I always argue that a simple cover done well is better than a complicated one done poorly. Here, you've reached a bit beyond your skill set, and the result is an obviously self-published book. Either hire a more talented artist to execute the concept well, or back off to something you can accomplish with stock photos and fonts.
The first one in your new post (simple orange/blue graphic) is the best of the bunch. Emphasise "misdaventure" a bit to convey that it's a comedy, and I think you are on your way. You could probably work your "One nuclear crisis" tagline into the simpler cover and make it work as well.
Thanks a lot, Kevin. I like that first one in the new post too, but, like you were saying, I'm wondering if it's going to convey that it's a comedy. I could underline "Mis" in "Misadventure" at the top but that won't do much. And adding the tagline without the missile won't really work.
adding the tagline without the missile won't really work.
I think you are wrong on that: pretty sure that the tagline would work without an explicitly supporting image.
Thanks a lot, Kevin. I like that first one in the new post too, but, like you were saying, I'm wondering if it's going to convey that it's a comedy. I could underline "Mis" in "Misadventure" at the top but that won't do much. And adding the tagline without the missile won't really work.
For the 'Misadventure problem' couldn't you have the Mis part maybe broken, or skewed somehow? Go comedy and have smoke spewing out of it, or something like that?
I do like the first cover in your second post, too, but I did find the 'Navy Seal Misadventure #1' kinda hard to read.
(Also liked the open humour in cover #2. )
I think you are wrong on that: pretty sure that the tagline would work without an explicitly supporting image.
I like the first one in the first post. I don’t actually think you need to highlightthe “Mis” because I would assume a carton cover on a thiller would be humorous…
I have a couple of thoughts for you to consider:
- Move the Title up closer to the tagline. Just a tad to much room between the two.
- Decrease the landscape background by about 30% and move the parachutes up higher into the sky. For me, my eye is having a hard time separating the two elements. Where the palm tree and the Navy hit is really hard for me to read.
For the orange/blue one, it has kind of an old school feeltoo it, and I like that. Things toconsider with that one.
- All the elements are a bit crowded and could possibly use some white space. Perhaps shrink your name a bit and move it further down. Then shrink the main parachute down by 15% and center it between the title and your name.
- Is everything centered together? It seems like everything is a bit off…
Good job so far!
+1. Tagline definitely doesn't need the image.
Also +1 to the first cover in your second post being the best. The left hand parachute and the book title look a bit crowded to my eye, though (just a layperson here, no expertise). How does it look if you de-centre the title?
It seems to me that the comedy is neatly conveyed by the stick figures, the colors, and the typeface.
Still prefer the simpler graphic in the second example. Not a big fan of the brushy font, but I don't hate it, either.
I think it's better without the question mark.
I added "[a novel]" because the title sounds so much like non-fiction.
Yeah ... I'm pretty sure what with the "Navy Seal Misadventure #1", the cartoony cover, the comedic tag line, and the fact you'll presumably be putting this in the fiction section ... it's safe to assume readers won't think they're buying a serious treatise on the armed services.