Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #523.1

The bold red cover of this 2011 Marvel ".1" entry says everything about the tone of Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive — T'Challa lunges forward in a tightly rendered, almost noir-styled composition by Patrick Zircher, claws extended and casting a dramatic shadow that fills the lower half of the image. The subtitle "The Most Dangerous Man Alive" isn't just bravado; the kinetic energy here earns every word of it. With David Liss writing, Jefte Palo on art, and Jean-François Beaulieu's sharp coloring inside, this "True Sons" story makes for an ideal jumping-on point for anyone ready to follow Wakanda's king through the streets of Hell's Kitchen.