Aquaman #24

The "Water War!" cover of Aquaman #24 (January 2005) makes an immediate impression: a blond, square-jawed figure in gold-and-black armor blazes away with a massive rotary cannon, spent casings flying, as explosions tear apart what appears to be a submarine swarming with grey, skeletal figures caught in the chaos. Cover pencils by Patrick Gleason and inks by Christian Alamy give the underwater battlefield a kinetic, almost overwhelming energy that sets the stakes for John Ostrander's story "Plunder" right from the front. Chris Batista handles the interior art, making this a strong creative package for fans who enjoy submarine-scale action in the DC universe.