All-New X-Men Special #1

Part one of "The Arms of the Octopus" kicks off this 2013 Marvel special with a cover by Alexander Lozano that pulls no punches — Cyclops charges forward in the foreground while Iceman, a cloaked female figure, and a glowing white-costumed hero race alongside him down a corridor, all converging toward a looming green-faced villain on the left and what appears to be a massive mechanical orb on the right. The sense of momentum and threat is palpable, with the team clearly hurtling toward something far bigger than themselves. At $4.99, this oversized issue from Mike Costa and artists Kris Anka and Jordie Bellaire promises a story with real stakes for the time-displaced young X-Men.