In this feature, I spotlight comic book covers that follow a specific theme. Here is an archive of all the cover themes we’ve spotlighted so far.
Beginning in 1951, DC Comics began to release a whole PILE of covers featuring gorillas on them. It seems pretty clear that somebody at DC felt that putting a gorilla on the cover would lead to increased sales. There are so many of them that I'm limiting myself to the 1950s and 1960s and fifty total covers. Yes, I am "limiting" myself to FIFTY covers! That's how popular gorilla covers were!
Enjoy!
Strange Adventures #8 (May 1951) Art by Win Mortimer
Batman #75 (February-March 1953) Art by Win Mortimer, Lew Schwartz and Charles Paris
Strange Adventures #32 (May 1953) Art by Murphy Anderson
Strange Adventures #39 (December 1953) Art by Murphy Anderson
Adventure Comics #196 (January 1954) Art by Win Mortimer
Strange Adventures #45 (June 1954) Art by Murphy Anderson
Congo Bill #1 (August-September 1954) Art by Nick Cardy
Strange Adventures #55 (April 1955) Art by Murphy Anderson
Wonder Woman #78 (November 1955) Art by Irv Novick
Adventure Comics #219 (December 1955) Art by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye
Strange Adventures #64 (January 1956) Art by Gil Kane
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #10 (February 1956) Art by Curt Swan and Ray Burnley
Tales of the Unexpected #2 (April-May 1956) Art by Leonard Starr
Strange Adventures #69 (June 1956) Art by Gil Kane and Bernard Sachs
Action Comics #218 (July 1956) Art by Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye
Strange Adventures #75 (December 1956) Art by Gil Kane and Bernard Sachs
My Greatest Adventure #14 (March-April 1957) Art by Ruben Moreira
House of Secrets #6 (September-October 1957) Art by Nick Cardy
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #24 (October-November 1957) Art by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye
Strange Adventures #88 (January 1958) Art by Gil Kane and Joe Giella
Action Comics #238 (March 1958) Art by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye
Strange Adventures #100 (January 1959) Art by Gil Kane and Joe Giella
House of Secrets #16 (January 1959) Art by Bob Brown
Strange Adventures #108 (September 1959) Art by Gil Kane
House of Secrets #26 (November 1959) Art by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff
Go to the next page for the other twenty-five!
Strange Adventures #117 (June 1960) Art by Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson
Superman #138 (July 1960) Art by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye
Strange Adventures #125 (February 1961) Art by Sid Greene
House of Mystery #118 (January 1962) Art by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff
The Flash #127 (March 1962) Art by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella
Adventure Comics #295 (April 1962) Art by John Forte
The Brave and the Bold #49 (August-September 1963) Art by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson
The Doom Patrol #86 (March 1964) Art by Bob Brown
Tomahawk #93 (July-August 1964) Art by Bob Brown
Hawkman #6 (February-March 1965) Art by Murphy Anderson
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #84 (April 1965) Art by Curt Swan and George Klein
Detective Comics #339 (May 1965) Art by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella
Strange Adventures #186 (March 1966) Art by Murphy Anderson
The Brave and the Bold #65 (April-May 1966) Art by Bruno Premiani
Star Spangled War Stories #126 (April-May 1966) Art by Joe Kubert
Sea Devils #30 (July-August 1966) Art by Howard Purcell
Hawkman #16 (October-November 1966) Art by Murphy Anderson
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #98 (December 1966) Art by Curt Swan and George Klein
Showcase #66 (January-February 1967) Art by Mike Sekowsky and Joe Giella
Wonder Woman #170 (May 1967) Art by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito
Strange Adventures #201 (June 1967) Art by Carmine Infantino and George Roussos
The Flash #172 (August 1967) Art by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson
Superboy #142 (October 1967) Art by Curt Swan and George Klein
Plastic Man #7 (November-December 1967) Art by Carmine Infantino and Mike Esposito
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #116 (December 1968) Art by Curt Swan and Mike Esposito
Okay, that's it for this week! If you have ideas for future cover themes, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com