Jordan T. Maxwell
Jul 18, 2008, 05:03 pm
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/comixfanpresents.gif" align=left border=0 hspace=10 alt="Comixfan Presents logo">Summer of Superman: Top Ten Covers
By: John H, Jordan T. Maxwell, Michael Regan
Editor: Jordan T. Maxwell
70 years ago, in the summer of 1938, two kids from Cleveland, Ohio changed the world forever. From their collaborative imagination sprang a hero who has endured for seven decades, transcending his home in comic books to conquer almost every other medium of art and entertainment and catalyzing the creation of an entire genre. He is more than just a fictional superhero. He is an icon (not a bird). He is an ideal (not a plane). He is...SUPERMAN!
To celebrate the Man of Steel's 70th anniversary, Comixfan is proud to bring you a series of features over the course of this summer. For the next seven weeks, we'll be bringing you a unique Top Ten list focusing on different facets of Superman's mythology, history and influence, showcasing 70 reasons why we love the Man of Tomorrow so much.
For this installment, we looked back at the 70 years worth of Superman cover artwork to try and select 10 iconic images that we feel reflect some of the very best that Superman has had to offer over the years, not only in the quality of the art itself but with how it resonates with the audience, what it symbolizes and says to us from across the years. They say you can't judge a book by its cover...but you can certainly judge a cover by itself. These are our Top Ten Superman Covers!
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/adv612covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/adv612covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Adventures of Superman # 612"></a>#10 Adventures of Superman #612
Artist: Kevin Nowlan
We've recently seen the return of the Earth-Two Superman and witnessed his battle with the Earth-One/Post Crisis Superman during Infinite Crisis, but even that image was not as imaginative as this one. Complete opposites of the Superman spectrum come to blows on this cover, displaying Superman as he is today and Superman as he was originally back in 1938. Although it is revealed in the story that this "Man of Yesterday" is not really Superman but a creation of fiction made flesh, it's beside the point of this eye-catching cover image. Kevin Nowlan successfully brings together the modern comics medium with the old four-color methods of 70 years ago, contrasting the layered shading and gradient colors of the "Man of Tomorrow" with the flat, halftone printing of the "Man of Yesterday" (including the original S-Shield). It is a worthy homage to the late Joe Shuster's style that literally shows the impact that original creation continues to have on the character today.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar6covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar6covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="All Star Superman #6"></a>#9 All Star Superman #6
Artist: Frank Quitely
There's a very simple, almost Rockwellian feel to this image. It strikes an atmosphere not only of nostalgia, but also the dull ache that grief becomes after so much time. Superman stands before the grave of his adoptive father, not weeping, no fists clenched in anger at an unjust universe...but chin resting thoughtfully in his hand, weight shifted to one leg as the wind blows his cape and the Kansas grass on a moonlit night. He appears lost in thought, visiting the past in his mind, a strange yet beautifully symbolic metaphor for the actual time travel element in this issue. There is also the moonlight to consider. Superman is associated with the daytime, he draws his power from sunlight. The message here is subtle, but clear: for all his might, even Superman is powerless in the face of death. And there in the middle, gazing up at his master with a mix of confusion and concern, Superman's childhood pet Krypto...not only his boyhood companion and a symbol of his youth, but also another orphan of Krypton, a reminder of all he has lost already. This is such an elegantly composed image that stands on its own simple beauty as well as conveying several of the themes within the heart breaking issue itself.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/alicovers.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/alicovers.gif" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Superman vs. Muhammad Ali"></a>#8 Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Artist: Neal Adams
At first glance, this would appear to be some kind of joke. And indeed, the crossover was something of a stunt, pitting the Man of Steel against the Greatest Champion of All Time (oh, and he's so pretty). One can leap over buildings in a tall bound and is faster than a speeding bullet, the other floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. So while the notion of Superman in boxing gloves seems kind of silly and simple pugilism would normally be a bit beneath a guy who can bend steel in his bare hands, there is nonetheless something very compelling about this image. Neal Adams defined comic book artwork for a generation, and here it's clear why. The dynamism of both bodies, caught in a mid motion snap shot, radiates off of the page, just as clearly as the determination of both of these champions. It is an artifact of a pop cultural event, and the crowd surrounding the ring is littered with witnesses, ranging from Batman to then President Jimmy Carter (with Superman's one time gal pal Lucille Ball staring on as well). This cover strikes the perfect balance between the fun kitschy attitude of such an event while also taking itself seriously enough that we feel the weight and gravity of this fight. Regardless of whatever plot device has brought these two together within the pages of the comic itself, we are drawn in by the strange awesomeness of these two titans in combat...and the notion, against all odds, that Ali might actually be able to win against Superman (which he, of course, does).
