Marvel's iconic corner box covers are making a return courtesy of artist Mark Brooks.
Brooks' new variant covers reference a period when publishers would put small boxes, typically located on the upper left-hand side of the cover, filled with prominent characters' faces. At the time, comics were primarily sold on display in newsstands and stores and the corner boxes made it easy for fans to quickly identify who would appear in the issue they were looking to purchase.
"There are many reasons why I was attracted to comics as a kid and the corner box was a big part of it,” Brooks said. "I knew what issue number and who I could expect to see in the issue. It was a little preview to tantalize the reader. It was always heads, a full figure, or a micro-scene. No matter what, it enticed me to pick the book up. It’s why I started the #LetMarkCornerbox campaign in earnest on Twitter. It was primarily a joke to express my love for the corner box. It ended up taking on a bit of a life of its own. When C.B. told me that they’d like this to become a reality, I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve penciled well over 100 heads so far. I don’t plan on stopping until Marvel says ‘okay, that’s enough’- LOL!"
Brooks' Covers Celebrate Two Important Marvel Milestones
Brooks' corner box covers will be featured on Avengers #1 (by writer Jed MacKay and artist C.F. Villa) and X-Men #22 (by Gerry Duggan and Joshua Cassara). Both franchises will celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2023 and Marvel teased Brooks would continue creating corner box variants for Avengers and X-Men throughout the remainder of the year.
In celebration of the Avengers' 60th milestone, Marvel recently announced new animated shows, toys and more would be coming in 2023 in addition to MacKay and Villa's new ongoing series. Following Jason Aaron's era, the new Avengers comic will see Earth's Mightiest Heroes face a new kind of threat as their led into a new age by Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers. The synopsis for the issue reads, "The Star. The Icon. The Witch. The Construct. The God. The Engineer. The King. The world is ever in peril, and a new team of Avengers mobilizes to meet any dangers that dare threaten the planet. But when TERMINUS attacks, a new and insidious danger rears its head: one that the Avengers know all too well, and one that comes to them in the most dangerous of guises – that of a friend."
Avengers #1 and Men #22 both release on May 17, 2023, from Marvel. More corner box variant covers will be revealed at a later date.
Source: Marvel