When it comes to comic books, the cover is the first line of defense in creating a captivating issue. As the old saying goes; you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and the comic book cover is your welcome mat into whatever insanity the writer has planned for you. That initial tease of something awesome can lure you in, even tempting you to buy a comic that you've never read before. The power of the cover can't be denied. DC Comics have been one of the mainstays in the industry for the last eighty years, forming as National Publications in the mid-1930's and cultivating a media empire that consists of comics, cartoons, movies and video games. They dominated the animation world starting in the 1990's thanks to the work of Bruce Timm and have continued to find new ways to bring their characters to a number of different mediums, as well as starting their own cinematic universe to compete with Marvel. With a roster of superheroes that includes pop culture icons like Superman and Batman, it's fair to say that DC has had some absolutely amazing covers since they were founded. You can't even talk about comics without mentioning Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman or Detective Comics #27, the debut of Batman. Those covers and more have defined entire generations, all while introducing the world to some of the most amazing superhero characters ever created. So slam that next button, and we'll take a look at the 60 greatest DC Comics covers that were ever fit to print.
60. Lois Lane #111 (Dick Giordano)
To say this cover is unusual is a bit of an understatement, but the flat-out absurdity of it is wonderful. It speaks to the insanity of comic books in the 1970's, where no idea was off-limits. While it would likely be deemed sexist trash today, this Dick Giordano cover from issue 111 of Lois Lane is one of the most purely bonkers covers to ever be printed, but also one of the most fun you'll ever see.
59. Batman #156 (Sheldon Moldoff)
The despair present on the cover of Batman #156, known as "Robin Dies at Dawn!", is pretty chilling stuff for a comic that was published in the 1960's. The cover drawn by Sheldon Moldoff is a haunting image, cementing the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson in a powerful way. The story contained within this issue was also revitalized 45 years later by Grant Morrison for Batman R.I.P., proving that it's still just as strong today.
58. Action Comics #1 (Jim Lee)
No, not THAT Action Comics #1, but rather the New 52 edition published in 2011. Some absolutely dazzling pencil work by superstar penciler Jim Lee, who makes Superman look more defined than ever with his new duds. It's a striking pose by Lee, and goes a long way in making the New 52 Superman costume pop to life. This variant cover to Action #1 is a stunning piece of work by Lee, perfectly capturing the iconography of Superman in incredible new ways.
57. Supergirl #0 (Ian Churchill)
Supergirl's untimely death in Crisis on Infinite Earths wasn't enough to put down the Maid of Might for good, as she was brought back into the fold with her own brand-new series in 2005. The cover to Supergirl #0, drawn by Ian Churchill, proposed a sense of pure positivity. Supergirl's gleeful smile harkened back to the bygone era of comics, a delightfully articulated pose that brought Supergirl back to prominence.
56. Identity Crisis #7 (Michael Turner)
The image of these famous costumes, completely absent of the heroes that should inhabit them, is quite a stark portrait. As one of the most controversial comic book stories of the ten years, Identity Crisis holds a unique place among the industry, and the cover to the seventh and final issue in the series is the perfect cap to everything.The late Michael Turner showcases a hollow look at traditional heroism, where heroes aren't so black and white.
