For me, old chum, it was the first two issues of Herogasm. I had no idea what it was about but had seen the ads. Apparently, it is spun-off of The Boys, a comic I have never read. Between issue one and especially issue two, I just had to know what the hell kind of craziness was to be found inside.

Apparently, it is the insane kind of craziness.
FxHx | Email | 06.23.09 - 3:51 am | #

I have two Big Questions for you, Mikester:

1. How did you stock Herogasm at your store without (much) embarrassment?

2. How can Captain America and Incredible Hulk have #600 issues WITHOUT having #500 issues like Action Comics, Detective Comics, Superman, Batman, Thor, Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man, and Uncanny X-Men?
Anonymous | 06.23.09 - 6:29 am | #

Man, I miss Vic Sage.
g23 | Email | 06.23.09 - 7:07 am | #

Herogasm #2 was a wicked cool parody of the classic Hulk 340 but I can't say it compelled me to read it -- "I just gotta find out how many lines he snorts!!!"
Jeff Wood | Email | 06.23.09 - 7:40 am | #

It's sad how hard it was to think of one, but then I remembered the covers to Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E., especially #2 (the boxing match cover).

I miss that series... but hell, that cover's three years old!!!
Jeff Wood | Email | 06.23.09 - 7:54 am | #

Wow, I can't remember the last time I saw a cover that so intrigued me that I had to know what was going on...especially since so many covers now tend to be pose-oriented, and the crazy-situation cover seems to have been a product of the newsstand era.

For me, it may have been 1989's Flash #33, in which The Joker seems to be stealing a woman's baby, and Flash is all "Stop...WHO?!" That's a two word balooner there, but it worked, because young Caleb was all like, "The Joker...in THE FLASH?!"

More recently, there was an issue of a Superman comic with a giant cyborg lobster on it which I bought based simply on that fact, and more recently than that, there was an issue of Hawkgirl with a giant, robot version of Hawkgirl that I bought just to figure out what that was all about.
caleb | Email | Homepage | 06.23.09 - 7:55 am | #

Remember a few years back when DC re-imagined (or whatever) those old Julie Schwartz covers? Those were worth picking up to see the updated stories, even though I had owned the original Superman issue, but had never seen the GL or Atom issues. Post-Silver Age, it would be just a cool looking cover like Caleb mentioned re: the Joker in Flash. Those Giant-Size Marvel Team-ups with Spider-Man and Dracula or SM and *sigh* Man-Thing.

You should do a post on expository words on covers; I can think of several books that had "Cry...HAVOK!" on the cover. (And only one of them involved the character Havok.)
Wayne Allen Sallee | Email | Homepage | 06.23.09 - 9:37 am | #

I keep track of new releases every week and make a checklist of what to buy before Wednesdays. I look up on the web what the covers (and interiors if it's a new series) are going to look like when I make the checklist, so I usually don't have that experience you describe any more these days.

This was probably the last cover that impressed me so much that I just had to buy it.

http://comics.org/coverview.lass...d=216260& zoom=4

I went back to the store to pick up all the back issues, and kept up with the series until the end of its run.
SKFK | Email | 06.23.09 - 9:47 am | #

I'm going to second SKFK. Gotham Central #11 got me to pick up a book I'd previously dismissed as "Law & Order: DCU." I also ended up collecting the entire run (because it was GREAT!) and became a big fan of Ed Brubaker in the process.
philip | Homepage | 06.23.09 - 10:05 am | #

Also, what's interesting about that cover (to Gotham Central 11) is that it really is a "throwback" cover, which is maybe why it caught my eye. I'm still waiting for Brubaker to forsake crime/noir and start the Romance Comic renaissance.
philip | Homepage | 06.23.09 - 10:07 am | #

http://www.comics.org/coverview....id=35233& zoom=4
sean hollenhors | Email | 06.23.09 - 10:18 am | #

Wow. You all picked some awesome covers and it seems some of you have not been satisfied with any covers since the 70s.

Around my birthday I felt like treating myself and like when I began reading comics, around age 10/11, I decided to shop based on the cover and chose:

This comic despite having barely read much Marvel in the past three years and I was disappointed with the Secret Invasion mini and almost all of the tie-ins I read (except for Inhumans).

