Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special #1

Tim Sale's cover art says everything with haunting economy: a glowing jack-o'-lantern carved into the shape of Batman's cowled face dominates the pitch-black night, its jagged features radiating a pale, unsettling light. This 1993 special pairs Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale in what would prove to be a richly atmospheric corner of Gotham's mythology, wrapped in a cover that captures Halloween dread with quiet confidence. At $6.95, it's a proper special-format read that earns every cent with that striking, moody presentation.