DC to spotlight artist Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez

Midweek update: Variant comic-book covers in July to feature art from "DC Comics Style Guide" from 1982

Some of the most iconic looks for DC Comics characters are set to make appearances on comic-book covers in July 2024.

DC Comics has announced that art by Spanish-Argentine artist José Luis García-López will be featured on select July variant covers.

The art for these covers dates to a particular document from 1982.

According to a news release from DC, García-López was hired to design an in-house document, the DC Comics Style Guide, back in 1982. This document would present a consistent look and characterization for DC’s Super Heroes that influenced comics, animated series, action figures, toys, clothes, lunch boxes, trading cards, sticker books, and more.

These model sheets, shared internally in a 3-ring binder, were referenced for the costume and appearance of characters for decades, both for licensed work and comics publishing.

Key character turnarounds from the DC Comics Style Guide will be featured in July on Artist Spotlight variant covers honoring José Luis García-López. Artist Spotlight variant covers will be available on Batman #150, Green Arrow #14, Green Lantern #13, Shazam! #13, Superman #16, The Flash #11 and Wonder Woman #11.

Here’s hoping this leads to more recognition of the work of José Luis García-López, or even a reprint of the entire style guide.

DC notes García-López has pencilled and inked hundreds of titles going back to 1974. Some of his better-known works have been collected in two volumes of “Adventures of Superman: José Luis García-López” and a volume of “Legends of the Dark Knight: José Luis García-López.”

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.