The Coven  COVB   (Awesome, 1997-1998) ™ and ©1997 Awesome Entertainment LLC

(From The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide)

At first glance this resembles another entry in the “Angels against Demons, Heaven vs. Hell” series of titles that have dominated the output of many 1990s publishers. On closer inspection, though, there’s more in common with Doctor Strange and Marvel’s horror characters than with Spawn et al. The Coven are Fantom (half-human vampiress); Spellcaster (white witch with owl familiar); Scratch (Catholic priest possessed by a demon); Blackmass (leader, descendent of Cain); and Phenomena (can tell when trouble’s a-brewing). Issues #1–4 deal with the recruitment of Spellcaster and Phenomena, and an attempt to resurrect Cain using five Christ-held objects, though why such things would raise Cain isn’t explained. A two-part story set in New Orleans, introducing Fantom’s brothel and a race of goblins, follows. Created by Ian Churchill, who draws and co-writes the series with Jeph Loeb, there’s a strong sense that the characters have purpose and that there’s an interesting world being laid out. There’s also a healthy mix of lightheartedness and horror. While the artwork improves with each issue Churchill clearly enjoys drawing scantily clad people (men and women, though the latter are rather ubiquitous) and this might have been off-putting except he’s made sure it’s within context for the characters. Overall, a title to try if you enjoy the supernatural. ~NF

		Notes	Writer	Artist
	#1 Variation A Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $4.50 4 copies available from $4.00	Rob Liefeld cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill, Rob Liefeld
	#1 Variation B Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $3.50 2 copies available from $1.99	Man with flaming hands on cover; American Entertainment“Exclusive" variant cover; Red border	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation C Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $4.00 No copies available	Wizard Authentic cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation D Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.25 5 copies available from $1.58	Team on cover; White border	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation E Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.50 No copies available	Chromium cover otherwise same as 1/A	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill, Rob Liefeld
	#1 Variation F Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.50 No copies available	Flip book with Kaboom 1+	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation G Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $2.50 3 copies available from $1.00	Flame Hands cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation H Date: 3/1/1998 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.50 4 copies available from $2.25	Fan Appreciation Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation I Date: 8/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $3.00 No copies available	Flame Hands cover; American Entertainment exclusive; Gold foil	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation J Date: 3/1/1998 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $3.50 1 copy available for $3.00	Fan Appreciation Gold Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation K Date: 3/1/1998 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $3.00 No copies available	Flip Book with Kabook 1+ Gold Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#1 Variation L Date: 3/1/1998 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.25 1 copy available for $1.99	Fan Appreciation Edition; Is really 2nd Printing; Group standing	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#2 Date: 9/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.25 4 copies available from $1.99		Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#2 Variation A Date: 9/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.25 2 copies available from $1.99	Flames on bottom of cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#2 Variation B Date: 9/1/1997 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $4.50 No copies available	Dynamic Forces Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#2 Gold Edition Date: 9/1/1997 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $2.50 No copies available	Gold edition limited to 5000 copies	Jeph Loe	Ian Churchill
	#3 Date: 10/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.00 5 copies available from $1.56	Red foil logo on cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#3 Variation A Date: 10/1/1997 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $14.50 No copies available	Red foil logo on cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#3 Variation B Date: 10/1/1997 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $4.00 5 copies available from $3.08	White Variant	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#4 Date: 1/1/1998 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.50 5 copies available from $1.94	Flip Cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#4 Variation A Date: 11/1/1998 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $7.00 1 copy available for $7.50	Dynamic Forces Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#4 Variation C Date: 1/1/1998 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.25 2 copies available from $1.99	Variant Cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#5 Date: 1/1/1998 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.25 7 copies available from $1.75	Flip Cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#5 Variation A Date: 1/1/1998 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $2.25 1 copy available for $1.99	Variant cover, woman, ghouls standing in water	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#5 Variation B Date: 1/1/1998 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $8.00 No copies available	Dynamic Forces Gold Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#5 Variation C Date: 1/1/1998 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $3.50 2 copies available from $2.99	Dynamic Forces Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#6 Date: 2/1/1998 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $2.25 8 copies available from $1.75	Flip Cover	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	#6 Variation A Date: 2/1/1998 Cover Price: $2.50 NM Guide: $9.50 No copies available	Limited Edition with gold foil lettering	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill
	Ashcan #1 Date: Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $2.50 No copies available	Preview Edition	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill, Rob Liefeld
	Book #1 Date: Cover Price: $4.95 NM Guide: $5.00 No copies available	Collects issues #1-2	Jeph Loeb	Ian Churchill