Despite their lowbrow reputation, superhero comic books occasionally (albeit subtly) cross over into the high-minded realm of art history....such as this boatload of covers based on Michelangelo's Pieta sculpture.
As if that wasn't enough focus on Michelangelo, another of his greatest works found its way into The Legion of Superheroes #294 (1982). In the concluding chapter of The Great Darkness Saga, this two-page spread of Darkseid attacking the Legion bizarrely mirrors The Creation of Adam (circa 1511), which adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
(click on images for a larger view)
Do you know of any other fine art homages in superhero comics?
Be sure to post them in the comments section!
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http://culturepopped.blogspot.com/2007/04/suddenly-last-supper.html - Justice League Last Supper.
Posted by: Adam Klimowski | July 29, 2009 at 02:33 AM
Nick Fury Agent of Shield #7 is an obvious tribute to Salvador Dali (by fellow surrealist Jim Steranko), containing elements of several Dali paintings. Incidentally the pinball company D. Gottlieb swiped a good part of Steranko's cover image for a 1977 game called Jacks Open.
Posted by: Pat Curley | July 29, 2009 at 01:36 PM
As if you needed another Pieta cover... Uncanny X-Men #255.
Posted by: Grumpy | July 29, 2009 at 09:09 PM
Of course, the Norman Rockwell-ish cover to JSA #54: http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=205689&zoom=4
Posted by: Allen | July 30, 2009 at 06:22 AM
this one always comes to mind.
Henry Fuseli's The Nightmare
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/courses/phi2010/art/fuselinightmare.jpeg
and one of Brian Bolland's covers for the Invisibles
http://www.brianbolland.net/assets/pics/gallery/the_invisibles/v2_19.jpg
Posted by: Ramon | August 15, 2009 at 08:01 PM