I mean Big Pun going after Norman Osborn! That's pretty bad ass. There's action, or at least what's about to become action on this cover.

Unfortunately I believe the cover story occurred in a previous issue, but I still enjoyed this story as the Punisher cunningly takes out some of the Hood's gang. I don't normally like Castle as more than a supporting character, so kudos to Remender and to Bendis and/or editorial for setting up this new status quo in the Marvel U, which at least sounds interesting and is probably helping produce at least a few enjoyable stories with Osborn as Secretary of Defense or SHIELD, whatever.

The fact that I ever remember the basics of what happened in this story is some kind of testament since I almost instantaneously forget so much of what I read these days, and as another commentator wrote yesterday, it's hard to remember which comics one owns or has read since so many covers are generic, uninspired, cloned rehashes of a title's previous covers.
hardtravelinghero | Email | Homepage | 06.23.09 - 10:50 am | #

I can't remember the last cover that grabbed me, but any issue of a team book where the cover hinted that the lineup was going to change always got me, even if I didn't read it regularly. Along those lines I loved the cover of the Defenders where all the b-list heroes wanted to join the team.
John McKeon | Email | Homepage | 06.23.09 - 12:39 pm | #

http://www.comicbookdb.com/ graph...23957_large.jpg


More Giffen Legion! Had to buy it!

http://www.comicbookdb.com/ graph...25332_large.jpg

Take off of a classic painting by Hopper. Didn't read the series, did not read the comic even- but I bought it.


http://www.comicbookdb.com/ graph...40551_large.jpg

Again, did not like the series but bought it for the cover- Adam Hughes' Red Sonja- how cool is that?

Honestly, because of prices and I do not get enough of a run of a title to make a box worthwhile, I also make a list before I go to Ye Olde Comic Shoppe. I buy those and out I go. Very rarely will I pick up something not on my list.

On a different note, I LOVED the old covers from Superman's early run (back in the 40s?) Nothing to do with the story- but he looks so heroic and noble. I am always glad of those kind of covers. Heck- I prefer them!

On a third note, growing up I HATED covers that had a different cover artist. Perez cover- nice! Don Heck or Infantino art- what's up with that?
super-rob | 06.23.09 - 1:17 pm | #

Well, the REAL Queston was by Ditko, but here's your answer...

http://www.proudrobot.com/hembec...ck/ rozakis.html
super-rob | 06.23.09 - 1:22 pm | #

The cover for "Absolute New Frontier" continues to impress me. Actually, all of the copies for the individual issues of "New Frontier" were also pretty great.

Anything designed by Seth is also a favorite (particularly "It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken").

Traditional comic book covers like the ones you've posted don't do much for me. I like covers that have a strong sense of graphic design (which means that I can't stand any Marvel cover).
Steely Dan | 06.23.09 - 2:18 pm | #

Can't say the LAST one that really grabbed me, but the one that MADE me a comic book READER was Tony Stark, Drunk falling down, getting beaten up pointing up at me and saying "I can't handle being Iron Man anymore, YOU DO IT" or something like that. I think Iron Man 169 or 173 or something.

Ever since, I don't causes Captain America to be arrested and shot, I have to know what's going to happen next.
Marcus | 06.23.09 - 2:39 pm | #

Not even the Montoya question? Boooooooo.
Dean | Email | 06.23.09 - 7:28 pm | #

Beta Ray Bill smashing Thor's logo. How could I not buy that?
The Mutt | Email | 06.24.09 - 7:03 am | #

I know you want us to mention covers suggesting a situation, not covers that we bought because they were "merely" well-drawn, but the cover to the first issue of the recent X-Men/ Spider-Man mini caught my eye. I couldn't care less why the characters were teaming up, I just wanted to read something drawn that well.
Mike Loughlin | Email | 06.24.09 - 11:53 am | #

Oh wait, I remember now: The Perry Bible Fellowship: Trial of Col. Sweeto hardcover. I had heard of the strip before, but never read it. Something about candy executing other candy made me laugh. I had to pick it up and see what else went on.

On a related note, the internet has made impulse buying a thing of the past. I can find out the cover, general plot, and review of most comics before I make it to the store. I try to avoid reviews or coverage of comics I will buy anywy, though.
Mike Loughlin | Email | 06.25.09 - 6:28 am | #