What's up with the early Justice League covers?

[Grant]

I bought the DC Showcase Justice League book and I've notice Batman and Superman almost never on appear any of the covers. Even in stories where they are featured heavily. I think they appear twice once as puppets and later as chess pieces. What's the story?

[Paul Newell]

They were barely used in the early years as the editors of the Superman and Batman lines wouldn't allow anyone else to "play with their toys".

That ended when Julius Schwartz was asked by the powers that be why they barely appeared. Schwartz let them know the reason and Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff were told, in no uncertain terms, that Superman and Batman were owned by DC Comics...not Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff. From then on, things changed.

[MDG]

And, of course, when the Batman TV show hit, Batman was always front, center, and BIG.

MDG

[prince hal]

I think this was also in line with the way the old JSA had been done. S and B were really only honorary members, as the series was in part seen as a way to highlight the other heroes.

[Grant]

They were barely used in the early years as the editors of the Superman and Batman lines wouldn't allow anyone else to "play with their toys".

That ended when Julius Schwartz was asked by the powers that be why they barely appeared. Schwartz let them know the reason and Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff were told, in no uncertain terms, that Superman and Batman were owned by DC Comics...not Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff. From then on, things changed.

I knew it was something like that. Just found it curious. When did Superman and Batman start being featured on the covers more predomintaley.

[T GUy]

Also, from May, 1964 on Julie Schwartz took over as editor of Batman and Detective Comics, becoming the primary Bat-editor... though a quick look at the GCD cover gallery shows less effect on JLA covers than I'ld've thought it would.

The JSA in All-Star Comics is a slightly different case: Superman and Batman were published by Detective Comics, Inc. and the other members by All-American Comics, Inc. so there was an issue there over ownership, if I understand the situation correctly. This changed just before the war ended, so Supes'n'Bats might be prominent on later All-Star covers.