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/avjla4covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/avjla4covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Avengers/JLA #4"></a> #7 Avengers/JLA #4
Artist: George Perez
Fierce. Savage. Ruthless. His expression and stance is far from mild-mannered. Truly a powerful image by George Perez. This image contrasts greatly with the cover from the previous JLA/Avengers issue. The cover for JLA/Avengers #3 was an overwhelming kinetic display, with a multitude of characters jumping in every direction. Following on the heels of that image this cover, featuring a focused and centered single iconic character bearing the two iconic objects of other characters, is that much more powerful in its impact and storytelling. Superman, brutally beaten, the last man standing, bearing Captain America’s shield and worthy of wielding the mighty Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir...a combination of great iconic elements representative of both Marvel and DC. Elements of this gritty image such as his stance, the way his torn costume reveals his hyper-muscular physique, the shield...heck, replace the hammer with a sword, and this Superman cover draws a lot of its energy and strength from its affinity to the great Conan art of John Buscema, Ken Kelly, Frank Frazetta, Earl Norem and Boris Vallejo. Fierce. Savage. Ruthless.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman1covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman1covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Superman #1"></a> #6 Superman #1
Artist: Joe Shuster
Published in 1939, this is the comic book cover that launched a thousand ships, the first American ongoing full-color comic book series solely devoted to a single character, setting the stage for all solo superhero titles to come. The oval framing border not only draws to mind a family photo, making Superman as a character more familiar and relatable, but was also later used in the design of John Byrne's Kryptonian ship that sent the infant Superman to Earth during his relaunch of the series and character, as first seen in his Man of Steel mini series (but more on that later, we promise). In this captured moment, he floats above the city, smiling down on its citizens, their protector and guardian. It has none of the might or kinetic impact of Action Comics #1, but is friendlier and more gentle. It is not an image of Superman's might, but of his majesty...and his magic. After all, what's more inspiring? A circus strong man...or a man who can fly (well, okay, it was still just leaping tall buildings in a single bound at this point, but you get my point)? It is an image that has been emulated and homaged numerous times over the years, carrying with it the legacy of a single character...and a single image.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Man of Steel #1"></a><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.png" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Man of Steel #1"></a>#5 Man of Steel #1
Artist: John Byrne
These two cover images represent John Byrne’s relaunch and re-imagining of the Superman character from 1986. The first cover is essentially a cropped close-up of the second. It features one of the many iconic visual trademarks that have evolved out of Superman’s 70 year reign in comic books and other media, like bullets bouncing off his chest, Clark entering a phone booth and emerging as Superman, and as seen here the ripping open of his shirt to reveal the big red “S.” Completely iconic and yet very subtle in the message that Superman is ever present and vigilant, ready to jump into action and save the day. The second cover begins a design element theme that is carried across the six-issue relaunch. Superman’s mild-mannered alter-ego Clark Kent is featured in mid-transformation standing beside one of the most resonant images in Superman lore, the exploding planet Krypton. It is a moment of utter devastation that is sometimes taken for granted as part of Superman's origin, but here with the light and heat practically radiating off of the page, we feel the true immensity: a world is about to die, yet out of this destruction a single ship flies away. We know what it holds. We have always known. Against such a devastating back drop, it holds hope. The last son of Krypton...and Earth's greatest champion.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar1covers.bmp" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar1covers.bmp" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="All Star Superman #1"></a>#4 All Star Superman #1
Artist: Frank Quitely
A solemn, content Superman sits on a cloud high above Metropolis, as the sun either sets or rises. All is calm in the world below. Tranquil. Serene. A perfect image of the world’s greatest guardian and ever-watchful protector, with a "god's eye view" of Metropolis. And a great image to begin the superb series by Quietly and writer Grant Morrison. The image harkens back to the many Maxfield Parrish paintings of a solitary figure sitting atop a mountain ledge amongst the clouds, gazing at the horizon. There is a purity to images like these. A sense of rejuvenation. Innocence. Contemplation. A classic pose, quite the opposite one would expect for the Man of Steel where most of his covers depict action and display his many great heroic feats. This is almost the calm before the storm, the kind of storm that one would expect from a Morrison story. It communicates both a moment of reflection after a day's work or the dawn of another day and the work that awaits as he collects himself to face the challenges ahead, a superpowered version of coffee and the morning paper. Either way, he sits above it all, knees casually drawn to his chest...and as we intrude on this rare and intimate moment of personal privacy, Superman glances over his shoulder and gives us a small and gentle smile. This is his time, but we are most welcome here.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman75covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman75covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Superman #75"></a>#3 Superman (vol.2) #75
