A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE to one of the all-time greats…
Somebody posted online recently, asking why anyone would want a cover recreation. The answers are pretty simple, actually: The original art is typically prohibitively expensive, if available at all, and the comics themselves may similarly cost too much.
Plus, if you really love a cover and want it enlarged, framed, and hung on your wall, while also having it produced by the artist who originally illustrated it, how could you resist (assuming you’ve got the means). Hell, even other artists do a bang-up job of emulating the styles of the greats, and that’s a terrific option too.
Anyway, all this inspired me to go gather 13 COVERS recreated by the late, great Dick Sprang — born 111 years ago, on July 28, 1915 — who made it something of a cottage industry in the ’80s and ’90s.
To compare, I’ve also included the originals. Take special care to look at Sprang’s fine pencil and especially delicate ink work. When you study his recreations, you really see what an exquisite line he actually drew; I’d even call it sublime and, in large measure, an improvement on the originals.
All of these sold at Heritage Auctions, at one time or another. Enjoy.
In no particular order:
—
Batman #20 recreation, 1989
Original, 1943
—
Batman #76 recreation, 1984
Original inked by Charles Paris, 1953
—
Batman #73 recreation, 1996
Original inked by Paris, 1952
—
Detective Comics #153 recreation, 1985
Original, 1944
—
Batman #47 recreation, after Bob Kane and Charles Paris, 1997. What a huge improvement that Batplane and its trail are.
Kane and Paris original, 1948
—
Batman #66 recreation, 1985
Original inked by Paris, 1951
—
Detective Comics #118, 1997
Original, 1946
—
Batman #25 recreation, 1984
Original, 1944
—
Detective Comics #99 recreation, 1991
Original, 1945
—
Detective Comics #149 recreation, 1997
Original, 1949
—
Batman #32 recreation, 1992
Original, 1945
—
Batman #23 recreation, 1988
The original, 1944
—
Detective Comics #92 recreation, 1989
The original, 1944
—
MORE
— DICK SPRANG: 13 Lasting Contributions to BATMAN by One of the Greats. Click here.
— THE CATWOMAN’s MEOW: DICK SPRANG’s Sultry SELINA KYLE. Click here.
July 28, 2026
Loved his pencils. Just reminds me DC has so many facsimile Golden Age they could still offer to print. With these they have built in set of alternate covers already.
July 28, 2026
Probably my favorite Golden Age and Silver Age cartoonist. I know Sprang’s work is featured in a lot of omnibuses, but I would love it if DC were to publish a hardcover monograph dedicated to just his artwork.
July 28, 2026
Happy heavenly birthday Mr Sprang!!
I absolutely love… LOVE this man’s work!! One of my favorite Batman artists of his era, next to Sheldon’s art.
This is an amazing display of some of his work. Very nicely done! I particularly love the cover art for Jokers Comedy of Errors. I’m highly anticipating the release of Batman Golden Age omnibus 6. As I believe Batman #66 was reprinted in there.
Another cover of his that I absolutely love is the hardcover Batman The Sunday Classics.
July 28, 2026
Has anyone seen the episode of Batman the Animated Series where they do tributes to different eras of Batman comics? Season four Legends of the Dark Knight.
I loved the segment tributing Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. They had actor Michael McKean voice the Joker. You can tell everyone that had worked on that segment had put a lot of love into it.
“Well done, old chum!”
July 28, 2026
Thank you for sharing these. I really love the Joker’s Utility Belt recreation, with the addition of a giant Joker wearing the belt. That is a very fun comic book story. For those of us who came to Batman through reruns of the Adam West series, the Joker’s Utility Belt really holds a special place in our hearts.
July 28, 2026
I’m happy to have two of Dick’s magnificent recreations in my collection, Batman #25 in color with full trade dress, and Batman #73, line art with full trade dress. I was told by Ike Wilson that Dick only did one Batman #73 cover in ink-only, so to me it’s the next best thing to having the original line art to that cover!
July 28, 2026
I could stare at these all days. The Bat-Master by my notion. Just beautiful stuff. And he somehow got better with age!!!
July 31, 2026
I love how he added more danger to the Joker’s Utility Belt cover, with guns, knives, and bombs that were absent in the original.