Tag Archives: Variant Covers

Flash #8 Variant Cover by Bernard Chang

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DC has revealed Bernard Chang’s variant cover for next month’s The Flash #8. The artist talks about the process, starting with deciding what approach to take.

Before starting on the drawing, I need to decide whether I want to take a more story-centric or graphic design approach to the cover. I’m equally a fan of both directions, but in this case, opted for the “scene out of the story.” I then pulled up some images of athletes running and sprinting, trying to generate some inspiration and understanding details to capturing figures in motion.

The original solicitation indicated that Kenneth Rocafort (Red Hood and the Outlaws, Velocity) would provide the variant cover. For whatever reason, it seems to have been changed long enough ago that DC asked Chang to cover this specific issue.

Flash #7 Variant Cover by Dale Keown

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The Flash is trapped in the icy clutches of Captain Cold.

The Source has unveiled Dale Keown’s variant cover for The Flash #7. They also hint that there’s more behind Captain Cold’s rampage than was revealed last issue.

On the art process:

“I was sent a few sentences about the story and an existing cover to get started,” Keown told THE SOURCE when asked about his creative process. “I worked up a sketch for editorial, which was approved with some notes. I usually do the digital inks with some gray scale rendering so it’s just a matter of throwing on some color and hi-lites.”

The Flash #7 concludes the two-part Captain Cold story, and races into stores on March 28.

Flash #6 Variant Cover by Mike Choi Revealed

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The Source has posted the variant cover to Flash #6.  Featuring artwork by Mike Choi, the cover shows the Flash frozen mid-movement.  It has been revealed that Captain Cold will make his first full appearance in Flash in issue #6.

Choi is also quoted in the post, where he talks about some of his artistic influences:

From the get-go, [Flash editor Brian Cunningham] told me to try and infuse more dynamism to my figure work by looking at artists like John Buscema and Wally Wood, and hopefully that’s coming through bit by bit as my career progresses.

Interestingly, the solicit up at DCComics.com has not been updated to reflect the new content in issue six and still reads as below.  It has been stated by writer Brian Buccellato that the CSI story is “off the table.”

THE FLASH #6
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
Variant cover by MIKE CHOI
1:200 B&W Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale FEBRUARY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Struggling with the climactic aftermath of his battle with Mob Rule last issue, The Flash must solve a murder mystery that dates back 150 years! Is this case too cold even for Barry Allen? Also: Learn the origins of Central and Keystone City!

Flash #4 Variant Cover by Eric Basaldua

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Comicvine’s page detailing The Flash #4 includes Eric Basaldua’s variant cover for the issue. DC seems to have stopped promoting the alternate covers beyond naming the artists in the solicitations. The last one I saw on an official site or press release was the variant for issue #1.

It’s been interesting to look at the different approaches various artists take to the new costume, as well as to compare the mostly story-focused, stylized and representational covers from regular artist/co-writer Francis Manapul to the more standard “Flash running/stopping” covers used for the variants. Of course, I have no doubt that many of the variant covers were assignments to “draw a Flash cover,” rather than to draw a Flash cover for a particular story or even issue.

Flash #3 Variant Cover by Jim Lee

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Somehow, I missed seeing this cover until today. I guess with the early preview, DC just didn’t get around to posting it online. Thanks to Aaron Louis Kessler of the Flash and Other Members of the Speed Force group on Facebook for the scan!

Speaking of Flash #3, I’m sorry I’m so far behind on reviews. It’s been a busy couple of months. Who am I kidding, it’s been a busy year! I’ll see if I can do a combined review of #2 and #3, or just go straight to #3, sometime in the next week.

Speaking of that preview, it was one of DC’s first posts on Google+. Speed Force is on Google+ too, so please add us to your circles!