You might not recognize the Costacos brothers name. But if you grew up in the 1980s or early 90s and were into sports, you probably had some of their handiwork hanging in your bedroom. Wild and over-the-top, Costacos brothers posters defined a generation of pro athletes.
Many Costacos brothers posters make sports stars out to be larger-than-life personalities. Their best work refused to simply blow up a generic action shot and add a player name and logo. These posters are mass-produced works of art.
Embracing pop culture from the day, many of these posters are, in some ways, dated now. Or is that part of what makes them timeless? Athletes aren't necessarily pictured as themselves. Rather, they're portrayed as a persona, a literal embodiment of their nickname.
Much of the fun comes from the props and references. Multiple posters riff on The Terminator. Christian Okoye channels Freddy Krueger wearing the movie monster's infamous glove. Even the courtroom drama L.A. Law is touched on a James Worthy poster.
Here's a 2013 short documentary on the Costacos brothers from Amy K. Nelson:
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The Costacos brothers poster empire was born in the mid-1980s in Seattle. Somehow, they convinced athletes to dress up as cowboys, cyborgs, superheroes and soldiers. Toss in a few props like a plane, hot car or tank and give it some dramatic lighting and the rest is pop culture history. Being the 1980s, there was also a lot of guns -- something that likely wouldn't fly now.
Today, many recognize Costacos brothers posters as works of art. And they are. Although they were intended to be pinned to walls, these posters were printed in enough quantities that they can still be found today. Expect to pay more than the $5 (or less) they went for at the local sporting goods stores back in the day. Depending on the size, style and athlete, many sell for $50 to $100 today.
Here's a small sample of Costacos brothers posters. Over the years they produced hundreds of different pieces so this is just a small sampling of their iconic awesomeness. We were sure to make sure some Zubaz appeared.
Iconic Costacos Brothers Posters
