Percy Jackson Book Covers

percy jackson book covers collection
by CJ McDaniel // March 10  

Percy Jackson and The Olympians is a series that many fans of Greek mythology or adventure stories will love. The books are well-written, and the covers are gorgeous; it’s no wonder the series has been very popular with readers and sold over 20 million copies worldwide. As for the Percy Jackson Book Covers, they’re well-designed, bright, and colorful, and they did an excellent job of capturing the excitement and adventure of the books. It’s never too late to see the covers or read the series yet!

The Percy Jackson Book Covers

percy jackson book covers collection

Since their release in 2005, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians books have been enchanting readers with their modern take on Greek mythology. Contributing to this success were the book covers.

The covers perfectly capture the spirit of the books, which are fast-paced, action-packed, and full of humor and heart. They’re also just plain cool, and they’ve helped the series stand out on bookstore shelves. They are as exciting and action-packed as the stories inside, providing a perfect introduction to Rick Riordan’s captivating world of gods and mortals.

If you’re a fan of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, then you know that the book covers are an essential part of the experience. They’re not just pretty pictures; they’re a vital part of what makes this series so unique.

From their original US book covers to the reissue released in 2022, here is our collection of Percy Jackson book covers over the years.

1. Percy Jackson Original/First Edition US Book Covers

percy jackson book covers the lightning thief us first edition
First Edition US Book Cover of The Lightning Thief

The book cover of the first edition of the Percy Jackson series first book, The Lightning Thief, is straightforward, illustrating some of the characters the protagonist will face within the story. Since the title mentioned “lightning,” there’s a lightning-like window where the relevant characters illustrated emerge, a clever way to connect the cover artwork to the title. The author’s name is at the bottom, over a small black portion on the page and in yellow, most likely to associate it with the term lightning.

John Rocco created the illustrations of the American versions of all books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

If you’re curious to see Percy Jackson (other than through the films), the first complete edition of the Percy Jackson series shows what you should expect from the protagonist. Each cover has its respective color scheme, with Percy illustrated in one of the scenes in the book. There’s also an area on the left side where readers can find the series title, while the book’s title lies on top in yellow. The author’s name, on the other hand, lies on the bottom part.

2. Percy Jackson Second Edition US Book Covers

John Rocco also created the cover illustrations of the second edition of the American versions of all books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

This edition of the series used almost the same color scheme, ranging from dark greens to bright oranges. Percy consistently appears in this version with his sword, also called Riptide. There’s also a clever use of typography where the Y from Percy’s name looked like a trident, depicting Percy’s relation to Poseidon since he’s his son.

Meanwhile, the title lies at the bottom of the page, as if emphasizing the author and series title, which is prominent on top.

3. Percy Jackson First UK Book Covers

The UK book covers for Percy Jackson are different on many levels when compared with those of the US versions. This edition used vibrant color schemes and playful typography, fitting its genre and target audience. They also show distinctive aspects from the series, such as the winged shoes, sea serpent, and a skeletal warrior—all of which appeared in front of a shield-like logo.

4. Percy Jackson British Edition Book Covers

If you’re into those book covers that unveil the dangers the protagonist faces in the story with a single artwork, this edition fits the criteria. The colorful visuals, action-packed illustrations, and straightforward text worked well together to form a fitting design that would give the readers a glimpse of each book’s story. Overall, it’s fantastic and visually appealing, especially to children and young adults, the series’ target audience.

5. Percy Jackson 2013 Reissue, Paperback Edition Book Covers

Percy Jackson is the series’ protagonist, so it makes sense for the 2013 reissue to feature him on the covers. The new book covers for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series depict Percy Jackson holding his sword at different angles, sometimes with another creature or his shield. They also have their respective color schemes to make each book distinct. On the other hand, the typography was similar to the previously released British edition.

6. Percy Jackson 2022 Reissue, Paperback Edition Book Covers

The book covers for the 2022 reissue were part of a marketing campaign to get new readers interested in the series.

This edition looks far different from all other book covers of the series, most likely because it’s more sleek and modern. Instead of portraying Percy through vibrant and action-packed illustrations, this version used relevant details from the books they cover. For example, the cover of The Lightning Thief features the Empire State Building in New York, a lightning bold, a trident, and a helmet—all mentioned in the book at least once or twice. Each book cover also has its respective color scheme. The title of the series continued using the innovative style of forming a trident through the letter Y from Percy’s name. Overall, the design fits the genre, exhibiting the tone’s story and the era we are in now, considering the modern touch incorporated in them.

Book Covers and the Percy Jackson Series

Percy Jackson and the Olympians have some of the most eye-catching book covers in the young adult fantasy genre. The colors are eye-catching and vibrant, and the illustrations are detailed and engaging. The book covers also do an excellent job of conveying the tone of the series, which is very action-packed and exciting. They are also very eye-catching, with bright colors and bold graphics, which vary in each book.

The bottom line? The Percy Jackson series did well in establishing their name in literature through their stories and book covers!

An Insight into the Percy Jackson Book Series

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a series of five books written by Rick Riordan. The series consisted of five books, starting with The Lightning Thief in 2005, The Sea of Monsters in 2006, The Titan’s Curse in 2007, The Battle of the Labyrinth in 2008, and The Last Olympian in 2009. Each book is packed with excitement, leaving readers anticipating the next installment.

The series follows the adventures of Percy Jackson, a teenage demigod, as he navigates the world of gods and mortals with his friends Annabeth and Grover. Along the way, Percy must face challenges and overcome obstacles while trying to prevent an all-out war between the gods. The Percy Jackson series has been published in over 35 countries, and the books have been translated into over 42 languages, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a series that continues to be popular among young readers. With its mix of Greek mythology, humor, and action, it is easy to see why.

Conclusion

Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series have established itself as a favorite among action and fantasy readers, not only for their compelling storyline but also because of its eye-catching book covers. The right combination of colors, shapes, typography, and illustration made the books famous even when put amongst their competitors on the shelf. Although aimed at a younger audience, the books captivated the eyes of readers of all ages, proving how the series knows how to market itself!

Check out our Book Cover Ideas Blog here if you’re looking for inspiration for your latest or next book cover design.

About the Author

CJ grew up admiring books. His family owned a small bookstore throughout his early childhood, and he would spend weekends flipping through book after book, always sure to read the ones that looked the most interesting. Not much has changed since then, except now some of those interesting books he picks off the shelf were designed by his company!