Suggestion for cover images
12 years ago
Posts: 95
Maybe nobody else has an issue with this kind of thing, but....
Personally, I have a bit of a problem with it when the manga image posted only shows a secondary character who isn't significant in the series. I think the cover picture should be representative of the series, so having an image be just a side character is therefore misleading (since some of us do judge a manga by its cover).
Maybe in the image guidelines, have a recommendation that if the image shows characters, that it include a main character (or in some other way accurately represents the series).
Example of what I think is a not-ideal cover image:
http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=74942
(The guy in the picture only shows up sporadically in the series.)
12 years ago
Posts: 311
Well, I don't see the problem with Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo cover, since it's the newest volume. True, for now he only shows up occasionally, but it seems he will show up more in the future. For ongoing series, usually the image will be updated once the new volume is out.
Maybe in the image guidelines, have a recommendation that if the image shows characters, that it include a main character (or in some other way accurately represents the series).
And what if the cover design for the said series all don't have the main characters on them? Accurately represents the series... it's somewhat vague too, since each manga have their own design (that I believe) well thought by the publishers. And while they only show secondary characters, I don't think it's misleading.
Let's see if I never read Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo before and just now decided to read it, what I see maybe something like this:
a. The image shown is the newest volume (vol.7)
b. Since it's already vol.7, the guy shown probably not the MC, but a side characters. But since he is on the cover, he might be an important character (for the whole series or just focus of the volume).
c. The art is nice and clean. The setting is in school. It might have something to do with some fantasy elements (from feather-pen and the background, reminds me a lot of Harry Potter. Hey it might be something like Harry Potter)
Whether I decided to read it or not, it depends on my preference (if I only see the cover, not the comments or summary). If I like fantasy, school setting, the art, I might try reading this. That's just my two cents.
12 years ago
Posts: 1067
Well, I changed the image because the new volume was out. The cover met all the guidelines, so there shouldn't be any problem. An image of main character is not always necessary nor a side character is a turn off or something... It's more of personal preference, I guess.
12 years ago
Posts: 437
If a character gets chosen to be put on the cover, the mangaka must think that character is important, so I think it's fine. (Although, personally, I strongly prefer that the first volume's cover is used. This usually has the main character & most important stuff for the series on it, so it happens that it would suit your preferences also.)
But, regardless, the most important thing is that a cover is shown at all, so that's why it's best to keep the restrictions as few as possible. (For example, cover images can be hard to find for some series--sometimes all you can find is a random volume with probably a side character on it. So if it was only acceptable to have covers with main characters, then there would be some series with no cover image at all.)
