Given that comics are such a visual medium, art is obviously a critical component of a good story, and a comic book’s cover may be the most important.

A legendary editor once said the two most important pages in a comic are the cover and the first page. Given Superman’s long and auspicious history, scores of good covers have been put out there, and many have ended up defining the character himself. Something about a great cover just sears into our memory, so to put together a list celebrating covers, while daunting, is also a wonderful tribute to the character and his many great stories over the years.

While easier than I thought this list might be, ten covers was just too small of a number to celebrate Superman’s history sufficiently, so I’m throwing in five more, just like my favorite stories list. Hope you guys enjoy.

Let’s get started!

15. Superman vs Muhammad Ali

The sheer ridiculousness of the Silver Age of comics often reared its head in the Bronze Age as well, and the Superman books seemed to preserve that more than most. This story, one that is beloved by fans and was even given a homage issue in Tom King’s “Up in the Sky” last year, was basically an affirmation of this silliness.

I mean, boxing? Muhammad Ali?

Despite all that, Neal Adams was on fire during this era, and the amount of work he put into this treasury size book is legendary (see the deluxe hardcover edition for a guide to who all the faces in the crowd are). His many Superman covers are absolute treasures.

Surprising exactly no one, Neal is going to appear more times on this list, but this cover is a good place to start, even if it wasn’t my favorite story.

14. Superman 199

I have to include something from the Silver Age on the list, right?

For years and years, fans have debated which of their favorite heroes could beat the other in a battle of (insert power here). For Superman and the Flash, the two best known speedsters, this cover embodied many readers’ deepest wish.

The very question that was asked for years gets shoved directly into the readers face here, luring fans in with the hope that the question would finally be answered. The cover, not drawn by a Superman artist but by the Silver Age Flash team of Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson, has now become legendary.

13. Superman Annual 1

Even though I have said, probably ad nauseam at this point, how I’m not a big fan of the Silver Age, nor of the blocky Superman look by many artists of the time, MUCH of Superman’s world and mythos comes directly from this era. This cover, drawn by the legendary Curt Swan, became the standard for any Superman giant sized special for decades after- the multiple characters packed onto the front to indicate a massive story beneath, Superman front and center and the various block shapes around the edges, for starters.

If you picked up a Superman annual at any point from the 60s through the 80s, or even the occasional special from the 2000s, this design is very familiar to you. It’s a testament to Swan’s innovation and creativity.

12. Superman (Vol 2) 204

Jim Lee might be a divisive choice for a Superman artist, but not for me. His style has been “the” DC brand of the 21st century, and is now everywhere, right down to his New 52 Superman costume inspiring both of the most recent big screen adaptations…

… for better or worse.

Jim’s influence with DC is everywhere you look, especially merchandise. This cover, which has been homaged many times- a definite indicator of any cover’s iconic status- has been found on much paraphernalia, probably even at your local Target or Walmart right this minute. That’s enough to land this beautiful work on the all time list.

11. Superman 14

I really, really, realllly wanted to include this cover in my top ten. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t quite see any of the others not being on the top ten, either. Superman 14’s cover is very iconic, but not quite as iconic as the others, if I’m being honest.

Released when the fervor of wartime propaganda was ramping up in a big way, this issue also came along at the same time that Superman was becoming a juggernaut in popular culture. Some historians have speculated that as his presence grew, Supes began to take on the character of America itself, or how Americans viewed ourselves.

This issue, with its majestic pose, prominent US flag and national symbol on Superman’s arm, reflects just that. It has been homaged many times by artists, sometimes earnestly, other times with tongue in cheek. Either way, one undeniable fact is that it is nothing less than classic.

10. Superman 53

Now we’re getting to the tip of the top!

It’s hard to believe we can associate the phrase “tenth anniversary issue” with Superman, but there was indeed a time when the character was still in his infancy.

This cover pose reflects a style in which Superman was transitioning from the Golden Age to the Silver Age, with the circus strongman look making way for the barrel chested, larger than life figure. It also featured another motif which was a staple of the Silver Age- outer space, and the Kryptonian rocket ship on the cover, which had been used incredibly rarely up to that point (if ever, come to think of it…).

The issue itself also was the first time that Superman’s origin was truly fleshed out, bringing together all the various bits and pieces that had been dropped in the comics the previous decade or so. As such, it was a milestone.

This pose has been used again and again over the years on Superman covers too, another endearing quality which began here.

9. Adventure Comics 247

Another Silver Age milestone that has been homaged many times over, this issue was, of course, the first appearance of the Legion of Superheroes.

