Batman: Bane of the Demon #2

Part two of four in this 1998 DC miniseries finds Bane front and center on a striking Graham Nolan and Bill Sienkiewicz cover — the hulking villain lunges forward with a bloodied blade, a massive antique world map looming blood-red behind him, suggesting ambitions that span continents. Chuck Dixon's script, brought to life by Nolan's interior art with inks by Tom Palmer, promises the kind of ruthless plotting that makes Bane such a compelling antagonist. If you're following this dark tale of power and obsession, this issue keeps the tension pulled tight.