Azrael: Agent of the Bat #81

The cover of this October 2001 issue poses a bold question — "What Makes Azrael… Tick?" — as the red-suited, golden-gauntleted hero is shown cruciform and restrained against a massive mechanical cross, his expression fierce with defiance. Standing before him is a cloaked, green-skinned figure clutching a glowing, sparking device, suggesting a genuinely unsettling power dynamic at play. Scott McDaniel's pencils and Sergio Cariello's inks give the scene a sharp, kinetic energy that makes this an intriguing entry in Dennis O'Neil's long run with the character.