The incomparable Neal Adams projects a powerful image of drug abuse, a shocking reminder that something as plainly human as drugs can even affect superheroes. The cover wasn't about monsters or aliens, but something that we all know about. It was something close to home, an intimate story that ushered in a new era of comic book storytelling. To this day, it remains one of the most iconic images in all of comics.
49. The Flash #123 (Carmine Infantino)
A key issue in the logic that comics can open up new worlds of adventure, The Flash #123 was the beginning of what we now know as the DC Multiverse; the mind-blowing idea that all of DC's characters exist on different worlds at the same time. It sparked an idea that would continue for decades, brilliantly brought to life with cover art from the late Carmine Infantino and allowed the JLA/JSA crossovers to entertain readers for years to come.
48. Batman #666 (Andy Kubert)
Right from the jump, artist Andy Kubert is playing with the iconic images of the Batman we know and doing some incredible work with the finer details. Kubert juxtaposes the classic Batman cowl look without the cape, allowing the flames to play around in vibrant ways that makes the whole cover just flow together perfectly. The image hits you as soon as you see it, an enticing cover that will grab you immediately.
47. DC Comics Presents #23 (Ross Andru)
There are cool superhero costumes, and then there's Doctor Fate, who just might have the coolest one of them all. And this cover to DC Comics Presents #23 drawn by Ross Andru certainly shows us why, as it is Fate at his best. It's exciting to see the mystical mayhem of Doctor Fate mixed with the brawn of Superman, and the cover is a stunning example of how to draw Fate the right way.
46. Green Lantern #12 (Simone Bianchi)
DC's one year jump into the future opened up some very interesting stories along the way, one of which involved the return of the Cyborg Superman. In this frightful cover to Green Lantern #12, the Cyborg Superman proudly displays a whole hand chock full of power rings. It's great work by Simone Bianchi, combining a sense of manic fun with the straight-up fear that the Cyborg Superman is known for.
