All-New X-Men #18

A striking, somber image anchors this 2014 chapter of Brian Michael Bendis's run — a young Jean Grey in her classic blue-and-yellow X-Men uniform kneels at center, head bowed, clutching something close as white feathers drift around her and the fallen forms of her teammates lie scattered across a blood-red ground. The composition, penciled and inked by Brandon Peterson with colors by Marte Gracia, radiates quiet devastation, turning the cover into something closer to a painting than a superhero splash. If you're following this series for its emotional weight alongside its action, this issue's cover alone makes a compelling case for picking it up.