Characters doing a usual activity in a way or setting that is unexpected.

• For example, someone would look pretty mundane smoking a cigar, but what if he were smoking right next to a corpse?  Probably much more interesting.
• Holding an iPod is boring, but Thor holding an iPod raises an interesting contrast between tradition and modernity.
• Many badass detectives and criminals carry guns, but it’s distinctly more disturbing if it’s a kid holding a massive sniper rifle… with a Kennedy campaign button.
• A guy holding a briefcase is the epitome of dull.  But a guy handcuffed to a briefcase or a mutant alligator holding a briefcase is more striking.

Combat

• Usually the protagonists are in a standoff or losing. It wouldn’t look as threatening or exciting if the good guys were winning.
• Try to present it in an unusual angle or perspective.   For example, it probably wouldn’t be too interesting to see a soldier waiting around a corner with a gun as a terrorist or insurgent comes along.  If it’s a “war is hell” story, I’d add more terrorists to increase the danger level and give the soldier a decidedly peppy German shepherd and use huge letters to display a creepy title like THE DOG DIES FIRST.
• I get the impression that combat covers are not as prevalent as they used to be.

Text portrayed in an unusual way.

• Words scrawled in blood.  This is cliche but could be effective.
• An advertisement for a product or campaign.  I believe in Harvey Dent!
• A message formed with letters cut out of a magazine, like an old-school bomber or terrorist would use.
• Alphabet soup would probably offer a quirky, offbeat style.
• Spray-paint and/or graffiti are gritty and urban.
• A street sign– I was toying around with an idea like 2600 Pennsylvania Avenue for a somewhat realistic detective story set in one of Washington’s worst areas.  Since I figure that most people will see “Pennsylvania Avenue” and think of the White House, I hope that the visual of the slum ten blocks away would be very striking.  (PS: If you ever get me inebriated, ask me about the time the Secret Service burst out of a wall to detain a tween that was almost too stupid to live).

Strike a pose!

• A character (usually the hero or villain) does something that looks cool.  Sometimes the action in question is really important to the plot, like Captain America decking Hitler in the face.  But it doesn’t have to be.  In The Dark Knight Returns, it’s not particularly important where Batman is jumping.  It just looks helluva cool.
• Unexpected emotions often make for cool poses.  For example, grimly looking at a person you just killed probably wouldn’t look too engaging.  But cheerfully smoking a cigar would probably interest more readers.  There’s obviously some overlap between striking a pose and unexpected actions.

Faceless characters

• Removing the face tends to make a character more iconic.  It lets readers fill in the individual details on their own.  Also, faceless characters may be more mysterious and/or kickass.
• These hoodlums look much, much more awesome with obscured faces.

This is obviously not a comprehensive list.  What are some elements of the comic book covers you’ve enjoyed most?

Also, I recommend looking at Comic Book Resources’ list of the 50 best comic book covers of 2009.  I had only seen four of them!

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