Captain America #11

The cover of this September 1997 issue sets an intense tone, with Captain America leaping into action — shield raised and absorbing a direct blast — while a heavily armed, cigar-chomping mercenary-type figure unloads on him against a backdrop of flames and a giant stars-and-stripes motif. The "Cap Goes Wild!" badge teases something unpredictable brewing in "Serpents & Eagles, Part 4: Into the Snake Pit," the latest chapter of what looks to be a high-stakes arc. Cover art by Joe Bennett and Sandra Hope crackles with kinetic energy, making this a visually compelling entry in the 1997 run.