As one of the oldest comic book publishers in the game, DC Comics has been pumping out stories for close to a century. And in that time, it’s put out books that have made history, whether its because of the introduction of an iconic character, a storyline that’s stood the test of time, or simply a cover that’s stood out from the pack.
Some comic book covers are so notable they stand out from the thousands that DC has published over the years. Read on to discover ten of the most famous covers from DC history.
10 New Teen Titans #1
If there’s a DC Comics cover that truly defines an era, it's the cover of New Teen Titans #1 by George Pérez and Dick Giordano. The cover sees several classic members of the Teen Titans such as Robin, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl fighting alongside newcomers Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven. It’s a fantastic mix of new and old that informs readers that this isn’t the Titans team people remember, but a new crew ready to take charge. The cover of New Teen Titans #1 is undoubtedly one of the strongest images fans have of the saga featuring the next generation of DC heroes.
9 Brave and the Bold #28
A team as iconic as the Justice League would obviously have a cover that’s strongly associated with their debut. The Brave and the Bold #28 by Mike Sekowsky, Murphy Anderson, and Ira Schnapp sees five of the team’s founding members fighting their first villain: The dreaded Starro the Conqueror. Sure, Batman and Superman are nowhere to be seen in the fight. But that doesn’t make the cover any less important as it was the first time DC’s greatest heroes were seen fighting alongside one another as the DC Universe’s strongest force for good.
8 Batman: Harley Quinn #1
Fans of Harley Quinn may know that she was originally created as a character for Batman: The Animated Series and wasn’t a part of the DCU. However, that changed with the publication of Batman: Harley Quinn, which officially canonized the character. The cover from the legendary Alex Ross sees Harley and Joker together against a black background. It’s creepy, it’s beautiful, and downright haunting. Harley’s love struck look as Joker looks on menacingly foreshadows everything about the two’s future and the journey Harley was about to go one now that she was a full-fledged part of the DCU.
7 Green Lantern #76
Comic books have often been used as an avenue to explore social issues. Green Lantern #76 by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams saw a remarkable change with the beginning of the “Hard Travelin' Heroes” arc. The cover by Adams and Jack Adler depicts Green Arrow destroying Green Lantern’s Power Battery and crying “Never again!”, symbolizing the cultural dialogue Hal and Oliver would get into in the course of the arc. While many covers show heroes physically fighting, Green Arrow is philosophically challenging Green Lantern by reminding him that his oath to the Corps is making him lose touch with the average person’s struggles.
6 Superman #75
Few covers are as chilling as the one associated with Superman’s death. Superman #75’s cover by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding shows the remnants of the Man of Steel’s cape as it blows in the breeze. Civilians look on in shock as the unthinkable has happened: Superman has actually been killed by the rampaging monster known as Doomsday. Clark Kent had faced impossible odds, but for the first time he was felled by a foe and paid for it with his life. Nothing demonstrates the weight of the hero’s death like seeing his a piece of his uniform scattered among the rubble of a devastating fight.
5 The Flash #123
The multiverse of the DC Universe is one of its most defining traits, and it all comes back to one particular Flash adventure. The Flash #123 was the first comic to introduce the Golden Age-era Earth-Two. To illustrate the cosmic development, the cover of The Flash #123 by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson shows two Flashes, Barry Allen and Jay Garrick, running to save the same person. This cover has been recreated numerous times throughout Flash history, no doubt because of the significance it has in helping establish DC’s multiverse.
4 Justice League #1
Few comic artworks have been lampooned as much as the cover to Justice League #1. Justice League International debuts with its iconic attitude right from the get-go, seeing the team all clumped together with various smirks and scowls on their face. The comedy the team is known for becomes blatantly clear with Guy Gardner’s challenge of “Wanna make somethin’ of it?”. Kevin Maguire and Terry Austin’s cover has been recreated numerous times, including by Maguire himself who has redrawn the team as thirty years older or masked up and socially distanced when COVID-19 struck.
3 Watchmen #1
Comic books took a big step forward in the mid-eighties and it’s thanks, it part, to books like Watchmen. The cover of Watchmen’s first issue by Dave Gibbons is a tight zoom into the smiley face that’s been stained by the Comedian’s blood. The imagery of the bloody face is almost certainly the most iconic symbol in Watchmen due to its haunting recurrence within the story. Watchmen has been credited with helping begin the Modern Age of comics, making the eerie, blood-spattered smiley face one of the most defining images of the period.
2 Crisis on Infinite Earths #7
Crisis on Infinite Earths was the summation of fifty years of storytelling for DC, and one of the most powerful, groundbreaking sagas the publisher has ever released. However, tragedy struck the Superman family during the event as the cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 by George Pérez implies. Though Kara gave her all to help stop the Anti-Monitor, it wasn’t enough, and she suffered at the cosmic villain’s hands. Clark’s anguished expression on the cover says it all. The Crisis wasn’t just a display DC’s cavalcade of characters, it was a harrowing event that had real consequence for the heroes.
1 Action Comics #1
What cover could be considered more iconic than Action Comics #1? Joe Shuster and Jack Adler’s art is synonymous with the thrills and high concepts that come with superheroes. Not only did Superman make his first appearance in Action Comics #1, the issue helped begin the Golden Age of heroes in earnest. Though people couldn’t identify much about the character from the cover alone, the image drew thousands of curious readers in and helped launch a universe that is still going strong to this day.
Some covers are just so great, they can’t help but stand out years, even decades after their release. DC Comics has had a lot of amazing covers in its day, but these are without a doubt some of the best.