Batman #320

Batman's grimacing face dominates this February 1980 cover by Bernie Wrightson, his expression taut with urgency as a menacing, grotesquely costumed figure lurks on a staircase behind him — crossbow raised and bolt already fired in a burst of sparks. The cover's tagline, "Can Even the Dark Knight Detective Defy 'The Curse of the Inquisitor'?", sets a nicely ominous tone that pairs well with Wrightson's atmospheric cave-like setting and deeply shadowed inks. Denny O'Neil and Irv Novick deliver the interior story, making this a fine collaboration of talents across one of DC's most enduring titles.