Batman #277

Part of DC Comics' 1976 Bicentennial salute series, Batman #277 promises a genuinely mystifying mystery with "The Riddle of the Man Who Walked Backwards!" Ernie Chua's cover sets a dramatic scene on a rocky shoreline, where Batman squares off against a massive, dripping green creature lunging from the water while a frightened red-haired woman in a purple dress scrambles to safety beside him. It's a compelling setup — monster, menace, and the Dark Knight standing his ground — that makes this one hard to put back on the shelf.