Aquaman #31

The "Kiss of Death" arc reaches its conclusion here, and the cover by Patrick Gleason and Christian Alamy makes a striking case for why Aquaman remains one of DC's most compelling heroes — the King of the Seven Seas in his classic orange-and-gold scale armor, jaw set with steely resolve as an enormous, tech-heavy weapon is shoved right into his face. It's a tense, up-close composition that puts Aquaman's fearlessness front and center, daring readers to imagine what kind of threat could back him into that corner. Marc Guggenheim and Andy Clarke bring the story home in this August 2005 issue, and the cover alone promises a satisfying payoff to the arc.