Great covers aren't necessarily about great art. Sometimes they just fit the right moment. Justice League America Annual #4 is one of those. My favorite line-up of the Justice League was the late 1980's. These were not the days of the iconic, high-profile Morrison run with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and all the other A-listers.
These were The Other Guys. Yep, just like the movie.
And this annual was The Other Other Other Guys.
Keith Giffen and JM DeMatteis set out to put the funny back in funny books, and BWAHAHAHAHA! echoed across the pages. A smart, hideously clever kind of humor. The cover to the annual was a continuation of themes set up by prior series. Justice League America #1 had been a group shot of the Justice Leaguers assembled for a photo with smirks and Guy Gardner mouthing off. Justice League Europe #1 had been the European branch assembled with the same pose and a shrugging Captain Atom.
So this annual introduced the wildest concept yet: Justice League Antarctica. The League of the time might not get respect, but these weren't just C-list heroes; they were villains. Except for G'nort, the most annoying Green Lantern ever, the Antarctica team was formerly the Injustice Leage: Major Disaster, Big Sir, Clock King, Cluemaster, Multi-Man, and the Mighty Bruce. Incompetant supervillains who decide to be good guys because they suck as villains.
So the cover of them assembled but facing the wrong way, backs to the audience, is classic. Perfect. It gets across the picture that this is a team of losers. Real losers. And the book knows it, mining the joke for all its worth.
Find this gem, eat some Oreos, drink some milk, read and let the milk shoot out your nose.
So what's your favorite funny cover, or series?
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