Iconic Magazine Covers

A selection of covers that have cut through the noise over the years

There was a time, before the internet became the cultural source of choice, when printed magazines were much more of a thing than they are now – and the most memorable thing about a magazine is generally its cover. Here’s a selection of covers that have cut through the noise over the years:

Is God Dead? (Time, 1966)
Bold red text on a stark black cover shocked readers by posing a provocative theological question at the height of social upheaval.

The Passion of Muhammad Ali (Esquire, 1968)
Ali, pierced with arrows in a St Sebastian pose, made a powerful visual statement on his persecution for refusing the Vietnam draft. See also Rumble in the Jungle [RR5:62].

To the Moon and Back (Life, 1969)
Celebrating the Apollo 11 landing, the cover featured triumphant astronauts and the Moon – a defining image of human achievement.

We’ll Kill This Dog (National Lampoon, 1973)
A darkly comic image threatening a dog’s life if readers didn’t buy the issue captured the magazine’s outrageous satirical edge. Sadly, the dog ultimately died – by being shot!

John and Yoko (Rolling Stone, 1981)
Annie Leibovitz’s intimate portrait, taken just hours before Lennon’s death, became an instant cultural artifact. See also: John and Yoko’s Bed-In [RR6:40].

Princess Diana (People, 1982)
A young Diana, newly married to Prince Charles, graced the cover in an image that cemented her as a global style and cultural icon. [Ed: Overusing the word “icon”, but necessarily so.]

Afghan Girl (National Geographic, 1985)
Steve McCurry’s portrait of Sharbat Gula, with her piercing green eyes, became the magazine’s most recognisable image. It humanised the refugee crisis in Afghanistan for a global audience. See National Geographic and Afghan Girl [RR2:50].

It’s a baby! (Colors, 1991)
The cover’s striking photo of a newborn held by gloved hands set the tone for both the magazine’s global, humanistic vision and its bold and provocative style. See Colors Magazine [RR6:10].

More Demi Moore (Vanity Fair, 1991)
Moore posing nude while seven months pregnant challenged norms about female beauty and motherhood, and sparked a cultural conversation on pregnancy in the media.

Twin Towers 9/11 (The New Yorker, 2001)
A black-on-black silhouette of the towers, created by Art Spiegelman, was a stark and subtle memorial to the attacks. It remains a masterclass in visual restraint and power.

New Yorkistan (The New Yorker, 2001)
This cover, by Maira Kalman and Rick Meyerowitz, gives each New York neighbourhood a smart and funny name. New Yorkers went mad for it. See also New Yorkistan [RR1:49]. [Ed: Maira Kalman’s work will be featured in REMORANDOM 7.]

Barack Obama (Time, 2008)
Obama’s stylised portrait by Shephard Fairey [RR1:53] accompanied by “Person of the Year” reflected hope and change at the dawn of his presidency.

Are You Mom Enough? (Time, 2012)
A mother breastfeeding her three-year-old challenged perceptions of parenting and provoked global discussion.

The Bomber (Rolling Stone, 2013 )
Featuring Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev styled like a rock star, the cover was criticised for glamorising a criminal.

Break the Internet (Paper, 2014)
Kim Kardashian’s oiled bum and champagne-balancing pose (a second cover) redefined viral marketing and celebrity culture. See [RR3:13] and related podcast interviews.

Je Suis Charlie (Charlie Hebdo, 2015)
Published after the terrorist attack on its offices, the defiant cartoon cover reaffirmed the magazine’s satirical spirit.

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PS: This New York Post front page headline from 15 April 1983 was not a magazine cover per se – but who could resist including it here. It’s a classic.

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