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I’m really not all that familiar with either cover, so maybe I can’t speak to how iconic they are. BUT, I can say that the first one is the better cover all-around, artwise.

I voted for #36. The massive yellow text box and the Capitol are in the foreground and distract. In terms of artwork, I’d say #4, but in terms of composition, #36

I’m going with #4 because A) It actually featured the original JSA, and B) The JSA banner in the second one is flying the wrong way, and stuff like that just irks me.

First isn’t always best. The design is cleaner and the cast more iconic in the later choice. (Too bad that dynamic Hawkman pose from the first cover isn’t repeated the second time around. Hawkman’s the best part of All-Star #4.)

Trick question? As #36 is derivative of #4, I went with the earliest.

I’m not familiar enough with either to vote, but I have to say that despite growing up on Marvel, and still harbouring a lingering bias towards them when it comes to the big two, that, possibly because of their longer history, DC wins the “Most Iconic Covers” head-to-head hands down.

4 is earlier and looks nicer.

I couldn’t vote for a cover that featured the Spectre running.

No contest…All Star Comics #4…the later version has some seriously stiff looking characters. No motion at all…bad cover.

I’m not familiar with either, but I’d call 36 an homage to 4– so I vote for 4.

I don’t think the second cover “refined” the concept of the original at all. I think it simply repeated it, arguably in a worse fashion. Like a commenter above said, really stiff renditions in that second cover. Also throw in totally undynamic poses in the second one in comparison to the first (compare the two Hawkman pictures for example) and look at the buildings in the background of both covers. No effort in the backgrounds of the second cover, while the first one has detail.

The second cover didn’t refine the concept of the first cover, it halfheartedly PHONED IN the concept of the first cover.

Easy, #4

Completely disagree. The backgrounds are supposed to be simpler in the the second cover — it helps the heroes pop, as does the simpler, brighter coloring. The “Justice Society of America” banner is much easier to read in the second cover; also, there’s no oversized text box blocking the drawing, nor any ridiculous glowing Capitol in front of the heroes (which completely skews the perspective and makes them look like giants).

As for “stiff renditions,” that pretty much sums up the vast majority of all early superhero comic-book art. The only hero who looks really good on either cover is Hawkman on the original, but that’s not enough to offset all its other problems.

Since we’re talking “iconic” not best or favorite, i went with #36, because I’ve actually seen it referenced before, while this is the first time I have even seen the cover of All-Star #4.

I must admit it always feels really weird to me to see Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as contemporaries with Jay Garrick and Alan Scott. I mean, I know it’s because in my post-Crisis mind, those three were not ever a part of the Justice Society, but that awareness doesn’t make it seem less weird.

voted for #4, since #36 is pretty much a reference/copy/homage/whatever of #4.

I believe this was the first cover appearance of Superman and Batman in All Star Comics. Had Superman Batman and Wonderwoman ever appeared on a cover together prior to #36? If not it’s certainly historical.

Superman and Batman appeared together on every cover of World’s Finest Comics, even before they started co-starring inside the book.

The first cover has a lot going for it:
1)It’s first.
2)It’s better art-wise.
3)It had characters who are more iconic in the JSA
4)It has the “For America and Democracy” banner and the Capitol (or is it Capital?), revealing its time period; the 40s were big on patriotism/propaganda.

No contest for me.

The first one, definitely. I’ve seen it reprinted in a bunch of books about comics.

I have never even seen the second one until today.

#4 definitely!

number 4 because it shows the regular team rather than showcasing the guest stars