DC Comics Pushes Boundaries, But 10 Controversial Covers Went Way Too Far

While DC Comics may have put out some of the best superhero stories around, it's also published a handful of comics that have earned the scorn of critics. While the publisher has taken great steps to put out content that everyone can enjoy, DC isn’t above putting out covers that completely miss the mark.

Depending on the time in which these covers made their way to the public, they could be just a bit tone-deaf, or they could be something fans would never expect of the iconic publisher. Read on for 10 DC Comics covers that have gone down in infamy thanks to their controversial nature.

10 Action Comics #869

A Buzzed Man of Steel? Not If DC Has Anything to Say!

What’s considered controversial is usually a sliding scale, but one seemingly harmless cover went a bit too far and actually had to be recalled. Action Comics #869’s cover by Gary Frank and Brad Anderson is a simple tableau that shows Superman and Lois Lane visiting Martha and Jonathan Kent on the Kent Farm. While Lois and Martha watch from a distance, Superman and Jonathan drink bottles of soda pop.

Except in the original cover that was actually distributed, Clark and his father are actually drinking beer. Shortly after publication, DC Comics recalled Action Comics #869, believing it was out of character for Superman to drink a beer. The re-released cover is mostly unchanged, though the beer label was changed to have Supes drinking soda rather than a brew. Shame Superman couldn’t have a beer with the old man, but he probably shouldn’t be drinking and flying anyway.

9 Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly #1

This Cover Just Stinks... Literally

To be fair, this book hasn’t come out yet as of this writing. But when fans got their first look at Harley Quinn Fartacular: Silent Butt Deadly #1, let’s just say reception was a bit frosty among fans. This is a book that combines Harley Quinn’s rapscallion nature with the most controversial forms of comedy, fart jokes. And to really sell this book’s gimmick (which seriously includes scratch n’ sniff pages), the main cover by Ted Brandt and Ro Stein shows Harley Quinn letting one rip while showgirls choke and gag on the odor.

While fart jokes may be some readers’ cups of tea, this book and specifically this cover caused an uproar online, with many wondering if this was a real book or if DC Comics was staging some kind of elaborate April Fools gag. Looks like time will have to tell.

8 Justice League of America #1

A Country-Wide Promotion Goes Very Wrong

In 2013, DC Comics was still deep into the New 52 initiative when it decided to create a new Justice League title to go along with its main Justice League title. DC made it clear that this was a different kind of title than the preceding Justice League ongoing by calling it Justice League of America. To wit, DC went all out in promoting the new series with a series of variant covers by David Finch that showcased the League in a tableau similar to Joe Rosenthal’s picture Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.

The problem, however, is the series used every state’s flag, including Missisippi’s which, at the time, prominently featured the Confederate battle flag in the corner. While Mississippi eventually retired this flag, its just odd seeing the Justice League anywhere close to such a controversial symbol.

7 Action Comics #593

Superman and Big Barda Together? Just Ick.

DC has a lot of power couples among its heroes. And just like Superman has a passionate romance with Lois Lane, Big Barda feels equal affection for her husband, Mister Miracle. However, Action Comics #593's cover by John Byrne had Superman and Barda making out while Mister Miracle is forced to watch. Action Comics #593 picks up from where the previous issue left off when the Man of Steel and the Apokoliptian warrior fell under the hypnotic command of a villain known as Sleez.

While the actual comic doesn’t have Superman nor Barda cheat on their respective spouses, it’s a bit shocking to see these two pawing at one another. Especially once one considers that Barda’s creator, Jack Kirby, modeled the hero after his wife, Roz. Thankfully, nothing actually happens, but that doesn’t make this cover any less icky.

6 Action Comics #289

Superman Goes for a Very Familiar-Looking Partner

Boy, Superman just doesn’t have luck when it comes to Action Comics’ covers, huh? But years before his uncomfortable pose with Big Barda, the Man of Steel was embracing a new love interest on the cover of Action Comics #289 by Curt Swan, George Klein, and Ira Schnapp. At a glance, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong with this cover, just Superman looking like he’s in love while his cousin, Supergirl looks on in approval.

