Archie #23

Thomas Pitilli's cover for Archie #23 says everything with a single quiet moment: a dejected Archie stands at a school locker, fist raised as if he just knocked — or is about to — while clutching a bouquet of pink lilies tagged simply "Betty." The slumped posture and downcast expression set a noticeably more melancholy tone than you might expect from Riverdale's most famous redhead, perfectly teasing the chapter title "Bruising" and the all-new story arc within. With Mark Waid writing and Audrey Mok on art alongside colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick, this 2017 series continues to find real emotional weight in characters fans have loved for decades.