Black Panther #16

The "Countdown to the Wedding of the Century" banner says it all — something momentous is building in Wakanda, and this 2006 issue of Black Panther captures the anticipation beautifully. Olivier Coipel's pencils and Tim Townsend's inks deliver a striking cover: a young Storm sits serenely in the crook of a gnarled tree, her flowing white hair a sharp contrast to the warm, dusky background, while Black Panther crouches catlike above her in the branches, watchful and poised. With Reginald Hudlin scripting and the art team of Scot Eaton, Klaus Janson, and Dean White bringing the interior to life, "Bride of the Panther Part 3" is a compelling chapter in one of Marvel's most talked-about storylines of the year.