Choose Your Cover: The Issue of Variants

[Stephanie]

Variants are the spice of comics. Whether an issue turns out good or bad, most of the time variants are there to give it that extra flavor. However, variants can be more expensive, and the increased price tag doesn't always appeal to some readers. "You can't judge a book by its cover," right? Maybe, but maybe not. Comics aren’t exactly full-blown books, and when you’re dealing with a medium in which art makes up half the battle, those pretty pictures count. After all, when you browse for comics at your local shop, a well-designed cover can catch your eye—even if it advertises a title you’ve never even heard of before.

The concept of variants affects both consumers, creators, and the industry at hand, but are they a force for good or evil, so to speak? They might be hard on your wallet from time to time, but they’re a collector’s dream. Who knows how much the variant cover of a debut issue will value in a few years’ time or longer? Plus, a signed rare variant can rank even higher on the scale. Having variants to boast about doesn’t just come down to bragging rights or how much you can pawn them off for, however. Many take pride in the search for quality covers simply because the act makes the medium and the reader's passion stand out as a whole. Comics are a community, and a fan’s collection allows them to participate and enjoy that common base.

Of course, you don’t have to be a diehard collector to be interested in variants or just covers in general. Many readers find the more unique covers with a little thought or meaning behind them to be worth the investment. For example, I picked up Robin #175 specifically for the clever reference to the Batfamily’s more tragic of moments. Throughout comic history, covers have been dramatic, cheesy, heartbreaking, and even beautiful, and they help define memorable, key events in a title’s continuity. Not to mention, even if you forget about an arc or one-shot along the way, that certain familiar cover can bring you back—and make you smile or cringe all over again.

Let’s not forget that variants help draw in new and old readers alike, which in turn helps the industry and its hard-working creators by pulling in more of an audience and thus, money—allowing them to continue to make the comics you love. Sometimes word-of-mouth recommendation just can’t stack up against the appeal of a special cover illustrated by some fan-favorite artists, or ones that generate a catchy, flash-and-bang aura. That said, covers can backfire as promotion, as well. A boring, static cover or lack of impressive variant options to its name can draw people away from a comic's contents out of disinterest. After all, who wants to put down the cash to read a comic book when its creators and the industry that publishes it don’t even seem to find it worth the extra time and effort? The level of dedication to variants can reflect heavily upon a comic’s current success or popularity, and variants themselves have been known to conjure discussion. For instance, during Grant Morisson’s Batman: RIP storyline, Alex Ross’s art plastered the front of most of its issues—perhaps unintentionally inciting people to debate whether or not hunting down the variants was worth it when the popular artist's versions were more commonly available.

However, even if a comic’s numerous covers don’t encourage readership, they certainly keep the attention on the book itself when handled correctly. So the next time you hear someone complain over the pointlessness of variants, just remind him of all the good they do as a positive force in the comics verse. Variants are, in a way, a celebration of the medium we cherish. Why not join in that celebration with a shiny new variant of your favorite comic next Wednesday?