by Joshua H. Stulman

In celebration of Independence Day, we are taking a look at our Top 10 Patriotic Comic Book Covers!

Comic Book Covers are perhaps the most important part of the comic. Its the first thing that the potential buyer sees. As the first impression, good comic book covers have to be exciting, graphically appealing, and well designed. They need to grab your attention and entice you to pick up the book and purchase it.

Some comic books are ONLY sought after by collectors for their covers, and thousands of books with great stories are ignored because of poor cover design and appeal.

Our Top 10 Patriotic Comic Covers were chosen based on their design and artistic appeal, and American pride.

Supergirl # 13 (1983)

Ed Hannigan is one of the great cover artists of the early 1980’s. This cover for Supergirl # 13 perfectly captures a sense of American pride and confidence, as well as celebration and triumph with the inclusion of the American flag dominating the space moonscape.

Strange Tales # 167 (1968)

Jim Steranko is well regarded as one of the great graphic designers of comic at the end of the 1960’s. This cover featuring Nick Fury and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is beautifully crafted with the heroes popping out at the viewer from a white background that mimics the movement of the waving American flag. The design is simple, clean, and effective.

Captain America # 1 (2018)

Alex Ross is perhaps the greatest comic book painter of all time. As an artist knowledgable in the history of illustration art, this cover from Captain America # 1 2018 series perfectly combines his “Rockwell”- esque style with action of the early Golden Age era comics. It’s only a shame that Alex Ross’s own political beliefs do not regard the history of America with such greatness as this image.

All Star Comics # 22 (1944)

Frank Henry designed this cover in the classic style of its time. The American flag is the central focus leading the Justice Society into battle. Beside it are the profiles of Thomas Jefferson (President and Author of the Declaration of Independence) and Abraham Lincoln (highly regarded for freeing blacks from slavery). The two portraits of the past remind the viewer of the importance to fight for freedom in current time. It send the message that America will succeed in championing freedom against the Nazi’s as it has time again in the past. The tagline “A Cure For The World” is a meaningful reference to the hope in American democracy.

Mickey Mouse Magazine # 46 (1939) & Looney Tunes # 10 (1942)

Mickey Mouse Magazine # 46 pays homage to the Spirit of ’76 painting by Archibald Willard with Mickey, Goofy, and Donald Duck filling in for the Revolutionary soldiers. The patriotic theme was appropriate for the July 1939 issue and is one of the rare examples of American patriotism in comics prior to World War II. In 1942, Looney Tunes mimic the marching theme with its patriotic cover featuring Elmer Fudd as a U.S. Soldier.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero # 4 (1982)

Writer and co-creator, Larry Hama, hated using the American flag in the G.I. Joe series. He purposely created story-arches that steered the reader away from American patriotism. However, Bob Hall’s cover to G.I Joe # 4 is one of the rare examples of the use of the American Flag on a GI Joe Cover during the 1980’s classic series. The cover perfectly represents the diversity of the American heroes fighting together for common cause against tyranny.

Sensation Comics # 1 (1942)

Sensation Comics # 1 was the first regular Wonder Woman series after her introduction in All Star Comics # 8. This cover by Harry Peter and Jon Blummer emphasizes her confidence as protector of Washington, DC. Her costume is literally the personification of the American Flag and references the allegorical figure of Columbia, the symbol of America.

Superman # 14 (1942) & Superman Vol. 2 # 53 (1990)

We could fill a whole article on patriotic Superman images, but these two are perhaps the greatest. The first by Fred Ray from Superman # 14 (1942) famously poses Superman with the American Eagle in front of a patriotic shield with tanks peering out from either side. Superman’s stance and smile project an assuring sense of certain victory against evil.

In Jerry Ordway’s Superman (vol. 2) # 53 1990 cover, Superman salutes the flag in honor of his service with his famous tagline “Truth, Justice, And The American Way”

Captain America # 1 (1941)

Jewish comic creators, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, didn’t pull any punches when they let readers know what they thought of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi’s in Europe. Captain America # 1 is one of the first patriotic Super-Heroes that became the a major theme during World War II. Simon and Kirby debuted Captain America well before the US was involved in the war. Their work as artists immediately garnered the ire of American-Nazi’s that threatened their studio. In response, New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia sent police to protect the artists from harassment.

National Comics # 27 (1942)

What a cover! Uncle Sam, the literal embodiment of the American spirit, holds up a browning machine gun and stands on the front lines as American forces advance on land and in the sky. The cover to National Comics # 27 by Al Gabriele is the definition of American ruggedness and determination to persevere in the face of adversity. Uncle Sam was the second patriotic comic book character following Archie Comics’s The Shield (January, 1940) by Irv Novick. Uncle Sam was created by fellow Jewish artist/publisher, Will Eisner several months later appearing in National Comics # 1 July, 1940.

Well that’s our TOP 10 Patriotic Comics List!

The Brooklyn Comic Shop wishes everyone a Happy Independence Day!!!

Joshua H. Stulman

Owner, Brooklyn Comic Shop