Astro City #10

Alex Ross's painted cover for this May 2014 Vertigo issue is a striking composition: a winged, gold-armored heroine surges forward at center, flanked by a red-caped figure and a dark-clad ninja-like warrior, all three seemingly erupting outward against a swirl of shattered golden fragments. Looming behind them is a massive, roaring golden visage that fills the background with an unmistakable sense of menace and scale. Kurt Busiek's Astro City has always excelled at capturing superhero drama with genuine heart, and this "Victory" chapter promises exactly the kind of bold, character-driven storytelling that makes this series so rewarding.