"Story hook, tragic moment, poster, or outrageous character, the covers lured us in." - Paul Levitz, president of DC Comics 2002-2009 From the trailblazing works of Bob Kane, to the photorealistic stylings of Adam Hughes and quirky humor of Amanda Conner, DC Comics Cover Art is a collection of the most iconic covers in DC's history. The stunning artwork is accompanied by expert commentary exploring the significance of each cover, while artist profiles shed light on their creators. Discover the most striking covers from more than 85 years of DC Comics. All DC characters and elements © & ™ DC Comics. (s20)

An examination of the art in superhero comics and how style influences comic narratives. For many, the idea of comic book art implies simplistic four-color renderings of stiff characters slugging it out. In fact, modern superhero comic books showcase a range of complex artistic styles, with diverse connotations. Leading comics scholar Jeffrey A. Brown assesses six distinct approaches to superhero illustration—idealism, realism, cute, retro, grotesque, and noir—examining how each visually represents the superhero as a symbolic construct freighted with meaning. Whereas comic book studies tend to focus on text and narrative, Super Bodies gives overdue credit to the artwork, which is not only a principal source of the appeal of comic books but also central to the values these works embody. Brown argues that superheroes are to be taken not as representations of people but as iconic types, and the art conveys this. Even the most realistic comic illustrations are designed to suggest not persons but ideas—ideas about bodies and societies. Thus the appearance of superheroes both directly and indirectly influences the story being told as well as the opinions readers form concerning justice, authority, gender, puberty, sexuality, ethnicity, violence, and other concepts central to political and cultural life.

The most comprehensive guide to the history of DC Comics ever published In 1938, Superman led the charge. The world's first Super Hero was soon followed by his Justice League teammates Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, Shazam! and Green Lantern. These heroes, and their Super-Villainous foes such as Lex Luthor and The Joker, became the foundation of DC Comics. You can trace these characters' evolution, and learn about the company and creators who made them the enduring pop culture icons they are today in DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle - the most comprehensive, chronological history of DC Comics ever published. Fully updated, this best-selling, visually stunning book details the debuts and careers of every major hero and villain in the DC Universe. It also chronicles the company's fascinating 85-year history, highlighting its publishing milestones and expansion into movies and television, alongside the real-world events that shaped the times. Created in full collaboration with DC Comics and written by leading comics historians Matthew K. Manning, Daniel Wallace, Mike McAvennie, Alex Irvine, Alan Cowsill and Melanie Scott, the new edition brings the DC Comics story right up to date, covering recent landmark events such as Rebirth, Dark Nights: Metal, Doomsday Clock and Heroes in Crisis. DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle is guaranteed to keep fans enthralled for hours on end. (TM) & © DC Comics. (s19)

"Describes the history of comic books, featuring little known facts and bizarre inside information"--Provided by publisher.

Describes and lists the values of popular collectible comics and graphic novels issued from the 1950s to today, providing tips on buying, collecting, selling, grading, and caring for comics and including a section on related toys and rings.

Skin-crawling stories of the DC ghoul-iverse! Superman imprisoned by an unfriendly ghost! Man-Bat versus a werewolf! Mary Marvel and Dr. Psycho crashing a Halloween frat party! Plus: the Question faces horrific crimes of fashion; Robotman wrestles a ghostly glitch; Crush helps Lobo find the perfect costume; and Nightwing and Red Hood spend a frightful night in Blüdhaven, co-written by Christopher Sean, the voice of Nightwing from the Gotham Knights video game! The chills will last longer than your candy corn!

With the shocking secrets of Thule and the plot against Atlantis revealed, Aquaman finds himself transported to an alien world that holds even more revelations to this conspiracy!

The critically acclaimed--Darkseid War-continues as the second wave of war begins with "Darkseid War: Gods and Men"! Writer Geoff Johns is joined by superstar artist Francis Manapul for this special issue featuring the all-new, all-powerfulJustice League! In the aftermath of the cataclysmic events of JUSTICE LEAGUE #44, members of the League have gained great power--the power of Gods!--but at a great price. And that price may be their destruction, unless Wonder Woman and MisterMiracle can help the League escape the curse of the New Gods and hold on to their humanity.

Was Superman's arch nemesis Lex Luthor based on Aleister Crowley? Can Captain Marvel be linked to the Sun gods on antiquity? In Our Gods Wear Spandex, Christopher Knowles answers these questions and brings to light many other intriguing links between superheroes and the enchanted world of estoerica. Occult students and comic-book fans alike will discover countless fascinating connections, from little known facts such as that DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz started his career as H.P. Lovecraft's agent, to the tantalizingly extensive influence of Madame Blavatsky's Theosophy on the birth of comics, to the mystic roots of Superman. The book also traces the rise of the comic superheroes and how they relate to several cultural trends in the late 19th century, specifically the occult explosion in Western Europe and America. Knowles reveals the four basic superhero archetypes--the Messiah, the Golem, the Amazon, and the Brotherhood--and shows how the occult Bohemian underground of the early 20th century provided the inspiration for the modern comic book hero. With the popularity of occult comics writers like Invisibles creator Grant Morrison and V for Vendetta creator Alan Moore, the vast ComiCon audience is poised for someone to seriously introduce them to the esoteric mysteries. Chris Knowles is doing just that in this epic book. Chapters include Ancient of Days, Ascended Masters, God and Gangsters, Mad Scientists and Modern Sorcerers, and many more. From the ghettos of Prague to the halls of Valhalla to the Fortress of Solitude and the aisles of BEA and ComiCon, this is the first book to show the inextricable link between superheroes and the enchanted world of esoterica. * Chris Knowles is associate editor and columnist for the five-time Eisner Award-winning Comic Book Artist magazine, as well as a pop culture writer for UK magazine Classic Rock. * Knowles worked with Robert Smigel on The X Presidents graphic novel, based on the popular Saturday Night Live cartoon, and has created designs and artwork for many of the world's top superheroes and fantasy characters. * Features the art of Joe Linsner, creator of the legendary Dawn series, and more recently a collaborator with comics maestro Stan Lee.