Artist: Dan Jurgens
A bereft image. A stark image. And a foreboding image. Superman’s torn and tattered cape on a pike blown by a cold wind. The image makes for a very powerful cover and marks the death of Superman. All the design elements in this one image tell a story, and foretell the story within. The background is nearly all in black, the sun setting in the far background, dimming from yellow to red as though Superman's power were leaving the world with him, the sky filled with dark and ominous clouds, perhaps from the dust of the present destruction or perhaps storm clouds gathering in the dark times to come, the mourners gathered with their heads hung low with one woman's hands raised in prayer (and though she is faceless, we know it once it must be Lois Lane), and the shredded cape caught on a ragged pike held upright by a pile of rubble as the though the destruction were erecting itself into a funerial monument. Clearly the image points to dark and sorrowful times ahead. This cover image is so powerful and had such an impact that a few years later it was emulated by Marvel Comics for covers of both The Avengers (#391, 1995) and Captain America (#451, 1996). But though it may be homaged to communicate the death and loss of other characters, it will forevermore be linked to the death of the first...and the greatest.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/crisis7covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/crisis7covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Crisis on Infinite Earths #7"></a> #2 Crisis on Infinite Earths #7
Artist: George Perez
Like his mild mannered alter ego, Superman is stoic, slow to anger. Seldom jovial. And rarely repentant, sorrowful or bereft. Yet the weight of those final three emotions are conveyed so flawlessly in this single image. Superman’s facial expression is incredibly heavy and wrought with heartache. The image is often mistakenly called a Pietà image, named after Michelangelo’s “Pietà” (a sculpture of a seated virgin Mary cradling the crucified Christ’s lifeless body). It is more an evolution of the Pietà, where a mournful hero carries a fallen character, usually a female. The image seems to have first appeared as a magazine illustration by N.C. Wyeth, The Lost Vein, in 1916. When next seen in popular culture the image-motif was used for a poster of the 1935 monster film, Bride of Frankenstein by James Whale. The image was later used in monster movie posters of the 1950’s such as Creature From the Black Lagoon and The Forbidden Planet. Around this same time it was adapted to comics with Ace Comics Baffling Mysteries and then with Marvel Comics second issue of The Mighty Thor. However, it is probably most recognizable as the cover to the immensely popular and tragic Uncanny X-Men #136 (1980), the death of Jean Grey. The Crisis cover differs slightly by the magnitude of the heroes gathered in the background around Superman. And the fact that Superman does not have a visor to conceal the anguish in his eyes. A powerful image no matter the origin, and perhaps most resonant here as we stand witness to the vulnerability of an impervious man. His cousin is dead and he is truly alone. The image is so powerful and iconic that, despite all of the similar images to come before, almost every cover done in this style since have been direct homages to this moment of stark loss and heartbreak.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/action1covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/action1covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Action Comics #1"></a> #1 Action Comics #1
Artist: Joe Shuster
The standard by which all others are judged. The image that introduced Superman to the world. There is no deeper message here. No grand symbolism at work. Not even a lot of embedded character information. It's a man in tights and a cape, smashing a car against a rock while people run away in fear. Yet this iconic image has resonated for seven decades, heavily homaged not only in comics but other media as well. Superman is not automatically identified with breaking cars, yet when this pose is struck, the car over the head at that angle, the one leg lifted slightly up as he handles the car with ease, it immediately pulls this image and the might and legacy of Superman into our minds. It is that might and power, jumping off of the page and immediately grabbing your eyes, that has made this image persist. When the issue came out, nobody knew who Superman was. The concept of a "superhero" in its present form did not exist. Imagine being a child or a teenager and seeing that for the first time. A man in tights and a cape, smashing a car against a rock while people run away in fear. Why is he dressed like that? How can he be that strong? What are they afraid of? You want to know more. You HAVE to know more. It is an open invitation, calling out across the ages. "Here is something new. Here is an idea that will inspire and endure. Here is a man who will change the world."
