This document analyzes the cover of the Empire magazine featuring the character Loki from the film Thor. It summarizes that the main image of Loki draws the reader in and his defiant pose suggests he is the villain. Descriptions of the colors and background ruins imply Loki is responsible for destruction. Text elements like celebrity names, popular franchises, and references to sci-fi appeal to wider audiences and attract readers to learn more.

1. Magazine Cover Analysis
By Shannon House

2. This is the
cover I have
chosen to
analyse…

3. Direct
address
Masthead
Main
cover line
Strapline
Main
image
Date,
issue
number +
price
Puff
Strip
Cover
lines
Strip

4. Image
 The image of the character (Loki) is the main
focus and his head covers the Empire logo.
However, this doesn’t matter because the logo
is iconic and recognisable.
 The main colours are silver/grey, white and
yellow. Yellow is eye-catching and draws the
reader in, silver/grey match the colour scheme
in the background of Asgard’s destruction.
 The image and background image intrigues
reader as they want to know more about the
images.
 The masthead is identical to main cover line,
which again doesn’t matter because the logo is
recognisable.
 Loki’s eyes in the image makes it look like he’s
staring directly at the reader, therefore
appealing directly to potential readers (direct
address).

5. Image (cont.)
 The character’s pose suggests he is the villain
as he is stood confidently and defiantly –
appeals to reader as they want to know more
about the character.
 Loki is stood in front of Asgard’s ruins – this
suggests he’s responsible for the destruction
and he’s proud of it.
 The puff is like a sticker on the front cover and
is a bright, happy colour – this attracts the
audience’s attention.
 Action-focused cover is very eye-catching and
attracts a wider audience.
 Loki’s costume is unusual and regal – it looks
like he’s wearing armour. This attracts the
audience as they want to know who he’s
fighting.

6. Text
 Names of celebrities e.g. Tom Hanks,
Harrison Ford, James Cameron etc. are
familiar to audience and appeal to readers.
 Cover image explained in puff – iconic
character and actor appeals to readers and
attracts the audience as they want to know
more.
 Strips feature many big names in film
industry which attracts attention from the
audience.
 Sibilance (alliteration) – “Superhero Sibling
Smackdown”.
 Popular franchise names e.g. Marvel, Star
Wars etc. are also familiar to readers and
appeal to a wider audience.
 “Awesome sci-fi triple deal!” Appeals to sci-fi
readers and therefore a wider audience.
 Reference to another sci-fi film in bottom
strip (“and beyond”).

7. Layout
 Date, issue and price is very small and almost
hidden in the M – necessary information but
not important.
 Image of Loki takes up most of the cover –
shows the character is the focus and appears to
be powerful.
 Main cover line (“Thor”) is very big – is iconic
name in mythology and media so appeals to a
wider audience.
 Other text is very small – shows the issue’s
focus is Loki and the new film he’s in.