Magazine publishers generally cannot help themselves when it comes to releasing multiple covers. It is not without good reason. Biannual editions have it especially hard, what with the inverse relationship between the annual number of covers to the possible opportunities to eff up said covers and all. Unlike monthlies, which benefit in no small part to the law of averages, a biannual is really only ever one Spice Girls cover away from complete ignominy. To inoculate themselves against such disastrous outcomes that otherwise would irreparably tarnish a biannual’s reputation, the multiple covers route is often pursued. Hercules doesn’t have this problem — they could feature the Kool-Aid Man and still sell a million issues — but has nevertheless released five different covers to celebrate five years of Mediterranean fashion. Ford Men’s Travis Cannata graces the third cover wearing Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci in a portrait taken in Barcelona by the excellent Mariano Vivanco. This pair, Travis and Mariano, readers will recall, last featured together on this page for the Frankie Morello S/S 11 campaign that is currently running in nearly every fashion magazine on the planet. This Hercules cover could not have been better cast and with all the credibility the publishers have in the bank they could almost splurge it on a dodgy celebrity cover in the fall. OK, almost. Let’s just enjoy this Travis Cannata cover and story until his next one.

Credits include: Publication, Hercules Issue 10 Spring / Summer 2011; Photography, Mariano Vivanco; Fashion editor, David Vivirido; Hair, Maria Martinez at Kasteel +Agent; Makeup, Victor Alvarez at Artlist; Photography assistance, Philip Gutman; Fashion assistance, Laura Alcalde; Digital, Jose Gil; Production, Marta Olcoz; Casting, Melissa Batsel at Batsel Creative; Image source, Sight.

Travis Cannata | Hercules Issue 10 S/S 2011 (Photography, Mariano Vivanco)