Aquaman #39

The fifth chapter of the "Maelstrom" arc arrives in this April 2015 New 52 installment, its cover — penciled by Paul Pelletier and inked by Sean Parsons — dominated by a white-haired, armor-clad woman striding forward with a large ornate shell in one hand and a trident-like weapon in the other, surrounded by an array of sea creatures swirling through luminous green waters. The composition feels genuinely commanding, with fish, eels, and other ocean life filling the background in a way that suggests the deep sea itself is answering her call. Jeff Parker's "Maelstrom" run has been a strong showcase for Atlantean lore, and this penultimate chapter looks primed to deliver more of the underwater world-building the arc has done so well.