Action Comics #27

Part of the New 52 era's "Underworld" story, this March 2014 issue of Action Comics pits Superman against a formidable horned warrior — identified by the cover itself as Ukur the Beast Lord — against a backdrop of grotesque, fleshy alien terrain. Superman strains under the assault while Ukur descends with fists raised, radiating the kind of raw, brutal menace that makes this confrontation feel genuinely dangerous. Aaron Kuder's cover work captures both figures with kinetic energy, making it easy to see why Greg Pak's New 52 run on the title drew enthusiastic readers.