Red Scare Threatens Democracy!
Is This Tomorrow? lands in my top 5, barely though. The competition for a top five cover is tough! Why does Is This Tomorrow? land as one of my favorite picks? First, it illustrates the dynamic power comic books have on the public. With tens of millions of people reading comic books during the Golden Age, promotional comics cashes in on this large group. During the Red Scare we get perhaps the greatest example of the power, reach, and promotional success in the history of the Golden Age.
Is This Tomorrow? manipulates and magnifies the fears of communism for people. The cover is a history lesson of the sheer paranoia of the United States public during the Red Scare and what potentially might happen to us if communism wins.
It is also one of the few comics listed here that is affordable. A 7.5 sold in March 2021 for $399 and an 8.0 sold for $449 in February 2021, both on eBay. There are several variations to this comic. GoCollect lists one sale of the 2016 reprint variant in January for $564 in a 9.0.
Carl Barks & Walt Kelly Made A Great Patriotic Team!
There was no doubt that a Walt Disney comic was going to make my list. I LOVE many of their covers. The problem is which one to pick out of three great patriotic covers. Walt Disney Comics and Stories #’s 22, 46, and 58 are all GREAT patriotic covers.
For me, Walt Disney Comics and Stories #58 just edges out over those other two books. The cover has that historical letter asking the public for help to fund the war. This letter can be found on a few comics that came out that month, but it is the drum and fife homage to Williard’s Spirit of 76 artwork that gives it the edge.
This is another comic that can be added to a collection. A CGC 3.5 sold for $275 in April and an 8.0 sold for $800. Gocollect shows between a 160-815% increase in sales.
Finally, A Superman Cover!
Superman has A LOT of AMAZING covers, but Superman #18; which edges out issues #12 and #14 in patriotic covers for me, is certainly a notch above many Superman covers.
What makes Superman #18 truly noteworthy for me is the image of Superman riding an Allied bomb leading the way as the Air Force dive bombs its way presumably to an enemy target. Talk about intimidating. Imagine the enemy looking through their binoculars and seeing Superman riding a bomb toward them! The timing of this cover is also important.
Coming out in September of 1942, the Allies were not winning many battles at the start of the war. It is important to realize how uplifting the cover is for all those struggling to ration, preparing to deploy overseas, or losing loved ones. Hundreds of thousands of Allied troops may be demoralized and struggling at this point in the war effort, but what an inspirational cover for them!
With graded copies making significant increases in every grade level over the past year, the window of opportunity for this comic is closing. A 4.0 CGC graded copy doubled in price in just a few months, going from $682 in August 2020 to $1,320 in February of 2021.
My Number 2 is a true Number 1!
Pep Comics #1 will be out of reach for many. It makes my list at #2. Why? It is the first appearance of a comic book character with a flag of the United States on their uniform and it is the first patriotic superhero.
The first appearance of Shield, a full FIFTEEN months before Captain America, deserves recognition as one of my favorite Golden Age patriotic covers just because it is the FIRST!
A CGC 8.5 graded copy sold for more than $27,000 in April. It would not be a stretch to see low-graded 1.0 copies going for $500.
No Surprise What The #1 Patriotic-themed Comic Is For Me!
As a collector, I like to change out my wall of display comics with certain holidays and the time of year. So, I'll be putting up some patriotic covers to celebrate Independence Day.
So, what do you think of my top 5? With so many important Golden Age patriotic covers, I believe many of you have your own top 5 to share!
