Alex Ross | the Captain's JLA blog

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1) #28 – The Cover

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1) #28 was the comic book that launched the Justice League, but it’s also one got of those classic covers that gets continually aped and copied. Here are a ten recreations, homages, and pastiches of that classic cover.

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

Comic Book Artist Vol 2 Covers

The original Comic Book Artist magazine was a brilliant counterpoint to the revived Alter Ego zine. It was the foundation of the publishing empire that is Two Morrows, but it unfortunately had its day. There was a relaunched, shiny vol 2. a few years ago, but I personally didn’t think they recaptured the original brilliance. What they did have, however, was some of the best comic book magazine cover art ever.

My favourite has to be Comic Book Artist V2. #1 (July 2003) which is a collaboration between Neal Adams (pencils) and Alex Ross (paints). I’ve posted the image before, but it seems to be missing from the gallery so here it is.

Another favourite of mine is Darwyn Cooke’s where’s Waldo/Wally style cover to Comics Book Artist V2. #3 (March 2004). It’s from around the time that DC: The New Frontier was out and shows the cast of that series intermingled with other famous characters that Cooke has worked on.