One of the many cool things about collecting for the Nintendo Entertainment System—arguably the most beloved of all retro gaming consoles—is the box art.
Certain titles have infamously bad-looking boxes—such as Mega Man, a highly prized game despite the decidedly weird-looking cover—but many NES game boxes boast illustrations worthy of display in a museum.
Since we’ve sold thousands and thousands of comic books over the years here at Heritage Auctions, and since many of us are big-time comic book fans, we especially like NES boxes that feature art by famous comic book illustrators.
There are a number of cool ones, including Captain America and The Avengers, which is an original game and NOT a part of the arcade classic. That drawing of Cap on the cover, which also appeared in the 1976 Marvel Comics calendar? That’s by “Jazzy” John Romita Sr., one of the greatest artists of the Silver Age of Comics. Iron Man on the same game box is by Bob Layton, who is also an acclaimed comic book scribe (he co-wrote the famous “Demon in a Bottle” Iron Man alcoholism story).
The cover for Superman is by the esteemed José Luis García-López, as seen in DC Comics’ 1982 style guide. With the possible exception of Neal Adams, no one drew as well on-model as García-López. Image Comics co-founder Jim Lee, who is currently the Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics, illustrated the cover for Wolverine—check out the striking resemblance to Lee’s Wolverine #27 (1st series) from 1988. He also did the box art for The Punisher.
NES Game Covers by Famous Comic Book Illustrators
Here are seven more NES games that feature box art by some of the best comic book illustrators in the business:
1. American Gladiators – Neal Adams
Adapted from the popular television series, which ran from 1989-1996, American Gladiators lets gamers compete in six different events: Joust, Wall, Human Cannonball, Powerball, Assault, and Eliminator. The musclebound box art by Neal Adams, the greatest Batman artist of all time and the master illustrator of Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (among countless other accolades), features a pair of combatants battling it out with jousting sticks. The Genesis and Super Nintendo versions of the game had posed photo covers, which were nice, but we’re partial to Adams’ uniquely dynamic work on the NES box.
2. Batman: Return of the Joker – Carmine Infantino
The late, great Carmine Infantino is a legend. He drew Star Wars for Marvel and co-created the Silver Age version of the Flash and Barbara “Batgirl” Gordon for DC. He was named DC’s publisher from 1971 to 1976, among accomplishments far too numerous to mention here. His rendering of the box art for Batman: Return of the Joker is but a footnote in his long, prolific career, but it is one of the most striking covers for any game for any console. The Clown Prince of Crime has never looked more maniacal.
3. Bucky O’Hare – Neal Adams
An excellent platform shooter, Bucky O’Hare is a hidden gem for the NES, and it’s a shame it’s so hidden. Not only is it a terrific title that many NES fans have never encountered, it has super exciting, imminently displayable box art, with Bucky charging toward the viewer, guns blazing. The background detail would make the image too busy in lesser hands, but Neal Adams’ expert composition skills make it work. The game is based on the 1991 animated television series, Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Wars.
4. Rampage – Frank Cirocco
We’ve literally lost count of how many video game box covers that Alien Legion co-creator Frank Cirocco illustrated. For the NES, he created the cover art for Bionic Commando, BurgerTime, and Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road, among others. One of our favorites is Rampage. In a fun, breezy style, Cirocco perfectly captured the innate appeal of the game, which lets players, as giant monsters, climb and destroy buildings. If King Kong and Godzilla got married and had a cartoon baby, it would be the box for this game.
5. Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six – Eric Larsen
During the big Image Comics craze of the 1990s, Savage Dragon creator Eric Larsen was a major player, and he’s the company’s chief financial officer today. Along with such superstars as Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, and Jim Lee, Larsen co-founded the creator-friendly company. Prior to Image, Larsen drew The Amazing Spider-Man for Marvel, and his expertise with The Webbed Wonder and his rogues really shows in the cleverly illustrated cover for this game. Not only does Spidey have the bad guys in his sights, but they are also literally occupying space in his head.
6. Silver Surfer – Joe Jusko
(image coming soon)
Silver Surfer for the NES is infamous for a number of reasons, most notably the game’s extreme difficulty level and the fact that one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe can get injured by fish. Yes, fish—those squishy, smelly things that you, a mere earthling, can trick onto a hook and into a frying pan. This shooter is playable, but what’s really cool about it is the magnificent box art by Joe Jusko. The master craftsman did nothing less than illustrate every card in the original 1992 Marvel Masterpieces set, which is credited with kickstarting the painted trading card boom of the 1990s.
7. Swamp Thing – Alfredo Alcala
Alfredo Alcala’s time inking the Swamp Thing comic book for such artists as Rick Veitch and Pat Broderick really paid off when it came time to produce the cover illustration for the NES game. He perfectly captured the menacing stance/walk and rippling veggie muscles of the less-than-jolly green giant. The coloring really pops as well, and the composition is off the charts. The game isn’t great in terms of graphics, sounds, or gameplay (a trifecta of mediocrity, if you will), but it is an exceptional display piece for any NES collector or fan of the titular muck monster.
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