Batman: Year 100 #1

Paul Pope's striking cover for this first issue of the four-part miniseries presents a battered, battle-worn Batman looming large against a blood-red sky, his cape trailing behind him as he carries an unconscious figure — every line radiating raw, kinetic tension. Pope's scratchy, expressionistic linework gives this Dark Knight a grittiness that feels entirely his own, brought to life with José Villarrubia's moody, atmospheric coloring. It's a compelling opening image for what DC was clearly positioning as a serious, weighty Batman story in 2006.