Back in July 1987, DC Comics test-marketed a couple different covers and logos. This was long before variant covers became commonplace as they are nowadays. Justice League #3 and Fury of Firestorm #61 were sold in certain areas as a marketing test. The two variants featured different primary images and a “Superman Comics” logo in place of the usual DC Comics logo.
Here is the standard edition cover to Fury of Firestorm #61:
Here is the variant edition cover to Fury of Firestorm #61 along with the “Superman Comics” logo:
Here is a close-up of the “Superman Comics” logo.
Interesting that they chose Firestorm. Anyone out there actually remember seeing this “Superman Comics” edition on the shelves? If you’ve got a copy of the “Superman Comics” edition, let us know you lucky geek!
Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!
The comic book shop I was frequenting when this came out had both this and the Justice League covers up on the wall instantly. I don’t think they were one of the test markets. the owner was semi-famous for having at least one copy of EVERY DC comic ever published so I always assumed that is how she got them….
I have never seen this before! Great post Shag! too bad you didn’t have the cover of justice league never seen that either.
Thanks for the comments!
Mock – That’s really cool. I wonder how she was able to get every DC comic. Color me jealous!
Firestormfan89 – I actually don’t own the cover myself. I got the image from Comics.org. Here is a link to the Justice League cover. Neat stuff!
http://www.comics.org/issue/43129/cover/4/?style=default
Here is a link to the story about the collector:
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=260&ai=46453&ssd=7/10/2004&arch=y
I know money was involved….her family owns all the Pepsi distributorships in our whole state!
I actually have the variant issue as well as the normal version. When I was buying the comic when they came out, I only had the choice of buying the variant. I didn’t realize it wasn’t the normal cover until I saw the same issue number with the regular cover at a bookstore, so I bought it too.
I had both covers at one time. The art on the Superman comics cover fooled me into thinking it was a new issue. I was very dissapointed when I got home and opened it up to see that I already read the story. Years later when I needed money to get married I was happy to have it when I sold it for $100. Firestorm came to the rescue. I suppose Superman did too since it was his logo that made the issue rare. I wonder why they didn’t stick with that logo?
What were these variants supposed to prove, sales wise?
I can only guess that Warner Bros played around with the idea of changing “DC Comics” to “Superman Comics”. Just my guess.
Shag
I also have this issue. Years ago someone was selling it on Ebay and i picked up both versions of this issue for only $8 and finally completing my collection!
I have two copies of each…JLA #3 and FoF #61.
They’ve been kept bagged and boarded since I bought them at a Circle K in Visalia, CA.
Anyone know where I can sell them?
Thom
thomfinni@yahoo.com
e-bay is where I sold mine.
I have this variant cover. I collected Firestorm from issue #1 and this is the one my comic shop slipped in my folder for me to buy or I never would have known.