Alpha Flight #21

Alpha Flight squares off against the centuries-old alchemist Diablo in this April 1985 issue, with the cover — penciled and inked by John Byrne — placing the villain front and center in his striking blue-and-black costume as a ferocious orange Beast-like creature clashes against him in a burst of red energy, while a white-clad flying figure hurls a glowing orb into the fray above a smoke-filled, machinery-strewn battlefield. The teaser copy "Bet on Diablo — he's been doing this for centuries!" does a fine job of selling the threat, and the corner box hints at even more team members waiting in the wings. With a story titled "Love Wrought New Alchemy…," this issue pairs action with something a little more unexpected, making it a genuinely intriguing chapter in Byrne's run on Canada's premier super-team.