C-23 #5

Richard Corben's cover for this 1998 WildStorm/Image series delivers a gripping three-way struggle, with a blue-armored warrior caught in a tug-of-war between a menacing red-carapaced alien creature and a shadowy, clawed figure lurking behind — all set against a smoldering crimson sky and a flame-scorched orb looming overhead. The tension in that central tug-of-war, rendered with Corben's characteristically powerful linework, gives the issue an immediate sense of physical danger and high-stakes conflict. With Jeff Mariotte writing and Alexander Lozano on interior art, C-23 #5 looks like a solid entry in this sci-fi action series.