All-New X-Men #37

This striking Kris Anka cover for All-New X-Men #37 splits its composition into two contrasting vignettes: at the top, an X-Men-uniformed figure lies prone, bathed in a glowing light while large hands reach in from the shadows, while below, a cheerful young woman in a matching white-and-red X-uniform sits at ease, laughing and tossing small objects in the air. The tonal contrast — peril above, carefree joy below — gives the image a quietly unsettling charm that pulls you right in. With Brian Michael Bendis writing and Mike Del Mundo bringing his distinctive painted style to the interior, this 2015 issue delivers the kind of visual and narrative tension that made this run a standout.