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JohnMayo wrote:

Perry wrote:

spid wrote:What you are labeling as misleading I would label a misdirection.

Is that really any better?

Some people might (and in the past have) argue that if it sells the particular issue then that is all that matters.

I tend to disagree with focusing on the short term at the expense of the long term. Misleading covers results in readers not trusting the covers which renders them ineffective as a marketing tool. That seems like a bad thing to me.

Agree. Never good to "fool" your customer

spid wrote:

Perry wrote:

spid wrote:What you are labeling as misleading I would label a misdirection.

Is that really any better?

Not in my eyes. One plays upon your expectations to provide you a cool twist on what you thought you were going to get. The other could be called a lie. Where the line rides is up to the reader.

I think there is a huge difference between having a "twist" and highlighting something that doesn't happen at all. I mean, if they were to show X-23 and Darkhawk fighting and then reveal it was never Darkhawk but some other hero/villain/hologram/clone/robot or just a dream sequence, then that is a decent twist on the cover. 'Oh, ya got me!'. But to have what is shown on the cover, NOT be in the book, is nothing but a lie.

At least Bryne use to be upfront about it -

I think I appreciate a good misdirection, I wouldn't necessarily think Clone/Robot as a good misdirection, more than a cover that tells me everything that is going on in the story based on the cover.

spid wrote:I think I appreciate a good misdirection, I wouldn't necessarily think Clone/Robot as a good misdirection, more than a cover that tells me everything that is going on in the story based on the cover.

I don't mean it should tell you the entire story, but a cover should do two things:
1) Get you to pick it up (of course)
2) Highlight one aspect of the story, giving you a glimpse of whats in-store for you if you choose to buy it.

Having just one is a failure, to me, for the company.

Of course, I understand if you like the bait and switch, it can have its strong points.

I do prefer the old timey covers where stuff was happening. Even if it is not directly mirrored in the book itself (fake-out, duplicates, etc). I am not sure if it partly nostalgia or what but the iconic pose type cover just doesn't do anything for me anymore. I am usually there on Wednesday looking at the new books and want them to speak to me. On a side note, that Marvel Now banner is far too large. It is not pleasing to my eye but it does catch it.