But Supergirl just had to ruin the moment by pointing out that this new hero looks exactly like Kara will when she’s all grown up. Thankfully, the woman Superman is embracing is her own person and not a grown-up Supergirl or anything like that. But it’s just damn odd that Supergirl felt the need to make a statement like that.

5 Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #106

Lois Lane Tries Black Like Me

Sometimes stories can be made with the best of intentions and still come off as incredibly tone-deaf. Such is the case for Superman’s Girl Friend #106, whose cover by Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson, and Gaspar Saladino has Lois undergoing a curious procedure. With Superman and a body mold, the Man of Steel helps Lois transform from a white woman into a Black woman for the next 24 hours.

If nothing else, this cover does accurately set up the issue’s story “I Am Curious (Black)!”, which sees Lois go undercover to write a story for the Daily Planet. And it seems to be modeled off Black Like Me, John Howard Griffin’s real-life account where he did the same thing. But the concept of Lois Lane disguising herself as a Black woman is one that absolutely does not stand the test of time.

4 Wonder Woman #158

Wonder Woman's Most Racist Villain Takes the Spotlight

Wonder Woman has a lot of excellent, interesting villains in her rogues’ gallery, but one is such a product of its time it’s hard to imagine the modern-day Diana ever fighting him. Wonder Woman #158’s cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito shows Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor in the grips of a powerful, living supercomputer known as Egg Fu. Egg Fu is an incredibly racist caricature that uses many of the offensive ‘Yellow Peril’ tropes that weren’t exactly uncommon back in the day.

Thankfully, Egg Fu wasn’t a permanent addition to Wonder Woman’s canon. In fact, he only had a handful of appearances before he was quietly removed from DC's canon. But this cover is a stark reminder that the earliest days of superhero comics weren’t always perfect, and even perpetuated harmful stereotypes.

3 Batman #246

Batman Finds Robin's Hanging Body

This is one of those covers that became a lot more cringe-inducing (or darkly humorous) as time went on. Batman #246’s cover by Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, and Gaspar Saladino has the Dark Knight opening a door and using a flashlight that shines right on Robin, who appears to have hanged himself. Thankfully, this is just a misdirection as the story actually deals with Batman going after a criminal who is staging deaths involving the Boy Wonder.

Though it’s not the most brutal depiction of death, it’s still a bit of a shock to see the implied murder of such a beloved character as Robin. And given how Jason Todd and Damian Wayne were both murdered years later, it really put a new spin on the question “How many ways can a Robin die?”.

2 Action Comics #58

Superman Participates in Racist Propaganda

Arguably one of the lowest points in Superman’s history. Superman has always stood for truth and justice, and he’s not one to actively perpetuate harm to anyone. But during World War II, the Man of Steel’s image was used in a way that goes against everything the hero stands for.Action Comics #58 by Jack Burnley has Superman working a printing press to create posters that highlight the importance of buying war bonds.

The problem was that the posters Clark was printing had him endorsing an offensive image and name for the Japanese people. Yes, it was World War II, and seeing that kind of sentiment was common at the time. But Superman, someone who has long stood against bigotry and hatred, should never have been used to support such a hateful depiction of an entire race.

1 Green Lantern #85

A Cover That Changed One Hero Forever

Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams’ Green Lantern run is remembered for a lot of things, especially the risks it took exploring deep social problems in modern America. But no cover from this era for the Emerald Knight hits harder than Green Lantern #85 by Neal Adams and Jack Adler, which sees Hal Jordan revealing a shocking truth to Green Arrow. Speedy, Oliver Queen’s longtime sidekick, had become addicted to heroin and the cover shows the heroes catching the young man right before he can shoot up.

It’s hard to imagine DC Comics showing off such a thing nowadays on one of its covers. But as shocking as this cover was, it wasn’t just a glib image to bait readers into reading a story. The comic actually dove into Roy Harper’s struggles with addiction, something the DC Comics' hero would be battling for the next several years.