Johnson, Alex :: Pseudo-Original Art

Legion of Super-Heroes #1 Cover Progression

Artists: Curt Swan (Penciller) , Nick Cardy (Penciller) , Nick Cardy (Inker) , Carmine Infantino (Layouts)

3 Comments - 2,108 Views - 4 Likes

Legion of Super-Heroes #1 Cover Progression Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Published Adventure Comics 328

Preliminary by Infantino

Finished Art by Cardy

Published Cover of LSH #1 Reprint Series

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Kathy and Alex by James D. Arturo

Artwork Details

Title:	Legion of Super-Heroes #1 Cover Progression
Artist:	Curt Swan (Penciller)
Artist:	Nick Cardy (Penciller)
Artist:	Nick Cardy (Inker)
Artist:	Carmine Infantino (Layouts)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	2,108
Likes on CAF:	4 5
Comments:	3
Added to Site:	8/31/2019
Comic Art Archive:

Description

*** I don't own any of the art. Just showing how the cover developed. ***

On a Facebook thread recently, Dennis Ray posted the Nick Cardy cover to the Legion of Super-Heroes #1, the first issue of a four issue reprint series between their loss of Adventure Comics and their backups in Action Comics.

It occured to me that I'd seen the preliminary drawing by - I believe - Carmine Infantino and the finished piece by Nick in the wild.

This gallery entry shows the original, printed, Curt Swan cover to Adventure Comics 328 (Jan 1965), the Carmine Infantino (or Cardy?) preliminary, the finished Nick Cardy piece, and the printed cover of reprint series called Legion of Super-Heroes (Feb 1973).

Infantino's layout is clearly more dynamic and eye catching though I think Nick draws the characters as adults rather than teens. Note the addition of the fleeing Phantom Girl and Cosmic Boy. I think either would have been able to help. PG could not be hurt and might reach into Superboy and grab his heart as the Vision or Kitty Pride could. CB could have thrown SB into the sky by using the iron in his blood if it caught him by surprise.

The Additional Images section has the individual images:

The preliminary image can be found in Dewey Cassell's collection here.
The finished art can be seen in the Heritage Auctions' archive here and in Nick Katradis' CAF.

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About the Owner

	Alex Johnson Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	January 2006
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	alxjhnsn
Website:	http://web.mac.com/alxjhnsn
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Alex's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About AlexJohnson

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Comments on this Artwork

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Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 8/31/2019

What a cool process

Ron S
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 9/18/2019

Neat stuff!! Thanks for sharing.

Mighty Hal
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 5/4/2022

Great write-up and assessment. I love this kind of research!

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	Alan E 9/6/2025 12:05:00 AM
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