Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (October 1985)

Writers: Marv Wolfman & Robert Greenberger
Cover Artist: George Pérez
Penciler: George Pérez
Inkers: Dick Giordano & Jerry Ordway

Modern readers mistakenly credit George Perez’s masterful work on DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (October 1985) as the source for later covers which use the same motif of a fallen hero draped over the arms of a grieving comrade. Although Perez’s work on that cover has become iconic, the motif graces far more covers pre-1985 than one might expect.The first appears to be Catman #31 from June 1946. This motif appears again 17 years later on the cover of Batman #156 (June 1963). Interestingly enough, neither Catman #31 nor Batman #156 inspired Perez’s iconic cover, however. Instead, Perez credits The Mighty Thor #127 (April 1966). Other covers which appeared before Crisis #7 include The Brave & the Bold #84 (July 1969), Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #128 (December 1972), Daredevil #164 (Vol 1) (May 1980), and Uncanny X-Men #136 (August 1980). There are many others (as you can see below). Despite these previous covers, voters in a 2007 poll voted Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 as the “Best DC Cover of All Time.”

For all covers which use this motif, i.e. pre-Crisis covers, see our Catman #31 homage covers.

A user at Nic Foley’s – Nerdy & Wordy blog, jimskiblog, notes that the pose which appears on these covers has appeared in other works of art for hundreds of years, most notably in the Pieta, a subject in Christian art which depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus Christ often found in sculpture. Michelangelo’s La Pieta (1498-1499) may be the most famous such depiction.

See also our pages for Catman #31 and Batman #156.

Sources: DC Fandom; Nic Foley – Nerdy & Wordy; & Crisis on Earth Prime