The auspicious debut of Batgirl in Detective Comics #359 is a remarkable piece of work by Carmine Infantino, casting a dark shadow over the heroine that would eventually give way to one of the most recognizable female characters in all of comics. It's a perfect example of how to introduce a new character, with just enough of a hint of danger to wonder about them, yet it's plainly awesome enough that you know you're about to see something really special.
19. Kamandi #1 (Jack Kirby)
Another thrilling Kirby creation, the cover to Kamandi #1 is one of those covers that just kidnaps your eyeballs and glues them right to the beautiful work on display. It is absolutely Kirby's most incredible, fantastic cover he ever produced during his run at DC. Despite there being only one character involved, the scale that Kirby achieves in this cover is simply astounding. A purely flawless cover in every way, and Kirby's confidence to sell this nutty story is amazing, as he sells it with so much unwavering conviction.
18. Batman #404 (David Mazzucchelli)
Batman #404 marks the beginning of one of the most famous Batman stories of all time; Year One by Frank Miller. The cover is simple, but utterly fantastic work by David Mazzucchelli. The image of Bruce Wayne mourning his fallen parents is a classic part of the Batman mythology, and Mazzucchelli does it justice. Simple, completely uncomplicated and absolutely beautiful with an overtone of tragedy.
17. Secret Origins #38 (Dick Giordano)
This Giordano cover is breathtakingly good, contrasting the way Green Arrow used to be with the way it had become in incredible ways. The divide between Speedy and Green Arrow, with the shadows of their former selves in between, it's a very direct representation of how far the two characters have come. This was two years after Mike Grell completely re-invented Green Arrow in The Longbow Hunters, as well, making it even more poignant.
16. Birthright #12 (Leinil Francis Yu)
Every so often, DC will take a moment to revitalize Superman to reflect the current tastes of the comic book reading public. In the wake of Smallville, Mark Waid told what many still consider the definitive Superman origin with elements of the tv series peppered throughout the 12-issue series, which brings us to Leinil Francis Yu's extraordinary cover to Birthright #12. As far as the classic Superman costume goes, Yu's cover may be the greatest it's ever looked, as he looks so powerful and completely real.
