, so suffice it to observe that through Wonder Woman's publishing history (and since the get go, thanks to William Moulton Marston's proclivities) bondage in a way or another has featured prominently and, since the mid-seventies, it was a major element to appear in cover illustrations. When bondage was achieved through tentacles, instead of ropes, the erotic effect was that much more intense, as the following covers well certify. Enjoy.

Covers by: Michael Netzer & Vince Colletta; George Pérez; Brian Bolland; Irv Novick; Gray Morrow; Eduardo Barreto, Brian Bolland; and George Pérez.   

10/16 - Dynamite Addenda

Well, my evaluation of this week's sexyness was completely overruled by Dynamite's covers for their titles, with no less than 4 gorgeous covers for VAMPIRELLA #4, a deserved homage in this anniversary year (Vampirella turned 50 this past September), and two more for BETTIE PAGE UNBOUND #5. Another sexy cover, and another "wall of hands" comes from the One-Shot SAVAGE TALES: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL, featuring an unarmed Red Sonja fighting an army of ghouls plus tentacles! It cannot get more sexy than this. Finally, Catherine Nodet's cover for CHASTITY #2 is anything but chaste, portraying a very defiant and sexy anti-heroine with torn fishnet top and spiked choker. And that look, oh, that look!

Covers for: Vampirella by Artgerm, Guillem March, Fay Dalton and Ergün Gündüz; Bettie Page by John Royle & Mohan, and Vincenzo Federici; Savage Tales by Erica d'Urso; and Chastity by Catherine Nodet. 

10/16 - Terror Theme

If last week's covers were a poor choice, the present ones are not much different. Again, the sexiest covers come from Marvel, although they're pretty tame and chaste. On my favorite cover, Captain Marvel pulls a full-body Superman shirt ripping, tearing what apears to be a kree uniform to reveal her costume beneath. Although she is presented with full buxom body, it's the expression on her pixie-like face that captivates me the most. The second (and last) Marvel cover of the week is CONTAGION #3's, which presents us a sexy Jessica Jones in tight shirt and tight jeans being menaced by sinister and purulent-looking tendrils from some evil fungus.

DC almost didn't make the final selection this week. Although their titles for October 16 do exhibit some gorgeous covers, only the one from TITANS:BURNING RAGE #3 comes close to looking sexy, thanks to a wonderful Koriander by Alex Sinclair.

Outside the majors, the most sexiest cover comes from Zenescope's GRIMM'S TALES OF TERROR: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL. Death has sometimes been represented as an enticing and erotically charged female figure (when not played by Bengt Ekerot), and never as much enticing as in this wonderful cover by Igor Vitorino and Ivan Nunes, poised as a bird next to the human carrion that is playing the role of the scarecrow.

As we're getting closer to Halloween with each passing day, this week's remaining covers are also horror-themed, comprising the unchecked lesbian orgy from Aftershock's DARK RED #7, the bleeding Cassie from IDW's THE CROW + HACK/SLASH #4, and the in-your-face minimalist pin-up-style cover for Action Lab's AMALGAMA:SPACE ZOMBIE #1.

Covers for: Captain Marvel by Mark Brooks; Contagion by Juan José Ryp & Jesus Aburtov; Titans - Burning Rage by Alex Sinclair; Grimm Tales of Terror 2019 Halloween Special by Igor Vitorino & Ivan Nunes; Dark Red by Meghan Hetrick; Crow - Hack/Slash by Jim Terry; and  Amalgama - Space Zombie by Winston Young. 

10/09 - The Wall of Hands

Last week's batch of comic books are a sure sign of the scarcity of sexy covers. This being a batch that includes a Red Sonja/Vampirella title, and these being comic books that in recent times would be totally worthless if not for their cover illustrations. And so, surprisingly (at least to me), the sexiest covers of the week belong to Marvel, that presents us two instances of what I like to call "the wall of hands", probably influenced by my young self's fascination with 1965's REPULSION and 1968's movie poster for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Even more surprising, the best of the two covers (as it does have some apparent affinity with Romero's zombie film) is the one from THE MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL #8, a comic character that I find abysmaly unbearable in her cute caricature way. The other cover - WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #2 -  is not quite a "wall of hands", but the positioning of Iron Man's grasping glove, as if making ready to grab one of Black Widow's boobs, taken along with the other ectoplasmic heroes that surround the Russian beauty, perfectly conveys its essence.

Another Marvel cover worthy of notice comes from GWENPOOL STRIKES BACK #3, with the titular character garbed in a wonderful bikini version of her usual costume, basking on a warm silvery moonlit night and totaly oblivious to a menacing Hulk, whose torn trousers seem to be beging for a sexualy inspired remark (that I will abstain from). The cover illustration by Terry and Rachel Dodson fooled me for a while into thinking it was by Frank Cho.

DC's covers are not only under-represented but barely make it as sexy covers, and I'm posting here two of them simply because any cover featuring Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy is bound to look sexy, and because Zatanna likewise makes any book cover look equaly sexy. In this instance, however, it clearly is a missed opportunity.

The remaining covers are also poor excuses to make into this category. Archie's JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER VS VAMPIRONICA #5 is selected because any vampiress lounging in a short dress amidst the iconography of Halloween is inherently sexy. Valiant's LIVEWIRE #11 (a series I have not read yet) makes it because of the context: perusing the books it doesn't look like the main character usually dresses in slit skirts, so the minimalist cover illustration titillates the reader with the prospect of erotic roleplaying. Finally, Catalyst's NOBLE #19 gets the free pass for the daring way the man's forearm rubs the girl's breast in a loving embrace.

Covers for: Magnificent Ms. Marvel by Eduard Petrovich; Web of Black Widow by Junggeun Yoon; Gwenpool Strikes Back byTerry & Rachel Dodson; Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy by Mikel Janín; Black Hammer & Justice League: Hammer of Justice by Michael Walsh; Jughead the Hunger vs Vampironica by Pat & Tim Kennedy; Livewire by Stacey Lee; and Noble by Khary Randolph & Emilio Lopez.