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And there you have it! Pictures do indeed speak a thousand words, so we hope you enjoyed our indulgence in providing just a few more about some of these incredible images provided by some of the very best artists in the world. But over the course of 70 years, spanning multiple titles coming out on at least a monthly basis? Surely some covers and artists were woefully overlooked! Tell us about your favorite covers and what they mean to you and discuss the covers above in the thread below!
Also, remember: covers have a language all their own. When they call out to you from the racks in your local comic book shop, consider giving them a try. You might find something you really love...or a character who will endure for seven decades. Either way, keep an open mind...and an open eye! See you next week!
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All Star Superman #1, Avengers/JLA #4, Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, Man of Steel #1, Superman #1, Superman (vol. 2) #75: John H
Action Comics #1, All Star Superman #6, Superman vs. Muhammad Ali: Jordan T. Maxwell
Adventures of Superman #612: Michael Regan
Contributors: Nick Costanzo, Anthony Devlin, Chris Eight, Phil Filippopoulos, James Groves, Jon Hancock, Stephanie Kay, Marty P, Kevin Sutton, Eric Travis
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The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.
By: John H, Jordan T. Maxwell, Michael Regan
Editor: Jordan T. Maxwell
70 years ago, in the summer of 1938, two kids from Cleveland, Ohio changed the world forever. From their collaborative imagination sprang a hero who has endured for seven decades, transcending his home in comic books to conquer almost every other medium of art and entertainment and catalyzing the creation of an entire genre. He is more than just a fictional superhero. He is an icon (not a bird). He is an ideal (not a plane). He is...SUPERMAN!
To celebrate the Man of Steel's 70th anniversary, Comixfan is proud to bring you a series of features over the course of this summer. For the next seven weeks, we'll be bringing you a unique Top Ten list focusing on different facets of Superman's mythology, history and influence, showcasing 70 reasons why we love the Man of Tomorrow so much.
For this installment, we looked back at the 70 years worth of Superman cover artwork to try and select 10 iconic images that we feel reflect some of the very best that Superman has had to offer over the years, not only in the quality of the art itself but with how it resonates with the audience, what it symbolizes and says to us from across the years. They say you can't judge a book by its cover...but you can certainly judge a cover by itself. These are our Top Ten Superman Covers!
