Avengers / Thunderbolts #1

Earth's Mightiest Heroes meet the masters of reform in this 2004 crossover miniseries by Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Barry Kitson, and Gary Erskine. The cover sets the stage beautifully, with Captain America's shield and a magenta-armored Thunderbolt looming in the foreground while a gallery of heroes — including Iron Man, the Vision, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, the Wasp, and a long-haired blonde figure among others — fills the background in a striking face-off composition. With the tagline "Justice, Like Lightning…" framing the Thunderbolts' side and "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" anchoring the Avengers', this opening chapter promises a collision of ideals as much as powers.