Batman: Shadow of the Bat #68

The cover of this November 1997 issue says it all — a towering, hooded figure dominates the frame, scythe raised, while a comparatively small Batman clings to the lower edge, cape splayed against a searing yellow background. Chris Moeller's cover art makes the threat feel genuinely imposing, the cover copy teasing "an enemy who is swift and merciless and untouchable." With Alan Grant writing and Jim Aparo on interior art, "A Contract with Death!" promises the kind of tense, atmospheric Batman storytelling this creative team does so well.