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/adv612covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/adv612covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Adventures of Superman # 612"></a>#10 Adventures of Superman #612
Artist: Kevin Nowlan
We've recently seen the return of the Earth-Two Superman and witnessed his battle with the Earth-One/Post Crisis Superman during Infinite Crisis, but even that image was not as imaginative as this one. Complete opposites of the Superman spectrum come to blows on this cover, displaying Superman as he is today and Superman as he was originally back in 1938. Although it is revealed in the story that this "Man of Yesterday" is not really Superman but a creation of fiction made flesh, it's beside the point of this eye-catching cover image. Kevin Nowlan successfully brings together the modern comics medium with the old four-color methods of 70 years ago, contrasting the layered shading and gradient colors of the "Man of Tomorrow" with the flat, halftone printing of the "Man of Yesterday" (including the original S-Shield). It is a worthy homage to the late Joe Shuster's style that literally shows the impact that original creation continues to have on the character today.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar6covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar6covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="All Star Superman #6"></a>#9 All Star Superman #6
Artist: Frank Quitely
There's a very simple, almost Rockwellian feel to this image. It strikes an atmosphere not only of nostalgia, but also the dull ache that grief becomes after so much time. Superman stands before the grave of his adoptive father, not weeping, no fists clenched in anger at an unjust universe...but chin resting thoughtfully in his hand, weight shifted to one leg as the wind blows his cape and the Kansas grass on a moonlit night. He appears lost in thought, visiting the past in his mind, a strange yet beautifully symbolic metaphor for the actual time travel element in this issue. There is also the moonlight to consider. Superman is associated with the daytime, he draws his power from sunlight. The message here is subtle, but clear: for all his might, even Superman is powerless in the face of death. And there in the middle, gazing up at his master with a mix of confusion and concern, Superman's childhood pet Krypto...not only his boyhood companion and a symbol of his youth, but also another orphan of Krypton, a reminder of all he has lost already. This is such an elegantly composed image that stands on its own simple beauty as well as conveying several of the themes within the heart breaking issue itself.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/alicovers.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/alicovers.gif" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Superman vs. Muhammad Ali"></a>#8 Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Artist: Neal Adams
At first glance, this would appear to be some kind of joke. And indeed, the crossover was something of a stunt, pitting the Man of Steel against the Greatest Champion of All Time (oh, and he's so pretty). One can leap over buildings in a tall bound and is faster than a speeding bullet, the other floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. So while the notion of Superman in boxing gloves seems kind of silly and simple pugilism would normally be a bit beneath a guy who can bend steel in his bare hands, there is nonetheless something very compelling about this image. Neal Adams defined comic book artwork for a generation, and here it's clear why. The dynamism of both bodies, caught in a mid motion snap shot, radiates off of the page, just as clearly as the determination of both of these champions. It is an artifact of a pop cultural event, and the crowd surrounding the ring is littered with witnesses, ranging from Batman to then President Jimmy Carter (with Superman's one time gal pal Lucille Ball staring on as well). This cover strikes the perfect balance between the fun kitschy attitude of such an event while also taking itself seriously enough that we feel the weight and gravity of this fight. Regardless of whatever plot device has brought these two together within the pages of the comic itself, we are drawn in by the strange awesomeness of these two titans in combat...and the notion, against all odds, that Ali might actually be able to win against Superman (which he, of course, does).
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/avjla4covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/avjla4covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Avengers/JLA #4"></a> #7 Avengers/JLA #4
Artist: George Perez
Fierce. Savage. Ruthless. His expression and stance is far from mild-mannered. Truly a powerful image by George Perez. This image contrasts greatly with the cover from the previous JLA/Avengers issue. The cover for JLA/Avengers #3 was an overwhelming kinetic display, with a multitude of characters jumping in every direction. Following on the heels of that image this cover, featuring a focused and centered single iconic character bearing the two iconic objects of other characters, is that much more powerful in its impact and storytelling. Superman, brutally beaten, the last man standing, bearing Captain America’s shield and worthy of wielding the mighty Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir...a combination of great iconic elements representative of both Marvel and DC. Elements of this gritty image such as his stance, the way his torn costume reveals his hyper-muscular physique, the shield...heck, replace the hammer with a sword, and this Superman cover draws a lot of its energy and strength from its affinity to the great Conan art of John Buscema, Ken Kelly, Frank Frazetta, Earl Norem and Boris Vallejo. Fierce. Savage. Ruthless.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman1covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman1covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Superman #1"></a> #6 Superman #1
