Glow-in-the-Dark Comic Book Covers
Ghost Rider (Vol 3) #15 Blazes A Bright Path for Future Variants
The 1990s are known for the great comic bubble, caused in part by the use of gimmicks for the covers. One such gimmick, which continues to this day, are glow-in-the-dark (aka GITD) covers. Admittedly, glow-in-the-dark covers are fascinating, even cool. Sometimes we are not even aware that such-and-such comic glows in the dark: for example, Cyberspace 3000 #1, Deadman (Vol 5) #1 and The Spectre (Vol 3) #8.
Ghost Rider (Vol 3) #15 launched glow-in-the-dark variants in July 1991. A deluge using the new gimmick soon followed. A practice which continues well into the 21st century.
Glow-in-the-dark products – such as comics – contain phosphors which radiate visible light after being energized. Chemists have created thousands of chemical substances which glow in the dark.
To make a glow-in-the-dark comic, a phosphor which is energized by normal light must be selected, such as Zinc Sulfide or Strontium Aluminate. Zinc Sulfide seems to be the preferred phospher, as comics do not glow for very long when compared to Strontium Aluminate. Zinc Sulfide is mixed into appropriate ink and printed on the cover of the comic, resulting in the glow effect.
The most valuable glow-in-the-dark comic is…
Glow-in-the-dark covers are not typically photographed as they are glowing, only as they appear “on the shelf” in standard light. We feel this is a discredit to readers, Particularly those who like GITD covers. So as much as possible, we try to display the comic as it appears in the light, as it appears in partial darkness and as it appears in total darkness. We want interested readers to be able to see how the glow affect is applied to the covers of comics.
Starting with the gallery below.
Sources: How Stuff Works

Con Artists (Vol 2) #3 (Sun Khamunaki “The Waters” Bo-Katan Glow-in-the-Dark Metal Variant) – August 2023

Con Artists (Vol 2) #3 (Sun Khamunaki “The Waters” Bo-Katan Glow-in-the-Dark Metal Variant) – August 2023

Con Artists (Vol 2) #3 (Sun Khamunaki “Midnight Prowler” Glow-in-the-Dark Metal Variant) – August 2023

Con Artists (Vol 2) #3 (Sun Khamunaki “Midnight Prowler” Glow-in-the-Dark Metal Variant) – August 2023

Harley Quinn: 30th Anniversary Special (Frank Cho Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2022

Harley Quinn: 30th Anniversary Special (Frank Cho Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2022

Harley Quinn: 30th Anniversary Special (Frank Cho Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2022

Do You Pooh? (Metal Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Rider Homage) – October 2022

Do You Pooh? (Metal Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Rider Homage) – October 2022

Doctor Who: Origins #1 (Weeping Angel Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – June 2022

Doctor Who: Origins #1 (Weeping Angel Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – June 2022

Doctor Who: Origins #1 (Weeping Angel Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – June 2022

Amazing Spiderman #1/#801 (Patrick Gleason Italian Panini Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – June 2022

Amazing Spiderman #1/#801 (Patrick Gleason Italian Panini Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – June 2022

The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe #1 (Turkish 2nd Edition Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – December 2021

The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe #1 (Turkish 2nd Edition Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – December 2021

The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe #1 (Turkish 2nd Edition Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – December 2021

Third Wave ’99 #1 (1:25 Glow-in-the-Dark Incentive Variant) – December 2021

Third Wave ’99 #1 (1:25 Glow-in-the-Dark Incentive Variant) – December 2021

DC vs. Vampires #1 (Jorge Molina Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – October 2021

DC vs. Vampires #1 (Jorge Molina Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – October 2021

DC vs. Vampires #1 (Ejikure Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – October 2021

Something Is Killing the Children #17 (Ozgur Yildirim Glow-In-The-Dark Variant) – June 2021

Something Is Killing the Children #17 (Ozgur Yildirim Glow-In-The-Dark Variant) – June 2021

Geiger #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – April 2021

Geiger #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – April 2021

Nocterra #1 (Tony S. Daniel Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2021

Immortal Hulk (Vol 1) TPB (Turkish Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – January 2021

