I was rifling through the back issue bins at the Birmingham Comic Show (good event, a bit small and more indy than my interests, but fun nevertheless) yesterday when I found this old Earth-One Superman comic from 1979. It’s not hard to find and its not a key issue, but that cover is amazing. It’s signed by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano. The ferocity of Krypton’s explosion with its brilliant-yellow core and the dark-green back-drop of space works brilliantly against the giant spectral figure of Superman. And that rocket design may not be flashy, but its shown to its best here as a bullet firing away from the dying world.

[via: Hey Oscar Wilde!]

Newsarama has posted a graphic showing all the logos for the new DC 52 series. Included are the three Justice League logos. The default Justice League logo reminds me of the logo on All-Star Superman. The basic formula is a bold JUSTICE and a narrow lined LEAGUE with the third word, where there is one, emphasised by a perspective distortion. It works well for Justice League Dark, but I’m not so convinced about the JLI logo. It actually look me a while to realise that the mottling was the world map, but that may just have been the small size of the image.

When Murphy and Julie collaborated they, like a lot of editor/artist teams at the time, would create a cover before creating the story. And when stumped for ideas they’d raid an old stack of pulp magazines for ideas (which ironically contained storied edited by Mort Weisinger before he came to DC Comics) or, self-referenced their own ideas from old DC science fiction comic covers which Murphy had done for Julie.

These are the most famous examples of their self-referencing:

Mystery In Space #9 Versus JLA #4:

Sensation Comics #109 Versus JLA #10:

Mystery In Space #17 Versus JLA #19:

Mystery In Space #19 Versus JLA #22:

[Cover Credit: GCD]

The relaunched iFanboy site has an exclusive look at JLD artist’s Mikel Janin’s character designs for the new series. They show a decidedly younger John Constantine, a goth Zatanna, and a more realistically dressed Enchantress. I can shake the feeling that each of those figures is based on a real person as the shading/tone-work is almost uncanny.

I think this series is one of the most interesting in the entire New 52 and could well be a massive hit if it can find the right balance between the super-heroics of the DCU and the ambience of the Vertigoverse.

The above image is Yasmin Liang’s version of the Gender Bent Justice League, a troop of cosplayers dedicated to portraying reverse gender versions of prominent DC characters.  It’s a fashion that has turned into a full-blown Elseworld’s Justice League during this summer’s conventions.

Gender Bent Justice League - Just Desserts by LynxPics

Their appearance has attracted so much attention that they’ve even had a right up in the LA Weekly:

“We try to keep it pretty scantily clad for [the men] because that’s how women are portrayed,” says Silver. “We weren’t scantily clad for ourselves because that’s not the point. We’re showing that girls can be clothed and be superheroes because, most of the time, they aren’t.”

The roster matches almost all the League and is still growing:

Right now, Gender Bent Justice League has fourteen members and seems to be growing. In addition to Batma’am, Superma’am and Wonder Man, there are Green Lantern (Halle Jordan, Flash (Wendy West), Aqualass, Green Arrow, Vixen, Power Guy, two Hunters, Martian Maneater and Plastic Lass. There is also a Black Canary who was unable to make it to the con this year and they may have an Atom joining the fold.

[via: Project Rooftop]

The poster for the 2011 New York Comic Con has been released and shows The New 52 incarnation of the Justice League as rendered by Aquaman artist Ivan Reis. This maybe, if I’m not mistaken, the first official image of the new League that hasn’t been drawn by Jim Lee. You know the best thing about this poster? They’re smiling. DC Heroes should smile.

[via: Aquaman Shrine & @NY_Comic_Con ]

Justice League artist Jim Lee (@jimlee00) has been tweeting up a story lately showing off his old and new work. This includes the pencils for the SDCC promotional image (above) used on the Toon Tumblers and DC rucksacks.

0. Mike Sekowsky — The Original

This is the original on the left and the Justice League Archives vol. 1 recolouring on the right. The tones are nicely matched, but there is something about the original – the depth of the colours and the patina of age – that makes it truly fantastic.

1. Alex Ross — Justice League Secret Origins

Superstar painter Alex Ross did this reverse perspective flashback to BB #28 for his Justice League tabloid with writer Paul Dini.

2. Mattel 2010 SDCC Exclusive

As a promotional offering for last years San Diego Comic Con Mattel produced a special Justice League and Starro boxed-set with special sound effects recorded by Kevin Conroy (Batman from Batman: The Animated Series).

3. Run Frenz & Sal Buscema — Alter Ego #33

Alter Ego use to have two covers, one for the Golden Age half and one for the Silver Age half. When celibrating JLA artist Mike Sekowsky that had a classic marvel cover showing DC characters and this classic DC Cover shing Marvel’s Human Torch, Submariner, Captain America, and co.

4. John G. Mathews — Brave and the Bold Statue

From DC Direct’s description: “the cover of THE BRAVE & THE BOLD #28 by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson (March, 1960) is recreated as a stunning hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue, sculpted by John G. Mathews.”

5. Jim Lee — JLA #50

Upcoming Justice League artist Jim Lee drew the JLA’s encounter with Starro as a variant cover for Justice League of America (vol. 2) #50.

6. Darwyn Cooke — DC: The New Frontier

Darwyn Cooke’s excellent DC: The New Frontier retold the adventures of DC’s heroes in a setting contemporary to their first published appearances. It cumulated in the heroes coming together as the Justice League and featured a rather special final splash showing the BB #28 encounter with Starro.

That scene also made it into JLA: The New Frontier, the animated adaptation of Cooke’s comic book.

7. Craig Hamilton — Justice League Gallery

From 1997′s Justice League Gallery comics this recreation of BB #28 by Craig Hamilton and Ray Synder.

8.Warren Martineck — JLA Archives sketch card

Warren Martineck is one of the arts who has provided sketch cards for the Justice League Archives Trading Cards. One of those featured the JLA (with JSA) and Starro in a very BB #28 like tussel.

9. Bart — Sears DC Cosmic Teams 1993

DC Cosmic Teams 1993, the then JLI, fighting Starro by Bart Sears [via: the Bart Sears Checklist]

10. Alé Garza — Teen Titans #52

With a new Justice League International book heading towards the stands it was only a matter of time before the obligatory Maguire-esque crowd covers appeared. Well it looks like TJ Frias (Deviant Art user guinessyde) got there first with his version (shown above). I love that smug look on Guy’s face.