Artist: Joe Shuster
Published in 1939, this is the comic book cover that launched a thousand ships, the first American ongoing full-color comic book series solely devoted to a single character, setting the stage for all solo superhero titles to come. The oval framing border not only draws to mind a family photo, making Superman as a character more familiar and relatable, but was also later used in the design of John Byrne's Kryptonian ship that sent the infant Superman to Earth during his relaunch of the series and character, as first seen in his Man of Steel mini series (but more on that later, we promise). In this captured moment, he floats above the city, smiling down on its citizens, their protector and guardian. It has none of the might or kinetic impact of Action Comics #1, but is friendlier and more gentle. It is not an image of Superman's might, but of his majesty...and his magic. After all, what's more inspiring? A circus strong man...or a man who can fly (well, okay, it was still just leaping tall buildings in a single bound at this point, but you get my point)? It is an image that has been emulated and homaged numerous times over the years, carrying with it the legacy of a single character...and a single image.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Man of Steel #1"></a><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/mos1covers.png" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Man of Steel #1"></a>#5 Man of Steel #1
Artist: John Byrne
These two cover images represent John Byrne’s relaunch and re-imagining of the Superman character from 1986. The first cover is essentially a cropped close-up of the second. It features one of the many iconic visual trademarks that have evolved out of Superman’s 70 year reign in comic books and other media, like bullets bouncing off his chest, Clark entering a phone booth and emerging as Superman, and as seen here the ripping open of his shirt to reveal the big red “S.” Completely iconic and yet very subtle in the message that Superman is ever present and vigilant, ready to jump into action and save the day. The second cover begins a design element theme that is carried across the six-issue relaunch. Superman’s mild-mannered alter-ego Clark Kent is featured in mid-transformation standing beside one of the most resonant images in Superman lore, the exploding planet Krypton. It is a moment of utter devastation that is sometimes taken for granted as part of Superman's origin, but here with the light and heat practically radiating off of the page, we feel the true immensity: a world is about to die, yet out of this destruction a single ship flies away. We know what it holds. We have always known. Against such a devastating back drop, it holds hope. The last son of Krypton...and Earth's greatest champion.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar1covers.bmp" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/allstar1covers.bmp" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="All Star Superman #1"></a>#4 All Star Superman #1
Artist: Frank Quitely
A solemn, content Superman sits on a cloud high above Metropolis, as the sun either sets or rises. All is calm in the world below. Tranquil. Serene. A perfect image of the world’s greatest guardian and ever-watchful protector, with a "god's eye view" of Metropolis. And a great image to begin the superb series by Quietly and writer Grant Morrison. The image harkens back to the many Maxfield Parrish paintings of a solitary figure sitting atop a mountain ledge amongst the clouds, gazing at the horizon. There is a purity to images like these. A sense of rejuvenation. Innocence. Contemplation. A classic pose, quite the opposite one would expect for the Man of Steel where most of his covers depict action and display his many great heroic feats. This is almost the calm before the storm, the kind of storm that one would expect from a Morrison story. It communicates both a moment of reflection after a day's work or the dawn of another day and the work that awaits as he collects himself to face the challenges ahead, a superpowered version of coffee and the morning paper. Either way, he sits above it all, knees casually drawn to his chest...and as we intrude on this rare and intimate moment of personal privacy, Superman glances over his shoulder and gives us a small and gentle smile. This is his time, but we are most welcome here.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman75covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/superman75covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Superman #75"></a>#3 Superman (vol.2) #75
Artist: Dan Jurgens
A bereft image. A stark image. And a foreboding image. Superman’s torn and tattered cape on a pike blown by a cold wind. The image makes for a very powerful cover and marks the death of Superman. All the design elements in this one image tell a story, and foretell the story within. The background is nearly all in black, the sun setting in the far background, dimming from yellow to red as though Superman's power were leaving the world with him, the sky filled with dark and ominous clouds, perhaps from the dust of the present destruction or perhaps storm clouds gathering in the dark times to come, the mourners gathered with their heads hung low with one woman's hands raised in prayer (and though she is faceless, we know it once it must be Lois Lane), and the shredded cape caught on a ragged pike held upright by a pile of rubble as the though the destruction were erecting itself into a funerial monument. Clearly the image points to dark and sorrowful times ahead. This cover image is so powerful and had such an impact that a few years later it was emulated by Marvel Comics for covers of both The Avengers (#391, 1995) and Captain America (#451, 1996). But though it may be homaged to communicate the death and loss of other characters, it will forevermore be linked to the death of the first...and the greatest.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/crisis7covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/crisis7covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Crisis on Infinite Earths #7"></a> #2 Crisis on Infinite Earths #7
