There are great covers in DC Comics. There are unforgettable ones, there are historical ones, and there are also avant-garde ones, but there are others that tell a story…
By Alex Jaffe
As demanding and expressive as comic book art can be, comic book cover art is an ensemble challenge: one that demands the ability to communicate the appeal of the graphic novel, the DNA of the character, and the story itself. in a single image. It can be a unique pin-up or an exciting action image, but the best comic book covers tell a story of their own. DC has published many covers of this type throughout its 87 years, here is a count of my ten favorites.
10 DC covers that tell a story
Action Comics #1
Artist: Joe Shuster
Action Comics #1 was an immediate bestseller when it hit newsstands across the United States in 1938, selling millions of copies in just a few weeks. How did you get it? No one knew who Superman was at the time… but looking at the cover, maybe they did.
Joe Shuster’s illustration of a circus strongman smashing a car over his head with his bare hands, with onlookers fleeing in terror, makes a powerful first impression. The primary colors of his costume and his iconic shield convey righteousness and kindness to match the severity of his violent action. Looking at this cover, one gets the feeling that these mere mortals are not only having the worst day of their lives, they probably deserve it.
Detective Comics #378
Artist: Irv Novick
1968 was a dark time for the Dark Knight. After a season of cutbacks and compromises, the once-powerful Batman TV series had stopped airing in March. Globally, the mood was even grimmer. The civil rights movement was experiencing unprecedented resistance, political assassinations had become a fact, and no one knew if the Vietnam War would ever end. Every day, the headlines of the newspapers presented news of an unthinkable reality.
Due to its theme, Detective Comics issue 378 might not be too special. The heroes have differences with each other all the time to drive the drama. But seeing the soul of kindness, camaraderie, and cooperation in pursuit of justice crumble against this backdrop, drenched in heavy rain above the fold of the Gotham News cover, was a sight that must have felt all too real. . In this tumultuous time, Batman and Robin can’t even be expected to stay together. Maybe this time the separation is real.
World’s Finest Comics #199
Artist: neal adams
The ingenuity of this piece is the sales tactic at the bottom of the image: the rare second panel on a comic book cover. Remember what we said about heroes measuring each other up was a common thing, even in the 20th century? By 1970, seasoned readers knew that these conflicts often ended in a draw, with both sides working out their differences. The reactions here from young viewers to the unseen results promise that’s not what’s happening this time.
Unlike all previous Flash and Superman races, there will be a winner and a loser. Neal Adams’ reaction images of rage and tears are just as important as the joy, as the prospect of victory is meaningless without the potential for failure. This cover promises a story that ongoing comics often seem too hesitant to do: take a real stand.
Do you want to know what happened in this race? Here is the answer Flash vs Superman: According to the comics, who has won more races?
Adventure Comics #247
Artists: Curt Swan, Stan Kaye
The first appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes immediately captures the imagination with this startling scene reminiscent of a losing contestant on a reality show. Superboy, one of the world’s greatest heroes, has been exposed to the high level of this new group of young heroes that we have never seen before.
If Superboy’s incredible powers are too “ordinary” for your standards, imagine how fantastic this “Legion of Super-Heroes” must be! Immediately, this image presents a Superboy being forced to acknowledge his own limitations as he enters the larger world.
Crisis on Infinite Earths #8
Artist: George Perez
When you hear of “going big”, we talk about this. The sky is on fire at the end of the world. Flash is alone among the rubble and lifeless remains. He is hurt but not beaten, staring defiantly at an imposing but invisible foe. The cover only promises “The final destination of Flash”. But if this is really the end, it must be an epic end. One of the most remembered covers of DC Comics.
JSA #54
Artist: Don Kramer
If recent hits like Teen Titans GO! and Batman: Wayne Family Adventures have taught us something, is that we look forward to seeing our heroes in their spare time, interacting with each other, as much as we love to see them in action against a major threat. This special Thanksgiving issue of the JSA mimics Norman Rockwell’s classic artwork “Freedom from Want,” a portrait of domestic bliss as a family gathers together to share a meal. It’s a cover that shows us that our heroes are welcome to slow down between ambitious story arcs and savor the simple pleasures of food and friendship they’re fighting to preserve. It is these humble dynamics that heighten the drama to come, as a richer understanding of these characters will lead the reader to care more about the stakes.
Adventure Comics #6
Artists: Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato
In this cover, Superboy and Krypto are being chased by a Tyrannosaurus Rex and that’s really all there is to say here. Seriously, I don’t know why that wouldn’t make you want to grab her immediately. The focal line work to the T-Rex, the front angle of the chase, and even the out-of-focus, monochrome background convey a sense of terror and urgency that really puts the “Adventure” in Adventure Comics. With this sense of kinetic movement, it’s no wonder Manapul and Buccellato took on The Flash shortly after this issue.
Mister Miracle #12
Artist: mitch gerads
Borrowing its visual aesthetic from “Duck Amuck” – the best Looney Tunes cartoon known in Spanish as “Pato stunned” or “El Pato Daffy en Esto está de locos” – this variant cover for the finale of the award-winning series of 2017’s Mister Miracle features the hero surrounded on all sides by the darkness of Anti-Life.
With Daffy Duck-like stubbornness, Mister Miracle balances on one foot as he barely prevents the heavy curtain of inked blackness from conquering his desperately vulnerable corner of the world.
However, Mitch Gerads’ most significant contribution to the Looney Tunes cast is the boy clinging to Scott’s leg, the reason to keep fighting. That child is the reason he is so determined to keep whatever shred of light he can alive, no matter how hopeless the cause may seem. Every second he wins against the dark counts if it’s another second spent with someone he loves.
The Green Lantern #3
Artists: Liam SharpSteve Oliff
Grant Morrison has often said that superhero comics are about taking the ordinary and elevating it to the extraordinary. Superman doesn’t just walk his dog, he makes him fly around the solar system. Batman doesn’t just fight criminals, he fights the concept of evil itself, whether it’s embodied by Darkseid or the face of his own father in an opera mask. So, for Morrison’s run on Green Lantern, who tops the space cops’ most wanted list? Well, how about God? One of the most daring DC covers.
Strange Adventures #79
Artist: Gil Kane
I have no words for this. Strange Adventures #79 features the most perfect comic book cover ever made. Drawn by the great Gil Kane, everything you need to know is right there. There has never been a more perfect representation of arrogance in any medium, with such elegance and distinction. A universal image that screams the madness of the ego in all its forms, purer than Homer or Shakespeare could ever dream of. It should be in a museum.
These are just ten DC covers out of thousands that tell a story: my ten favorites. If you like comics like us, surely you have yours. So take a photo of your cover collection, share it with the DC Community, and tell us the story it tells.
Alex Jaffe is the author of our monthly “Ask the Question” column and writes about television, movies, comics and superhero history for dccomics.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlexJaffe.
Via: DCComics
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