Batman and Robin #32

Part of DC's New 52 initiative, Batman and Robin #32 kicks off "The Hunt for Robin: Dark of the Son" with a cover that immediately signals high stakes — Ra's al Ghul dominates the image, shirtless and menacing, hoisting a helpless Batman overhead amid cascading splashes of eerie green liquid. Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray's cover work is kinetic and unsettling, with Ra's triumphant smirk and the Lazarus Pit-green atmosphere making it clear Batman is in serious trouble. Peter J. Tomasi's run was hitting a dramatic stride in 2014, and this image of the Dark Knight at the mercy of the Demon's Head is a compelling reason to pick it up.