THE DC TEAM FACE-OFF COVER TOUR

 

This scene is from the opening credits of Challenge of the Super Friends, the third of seven iterations of the Super Friends cartoon franchise.  Two teams, en masse, rushing into battle against each other!

This depiction of what I'm going to call "the team face-off" did not originate on Challenge of the Super Friends.  Actually, it was first depicted on the cover of an issue of Justice League of America in 1967. 

On this tour, we will visit that Justice League of America cover, and then look at some other covers that were inspired by it.

(Note:  Comic titles in this tour are all volume 1 unless noted otherwise)

So, where and when did this original team face-off first appear?  That would be on the cover of Justice League of America #56, dated September 1967.

Cover art by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson

The vibrant layout of this cover served as inspiration for many future comic book covers.  On this tour, we'll admire the homage covers published by DC Comics.

Justice League of America #107 (November 1973)
Cover art by Nick Cardy

Justice League of America #132 (July 1976)
Cover art by Ernie Chan

The Secret Society of Super-Villains #9 (September 1977)
Cover art by Rich Buckler

This is the first to reposition the angle of confrontation, but it won't be the last.

Teen Titans #50 (October 1977)
Cover art by Rich Buckler

Here we see the angle of confrontation turned a full 90 degrees!

Super Friends #28 (January 1980)
Cover Art by Ramona Fradon and Bob Smith

The New Teen Titans #4 (February 1981)
Cover art by George Perez

This one is an homage to Justice League of America #56 AND Teen Titans #50.

Super Friends #41 (February 1981)
Cover art by Ramona Fradon

Justice League of America #207 (October 1982)
Cover art by George Perez

Batman and the Outsiders #10  (May 1984)
Cover art by Jim Aparo

Infinity Inc. #34  (January 1987)
Cover art by Todd McFarlane, Tony DeZuniga, and Anthony Tollin

Justice League Europe #27 (June 1991)
Cover art by Bart Sears

Justice League Quarterly #8 (September 1992)
Cover art by Dave Cockrum and Terry Austin

Teen Titans (vol. 3) #44
Cover art by Tony S. Daniel, Jonathan Glapion, Richard Horie, and Tanya Horie

This brings this tour to its conclusion.  I hope you've enjoyed these homage covers.  Let me know if you remember any I may have missed!


All characters, names, and elements and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of DC Comics, Inc.