COVER GALLERY: 2002

9-11 vol.2: DC Comics response to the 9-11 incident came in 2 volumes jam-packed with writers and artists telling stories about real heroes, and coping with loss of loved ones. This cover is simply FANTASTIC, Alex Ross outdid himself on this one, he took a concept from an old All Star Comics cover with a boy and his dog looking in awe at the heroes from the Justice League and made it into what you see on the left, there's such a great symbolism in that image of the greatest super-hero (and his dog, too) looking at our heroes who went above and beyond the call of duty. This cover also borrows a little from a Norman Rockwell painting. Only Alex could mash classic and comic book art into such a wonderful cover.



A MOMENT OF SILENCE: Marvel Comics, having already done a 9-11 benefit book, had still a few stories left to tell so they came up with this follow-up which features 3 stories: Moment of Truth by Bill Jemas and Mark Bagley, Moment of Silence: A True Story by Brian Michael Bendis and Scott Morse, and Periphery by Kevin Smith and John Romita Jr. This book has an introduction by the former Mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani. The cover was pencilled by editor-in-chief Joe Quesada and painted over by Alex Ross, although the image of the fireman was already used, this one features a good combination of these 2 artists' styles and the coloring is pretty nice.




CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS TPB VOL.1: This volume reprints ssues 21-22, 29-30, 37-38, 46-47 of the classic Justice League comics from the 1960's by the acclaimed duo of Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. The cover features a very weird collection of images with the Justice Society and the Justice League and its villains, it's an acid-trip just like the stories from that time.
SUPERMAN & SAVAGE DRAGON - CHICAGO: Your average crossover is at hand when Superman helps the Savage Dragon in the latter one's city. In true Savage Dragon fashion, creator Erik Larsen writes and draws this special issue, even the cover was pencilled by him and painted by Ross, which makes the Superman in the cover look weird and not very Alex Ross-like. Also, the coloring scheme looks too much like the Superman / Fantastic Four cover and Alex's style doesn't translate well with those pointy Erik Larsen-drawn feet.
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES: Same as with The Batman and Superman animated series, when the Justice League series came out, a comic book version of it soon followed. This cover was drawn by series creator Bruce Timm and later painted by Alex Ross. Unlike the Savage Dragon cover, this is what I call a perfect blend of styles, this "cartoony" heroes immediately acquire the seriousness of Alex's heroes, making them seem so real, even thought they are simple renditions of the heroes. Cool Fact: Alex Ross is a huge admirer of Bruce Timm's work, so working on this cover was a real pleasure, and it shows.

IN MY COLLECTION: Only Dc Comics' 9-11 tribute.