Batman / Lobo: Deadly Serious #1

Sam Kieth brings his unmistakable linework to this 2007 prestige-format DC one-shot, and the cover says everything: Batman and Lobo are nose-to-nose in a tense, snarling face-off, the Dark Knight's fist clenched and Lobo's weathered sneer radiating barely contained menace. Kieth's scratchy, expressive style makes both figures feel raw and immediate, a perfect visual promise for a story subtitled "Deadly Serious." At $5.99, it's a satisfying package from a writer-artist whose singular voice fits this unlikely pairing surprisingly well.