The whimsical, child-like wonder of Superman’s Silver Age stories was in many ways no more apparent than in this issue, about a “cool kids club” that young Superboy is desperate to be accepted into. As he grapples with the challenges he faces to be accepted, metaphorically he is also grappling with acceptance as a young man growing up.

This cover reflects exactly that, with a trial of sorts taking place that would ultimately lead to a central feature of Superman’s childhood- his friendship with the Legionaires- all while simultaneously introducing three staples of the DC Universe that are still around today. The Legion have been included in many classic Superman stories since, and it all began here.

8. Crisis on Infinite Earths 7

George Perez is one of the greatest comic artists of all time, and the original Crisis was his magnum opus.

There were so many historic moments in this series, one of which was the death of Kara Danvers, the original Supergirl. As the Bronze Age played on the idea of Superman as a Kryptonian outsider, the death of his cousin left Superman- and DC fans- in terrible anguish. This was reflected beautifully by Perez in this cover, which has now become an all time classic.

Comic purists will note the similarities of this cover to Uncanny X-Men 136, “The Final Phase of the Phoenix,” which surely had some influence on George when he dreamed this up. But hey, as one famous artist said, if you’re going to steal, steal from the best!

7. All-Star Superman 1

When I first saw this cover I wasn’t sure what Frank Quitely was going for.

Peace? Serenity?

Despite my initial confusion, to say the comic was well received by the fanbase would be an understatement. All-Star Superman has become an all-time favorite for many, and this cover, of Superman peacefully sitting in the clouds, has been homaged many, many times since in the last twenty years. And that says something.

Given the story is about Superman living out the last days of his life, maybe the clouds were meant to have a double meaning of heaven, as well as his being at peace? Only Frank Quitely would know, but either way, the cover does deserve a spot on this list.

6. Superman (Vol 2) 75

Easily one of the most iconic images of my childhood, this comic has gone down in pop culture lore for its epic story as much as the collector craze surrounding it. We all know this cover, now emblazoned in our minds regardless of our age, and it belongs on any Superman all time list. I’m sure Dan Jurgens is very proud!

As legendary as this image is, the only reason I couldn’t justify putting it a little higher on this list is because Superman technically is not in it. It may be a bad reason, but that was just what my gut was telling me when I was putting together this list.

Who knows, ask me again in a few hours! My mood may have changed by then, as we’re really splitting hairs the higher we go!

5. Man of Steel 1

Is there anything more iconic than the shirt rip? Is there any cover where the shirt rip is as prominent as this one?

Another issue which lands on this list in large part because it was a pop culture moment, John Byrne is a legendary comic artist who, when hired for the Super books, burst right out of the gate with this piece.

For DC fans, their favorite universe really boils down to two periods: “pre-Crisis,” and “post-Crisis,” and this book- a good story in its own right as well- is right on the nexus of both!

4. Action Comics 419

At last, we’ve come back to the Bronze Age and a certain Mr. Adams.

I just love everything about this cover. Everything. Neal Adams drawing Superman was always a sure thing- lean, strong, powerful, and in a great flying pose here too.

But what separates this one is the realistic backdrop of a very obvious New York City of the 1970s- not a fictional Metropolis- which fits Superman so perfectly. The urban setting of Superman’s world is embodied in this photo in the same way that Richard Donner chose to feature it prominently in 1978.

Superman’s pose here fits the photo perfectly in terms of its visual angle, too. I mean, the creativity is just off the scale. Kirby experimented with similar combinations of realism and fantasy, but nothing ever blended as well as this cover.

I have absolutely no clue what this story is about, and really, it doesn’t even matter!

3. Superman 1

Unlike the previous entry, which gets a spot solely because of how creatively unique it is, this one could land here simply because of how often it has been homaged… everywhere! Interiors, covers, splashes, you name it.

Of course Joe Shuster crafted something very unique here as well, to be sure, not to mention that this image celebrates the wonder of being Superman and looking at the world from the sky!

The cover is also significant because it marked the first time that Superman- or any comic book character- received a book all to themselves. Supermania was in full swing by the time this cover was published in 1939, and really, it has taken off (😁) ever since.

2. Superman 233

The power.

The strength!

The composition, the dynamism, the grace… everything about this cover has become iconic because it is a masterpiece.

This story is one of the greatest Superman yarns to come out of the Bronze Age, certainly, yet all I can think of when I see this is how great it would have been if Adams drew the interiors as well. I mean, wow!

It was tough to pick between this and Superman 1 for the runner up spot, as both are equally brilliant in their own way, but Neal’s entry wins it by a hair.

Thankfully, Joe Shuster fans needn’t worry, because…

1. Action Comics 1

How could it possibly be anything else?

That’s the list! Hope you enjoyed it. If you feel so inclined, please let me know what you think!