I've been trawling the internet in search of the perfect cover art for my forthcoming book. As a public service in trying times, I hereby offer a thread of glorious Spanish Civil War posters.

Not saying I'll use the image that gets the most likes, but I'm not not saying that...

Currently at the top of the list on purely alphabetical grounds: the 'hello, sailor' contingency.

Be warned: buff dudes are a running theme on all sides of the ideological divides.

Not so much a six-pack as a baker's dozen on this angry socialist blacksmith. Incidentally, the title of my PhD (not the book... yet) was 'Hammering the World into Shape', so this would be apt.

The fascist retort to the buff Republican sailor? Surprisingly jaunty tbh. Surprised he kept his shirt on. 'Falanges del Mar' sounds like a super off-putting resort town.

This one works on layers. Well, two layers. Italy is a boot, you see, while fascism is a jackboot. Strong 'Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe' vibes.

Same theme, 1000x more menacing. Though it does kind of look like that Italian invaders are giving Spain a playful pinch.

The is prob the first actual contender for cover art - lovely image. I don't really deal much with the CNT though, so not entirely appropriate.

Zoooooooooooom

Love how dynamic this one is - real sense of speed that you don't usually associate with biplanes.

Not the CNT-FAI's finest work tbh. Took a little while before I realised that the arm was a fasces rather than an anachronistic stick blender.

Good, solid stuff. Look at those sharp lines - nothing says '1930s' like a disdain for curves.

'These all seem pretty conventional, where's the weird stuff...'

'...oh'

Quite fond of this one. Probably too much text to actually use, but it's thematically appropriate. The background hat is 10/10 stylish.

Looks suspiciously like Superman imo. Also unclear if that's an intentional visual effect or they didn't have time to finish colouring in the right arm.

Another actual contender. Actually features the International Brigades, and a subtle nod to the reality that most volunteers knew a hell of a lot more about factories than fighting a war.

Two contenders in a row! The book spends a fair bit of time on Aid Spain, so posters aimed at English-speaking audiences make sense.

One of my favourite images of a miliciana I think - the Catalan word for 'fascism' always throws me a little for some reason though.

Another solid (heh) contender both for 'cover art' and 'most buff'. Only catch is that there were only like three Scots in Spain by this date.

Slightly different - this one's a film poster! Not seen or heard of the film itself though - 'The Party Card'.

The fight against fascism is the fight against ignorance.

Ffs don't harvest crops in a battlefield that's an awful idea.

(also put a shirt on you'll get sunburnt)

I am *this* close to using this for the cover. The colour scheme is dead on, it's striking and simple, no distracting text.

Oh, and it looks kind of like a Scotch bonnet. Because it's a Carlist, you say?

Damn it.

Wearing a shirt for one, but those beefy forearms alone are enough to catapult this guy into the buff leagues.

Rosie the Riveter has had enough of this shit.

Love this. A postcard, I assume? Does a great job of utilising white space.

CAN I TALK TO YOU ABOUT CATALAN AUTONOMY

It is unclear to me which side made this, what the intended message was or how I can get that cardinal's face to stop haunting my dreams.

Republican Left I think? Is the guy trying to fight off a fascist bird with a cloak and a piece of paper? Is this what the marketplace of ideas looks like?

Unclear if attempting to punch fascists or throw a discus at them, but clear that we're reaching the stage where bare torsos no longer cut it.

Oh my.

Look, all I'll say is that if I was wrestling a fascist snake, I'd want pants on.

As was correctly pointed out, I included some Soviet biplanes by mistake earlier, so here are some very definitely Republican planes shooting stuff down to make it up to you.

This guy is being remarkably blase about that fascist snake, which in fairness is a decent summary of 1930s history.

I've just about gotten through all the posters that tickled my fancy. As a postscript: a small handful that didn't quite hit the mark...

Tfw you're making anti-fascist art and all you have left is blue paint.

Mujeres Libres is easily the most interesting anti-fascist women's organisation in Republican Spain, so they should do better than this imo.

Last and by all means least: what on earth is going on with this colour scheme get it together agrupacion socialista madrileña