2001, A Space Odyssey #3

Marvel's cosmic series inspired by the MGM/Stanley Kubrick production rolls into its third issue with a cover by Jack Kirby (pencils) and John Verpoorten (inks) that practically leaps off the newsstand. Dominating the scene is Marak the Merciless — a hulking, armored warrior charging forward with a massive axe, his ornate helmet and fierce expression radiating raw power, while smaller figures scatter and clash in the chaotic, smoke-filled background. The tagline "He took the road to conquest — and found the stars!" sets a grand, mythic tone perfectly suited to Kirby's sweeping vision of humanity's journey beyond the cosmos.