Immortal Hulk (Vol 1) TPB (Turkish Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – January 2021

Black WIdow (Vol 8) #3 (J Scott Campbell Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2020

Black WIdow (Vol 8) #3 (J Scott Campbell Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2020

Black WIdow (Vol 8) #3 (J Scott Campbell Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2020

Giga #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Standard & Black Light Variants) – October 2020

Giga #1 (Nathan Gooden & Tim Daniel Black Light Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – October 2020

Giga #1 (Nathan Gooden & Tim Daniel Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – October 2020

Phantom Starkiller #1 (4th Print Glow-in-the-Dark) – October 2020

Phantom Starkiller #1 (4th Print Glow-in-the-Dark) – October 2020

Phantom Starkiller #1 (Exclusive Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – October 2020

X-Men + Fantastic Four #1 (Frank Cho C2E2 Glow-in-the-Dark Virgin Variant) – April 2020

X-Men + Fantastic Four #1 (Frank Cho C2E2 Glow-in-the-Dark Virgin Variant) – April 2020

X-Men + Fantastic Four #1 (Frank Cho C2E2 Glow-in-the-Dark Virgin Variant) – April 2020

Predators: Hunters III #3 (Patrick Blaine Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – April 2020

Predators: Hunters III #2 (Jonathan Wayshak Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2020

Predators: Hunters III #1 (Andy Brase Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – February 2020

Ghost Rider (Vol 9) #1 (Philip Tan NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – December 2019

Ghost Rider (Vol 9) #1 (Philip Tan NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – December 2019

Ghost Rider (Vol 9) #1 (Philip Tan NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – December 2019

Electric Black #3 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – October 2019

House of X #5 (J Scott Campbell Storm Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – September 2019

House of X #5 (J Scott Campbell Storm Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – September 2019

House of X #5 (J Scott Campbell Storm Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – September 2019

Captain Marvel (Vol 9) #7 (J Scott Campbell 2019 SDCC Numbered Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – August 2019

Captain Marvel (Vol 9) #7 (J Scott Campbell 2019 SDCC Numbered Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – August 2019

Captain Marvel (Vol 9) #7 (J Scott Campbell 2019 SDCC Numbered Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – August 2019

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast (Vol 2) #1 (NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – July 2019

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast (Vol 2) #1 (NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – July 2019

Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 5) #1 (Lucio Parrillo Virgin Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2019

Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 5) #1 (Lucio Parrillo Virgin Color Splash Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2019

Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 5) #1 (Lucio Parrillo Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2019

Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 5) #1 (Lucio Parrillo Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2019

Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 5) #1 (Lucio Parrillo Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2019

Return of Wolverine #1 (J Scott Campbell NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2018

Return of Wolverine #1 (J Scott Campbell NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2018

Return of Wolverine #1 (J Scott Campbell NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2018

Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 (J. Scott Campbell SDCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – September 2018

Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 (J. Scott Campbell SDCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – September 2018

Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 (J. Scott Campbell SDCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – September 2018

Shadowman (Vol 5) #1 (Brushed Metal Glow-in-the-Dark Incentive Variant) – March 2018

Shadowman (Vol 5) #1 (Brushed Metal Glow-in-the-Dark Incentive Variant) – March 2018

Deadman (Vol 5) #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – January 2018

Deadman (Vol 5) #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – January 2018

Deadman (Vol 5) #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – January 2018

Tommy: Cereal Killer #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – March 2016

Chew #19 (SDCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2011

Chew #19 (SDCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2011

Chew #19 (SDCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2011

The Boys #22 (Glow in the Dark Variant) – September 2008

Lady Death: Abandon All Hope #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – July 2005

Lady Death: Abandon All Hope #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – July 2005

Lady Death: Abandon All Hope #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – July 2005

A Nightmare on Elm Street Special #1 (Glow in the Dark Variant) – June 2005

A Nightmare on Elm Street Special #1 (Glow in the Dark Variant) – June 2005

Friday the 13th Special #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – April 2005

Friday the 13th Special #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – April 2005

Friday the 13th Special #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – April 2005

Untold Tales of Chastity #1 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2000

Superman (Vol 2) #123 (Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – May 1997
