Adventures of Superman #425

Jerry Ordway's cover for this February 1987 issue says it all: Superman strains with every muscle against what appear to be massive mechanical restraints, his cape torn and his expression fierce, with heavy industrial machinery looming behind him. It's a striking image of the Man of Steel pushed to his limits, setting an urgent tone for the story within, "Going the Gauntlet." Marv Wolfman and Ordway were hitting their stride on this title, and this issue makes a compelling case for why their run earned its devoted readership.