Avengers #69 (484)

In "Red Zone: Part Five The Great Escape," the Avengers face a desperate race against time as the Skull holds Gyrich, Falcon, and Captain America captive, threatening to plunge the U.S. into tyranny. With Iron Man and Black Panther launching a high-stakes rescue, the fate of the nation hangs in the balance. Written by Geoff Johns and brought to life by Olivier Coipel’s dynamic art, with inks by Andy Lanning and colors by Chris Sotomayor, this 2003 issue delivers intense action and suspense. The cover, by J. G. Jones, captures the moment’s urgency in bold, striking detail.