Aquaman #25

A brooding milestone from Peter David's acclaimed Aquaman run, issue #25 arrives at its landmark number with a painted cover by Glen Orbik that practically radiates unease. Aquaman himself — long-haired, bearded, and visibly troubled — is rendered in rich, painterly tones while a jeweled trident crown fills the foreground, the tagline "Uneasy Hangs the Head That Wears the Crown" making the weight of his kingship unmistakably clear. With interior art by Martin Egeland and Howard M. Shum bringing "Betwixt and Between" to life, this 1996 issue captures a Sea King caught between power and burden in compelling fashion.