Artist: George Perez
Like his mild mannered alter ego, Superman is stoic, slow to anger. Seldom jovial. And rarely repentant, sorrowful or bereft. Yet the weight of those final three emotions are conveyed so flawlessly in this single image. Superman’s facial expression is incredibly heavy and wrought with heartache. The image is often mistakenly called a Pietà image, named after Michelangelo’s “Pietà” (a sculpture of a seated virgin Mary cradling the crucified Christ’s lifeless body). It is more an evolution of the Pietà, where a mournful hero carries a fallen character, usually a female. The image seems to have first appeared as a magazine illustration by N.C. Wyeth, The Lost Vein, in 1916. When next seen in popular culture the image-motif was used for a poster of the 1935 monster film, Bride of Frankenstein by James Whale. The image was later used in monster movie posters of the 1950’s such as Creature From the Black Lagoon and The Forbidden Planet. Around this same time it was adapted to comics with Ace Comics Baffling Mysteries and then with Marvel Comics second issue of The Mighty Thor. However, it is probably most recognizable as the cover to the immensely popular and tragic Uncanny X-Men #136 (1980), the death of Jean Grey. The Crisis cover differs slightly by the magnitude of the heroes gathered in the background around Superman. And the fact that Superman does not have a visor to conceal the anguish in his eyes. A powerful image no matter the origin, and perhaps most resonant here as we stand witness to the vulnerability of an impervious man. His cousin is dead and he is truly alone. The image is so powerful and iconic that, despite all of the similar images to come before, almost every cover done in this style since have been direct homages to this moment of stark loss and heartbreak.
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<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/action1covers.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/superman70/covers/action1covers.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 height=200 alt="Action Comics #1"></a> #1 Action Comics #1
Artist: Joe Shuster
The standard by which all others are judged. The image that introduced Superman to the world. There is no deeper message here. No grand symbolism at work. Not even a lot of embedded character information. It's a man in tights and a cape, smashing a car against a rock while people run away in fear. Yet this iconic image has resonated for seven decades, heavily homaged not only in comics but other media as well. Superman is not automatically identified with breaking cars, yet when this pose is struck, the car over the head at that angle, the one leg lifted slightly up as he handles the car with ease, it immediately pulls this image and the might and legacy of Superman into our minds. It is that might and power, jumping off of the page and immediately grabbing your eyes, that has made this image persist. When the issue came out, nobody knew who Superman was. The concept of a "superhero" in its present form did not exist. Imagine being a child or a teenager and seeing that for the first time. A man in tights and a cape, smashing a car against a rock while people run away in fear. Why is he dressed like that? How can he be that strong? What are they afraid of? You want to know more. You HAVE to know more. It is an open invitation, calling out across the ages. "Here is something new. Here is an idea that will inspire and endure. Here is a man who will change the world."
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And there you have it! Pictures do indeed speak a thousand words, so we hope you enjoyed our indulgence in providing just a few more about some of these incredible images provided by some of the very best artists in the world. But over the course of 70 years, spanning multiple titles coming out on at least a monthly basis? Surely some covers and artists were woefully overlooked! Tell us about your favorite covers and what they mean to you and discuss the covers above in the thread below!
Also, remember: covers have a language all their own. When they call out to you from the racks in your local comic book shop, consider giving them a try. You might find something you really love...or a character who will endure for seven decades. Either way, keep an open mind...and an open eye! See you next week!
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All Star Superman #1, Avengers/JLA #4, Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, Man of Steel #1, Superman #1, Superman (vol. 2) #75: John H
Action Comics #1, All Star Superman #6, Superman vs. Muhammad Ali: Jordan T. Maxwell
Adventures of Superman #612: Michael Regan
Contributors: Nick Costanzo, Anthony Devlin, Chris Eight, Phil Filippopoulos, James Groves, Jon Hancock, Stephanie Kay, Marty P, Kevin Sutton, Eric Travis
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The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.