FLASH OF TWO WORLDS - COVER HOMAGE TOUR

Shall we start a new tour? I say let's do it. All aboard! This will be a quick look at covers that have paid homage to the iconic cover of The Flash (vol. 1) #123, featuring "The Flash of Two Worlds". In case you might be unfamiliar with this particular issue, it is the first time the Silver Age Flash meets the Golden Age Flash. The story establishes the notion of the multiverse, a concept that's now universally utilized in all forms of comic books and science fiction. This issue is one of the most iconic comic books of all time. It ushered in a resurgence of the Justice Society of America, and provided a concept the DC could utilize when introducing many of the characters they would later acquire from Fawcett Comics, Quality Comics, and Charlton Comics into the DC universe.

The Flash #123, cover art by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson

The covers that pay homage to this classic tale will be presented in no particular order.  Enjoy!

THE ORIGINAL BATWOMAN COVER TOUR

When I was 12 years old, I discovered a coverless giant-sized Batman comic in one of the boxes of outdated comics sold for a nickel or dime (depending on size) at Andrews Tobacco Stand in my hometown of Calais, Maine.  This particular comic was filled with reprinted tales originally published in the 1950s.  Among the many tales was one containing a character called Batwoman.   From the story, it was obvious this was not her first appearance.  In fact, Batman and Robin treated her as part of their "team".  Who was this woman?  Why had I never heard of her before now?  What happened to her?

I became obsessed with finding out all I could about this intriguing woman... clad in shadowed yellow and red, who at some point before I began reading comics, had been a regular partner of the caped crusader! 

In this tour, I'll take a look at every comic book that featured the original Batwoman (Kathy Kane) on its cover.  Along the way, I'll provide some narrative to provide some insight into her character and some of her adventures with Batman and Robin.

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.

THE SUPERMAN / CLARK KENT SHARED COVER TOUR

Comic covers have always been an integral part of the success of comic book sales and the longevity of the comic book industry!   There could be an entire curriculum built around the nuances of comic book covers through the years.  In fact, I think that will be a fascinating subject for a future tour!

In the meantime, let's take a fun look at all the times that Superman and Clark Kent have appeared to share space together on the cover of a DC Comic.  This tour will cover the period from Superman's debut in 1938 through the publication of the Crisis on Infinite Earths maxi-series that rebuilt the entire DC universe in 1985.  No narratives please, just a visual visit through six decades!

  

Superman #30 (October 1944), cover art by Jack Burnley