If you’ve seen James Gunn’s Superman, you already know that Superman knows punk rock. Kindness is the new punk rock, after all. All the cool kids are saying it!
Now, punk goes beyond ripped denim and spiked jackets (I write while wearing ripped jeans and my hand-studded leather jacket that I cropped with kitchen scissors) and it goes beyond one’s taste in music. Being punk is a movement. It’s a way of life. It is the change and the good that you want to see in the world. It’s resisting oppression and fascism. It is compassion and tolerance. It is Superman and everything he represents…and it’s also cool music and jackets, it's true!
Influenced by ’50s rock and roll and ’60s garage rock, the punk movement began in the mid-’70s with bands like the Stooges and Sex Pistols, who are considered quintessential bands in the subgenre. So, cue up some of their songs to set the mood as we talk about DC’s recently revealed punk rock variant covers! ’90’s Superboy fans and fashion-lovers, it's time to add these fits to your Pinterest boards.
Superman #34 Dave Johnson Variant Cover
Oh gosh, this one is spectacular, isn't it? Seemingly influenced by DIY band posters and zines, Johnson’s cover utilizes so much texture to create a scene. I can imagine hanging out with John Constantine in Metropolis when we see this poster of the Man of Steel hanging in an alleyway lined with posters and graffiti. Utilizing the now iconic (and very badass) line, “Kindness is the New Punk Rock,” it’s followed by “Superman” made of letters cut out of a magazine in true do-it-yourself fashion. It reminds me a lot of vintage Sex Pistols posters. From the layers of paper peeling off the wall to the pieces of masking tape holding this Superman image up, every detail in this cover tells a story and transports you to the universe of DC comics. Zines, by the way, are an important part of both punk rock and comic book culture. Many of your favorite comic creators started off making zines with their friends!
Supergirl #9 Marguerite Sauvage Variant Cover
This one is—wow, wow, wow! Supergirl is my favorite character, and I used to cosplay a punk version of Supergirl when I was a teenager, so this is everything to me. And Sauvage worked on one of my favorite DC series of all time—DC Comics Bombshells! This looks like a band poster featuring its lead singer/guitarist who just so happens to be Kara Zor-El. I love the magazine-cutout letters, the jagged pink outline that draws your eye to the subject, and the splatters of what looks to me like ink stains with a texture similar to what you’d see in newspapers.
And Supergirl’s outfit? Perfection. The zip up corset-top with the S-Shield pairs perfectly with the red of the plaid pants. This fit is completed with the wallet chain, suspenders, studded belt, spiked choker, neck chain, fishnet glove and wrist cuff. This is a fun cover that takes a lot of inspiration from pop art and zines—you can see some Roy Lichtenstein elements with the color palette and halftones. Sauvage’s cover perfectly captures the vibe of DC Comics through a punk rock lens.
Justice League Unlimited #15 Dan Hipp Variant Cover
This one is incredibly fun. It’s the punk-ification of DC's golden trio! I love Hipp’s stylized artwork, which fits so well with punk rock fashion. Standing front-and-center is Batman, sporting a ripped Bat-logo shirt and black vest, both jaggedly cut at the sleeves to show off his giant and tattooed arms. On the Caped Crusader’s double sleeves, you might recognize some familiar faces like Swamp Thing, Black Lightning, Captain Atom, Shazam, the Flash, Plastic Man, Green Lantern and Star Sapphire. On his vest, you’ll see an array of DC Universe pins representing members of the Bat-Fam, similar to Clark’s leather jacket in this piece. Batman’s mohawk and stitched mask really complete the look! Wonder Woman and Superman can be seen with big hair, lots of eyeliner and electric guitars—a very ’80s punk rock look. And if you look closely, Superman’s guitar features Krypto! I adore the colors and the halftone background and yellow outline that highlights the trio. They’re here to save the world and then head off to band practice!
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #47 Fabrizio De Tommaso Variant Cover
It’s time for a jam session with Batman and a mohawked Superman! There’s a lot to enjoy with De Tommaso’s variant. This cover has plenty of movement between the sprawled-out sound equipment and the poses of the characters, all of which is contrasted brilliantly against the stark-white background.
Let’s talk outfits! Batman is wearing a t-shirt with a Bat-shaped cutout on his chest, which is paired with your classic sleeveless and studded punk rock vest. He sports his iconic tool belt, modified with some pins and a padlock. The most notable part of his outfit is his pants, which are in the beginning stages of what is known as crust pants. This is part of the crust punk subculture. These pants are defined by handmade patches stitched on with bright and thick thread, or “floss.” Batman will need quite a few more before he officially has crust pants, but he's getting there! Superman is sporting a sleeveless blue S-Shield t-shirt with a cape that is attached to his shirt with smiley faces. He’s got a dual belt look going on paired with ripped blue jeans and red converse. The blue mohawk? Nice touch! But my favorite detail has to be Batman's batarang with a peace-symbol on it. A peace sign on a weapon makes for some good dichotomy and irony! De Tommaso’s work reminds me a lot of Alex Ross and Norman Rockwell, which I absolutely love!
Action Comics #1094 Annie Wu Variant Cover
It’s a punk Superboy cover! This is not a drill! Sporting a duck taped guitar and liberty spikes, Superboy looks fantastic. Wu’s cover pairs so well with Sauvage’s. The bright colors, halftones and newspaper-esque textures on the subject encapsulates that fun and rebellious DIY spirit of punk rock. You can see his ripped Super-shirt is held together with safety pins, which Vivienne Westwood would absolutely approve of. With what looks like a cheetah-print scarf peeking out on his high right side, it’s clear his outfit takes a lot of inspiration from ’80s rock. Superboy was born to be punk and Wu understood the assignment!
Superman Unlimited #9 Mike Allred Variant Cover
In punk fashion, you’ll often find safety pins are a replacement for sewing and an accessory used in addition to studs and badges—they’re a quintessential part of the fashion. For Allred’s cover, he takes the iconic accessory and makes it the focus of the piece with various safety pins of all sizes raining down. Flying in the center of the composition is the Man of Steel sporting an array of mismatched and ripped clothes, including a studded leather jacket and choker. His black tee says “Superman” on it paired with the S-shield and an eagle, which seems to draw a lot of inspiration from the Ramones’ logo (they’re another early punk rock band to add to your playlist!). Behind Superman you can see the anarchy symbol, which is an important part of punk culture! This piece honors the political movement and history of punk rock, which I am a big fan of.
All of these covers are stunning, and so much thought and creativity has gone into them. This is a great way to enjoy these classic characters through a new lens—especially if you love punk music and fashion. Hitting stands in January, it’s a truly spectacular way to start the new year!
Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
