Astro City #38

Astro City #38 brings a smoky, noir-tinged atmosphere to this November 2016 Vertigo issue, with Alex Ross's cover painting capturing a striking nightclub tableau: a luminous, golden-glowing woman arches dramatically in the arms of a dark, powerful figure center stage, while a pianist performs at lower left, a goggle-wearing figure lurks in the shadows at right, and an assault rifle rests ominously on a foreground table alongside drinks and onlookers. The tension between the glamour of the performance and the danger suggested by that weapon perfectly embodies the layered storytelling that Busiek, Anderson, Pantazis, and Comicraft bring to "Hot Time in the Old Town." If you've ever wondered what it feels like when Astro City's world of heroes brushes up against the gritty drama of a jazz-age cabaret, this cover alone makes a compelling case.