Azrael: Death's Dark Knight #1

Part of DC's 2009 "Battle for the Cowl" event, this first issue of the three-part miniseries launches Fabian Nicieza and Frazer Irving's dark vision of Azrael, with a striking cover by Guillem March. The cover depicts a hooded, armored figure — Azrael himself — lunging forward with a raised sword, his face marked with a bold red design, all framed by towering walls of flame that give the image an almost apocalyptic intensity. It's a compelling opening statement for a series titled Death's Dark Knight, promising something fierce and spiritually charged at the heart of Gotham's power struggle.