Black Panther #37

The Once and Future King" reaches its conclusion in this 2001 entry from Christopher Priest's celebrated run. The cover by Sal Velluto and Bob Almond sets a striking, tense scene: a winged figure — poised and commanding, a large bird of prey perched on his outstretched arm — stands over two fallen or kneeling men, all bathed in an eerie spotlight while Black Panther's glowing eyes watch from the shadows above. It's a composition full of quiet menace and high stakes, a fitting visual promise for the finale of a two-part story.