Captain America: Forever Allies #2

The second chapter of this 2010 four-issue limited series brings together past and present in striking fashion, with Lee Weeks's cover depicting Captain America charging forward, shield raised, toward a dark-clad woman whose outstretched hands seem to challenge or intercept him — all against a backdrop of fire and smoke. Looming above in ghostly montage are wartime figures in military helmets and gear, evoking the WWII-era allies at the heart of the series' title. Roger Stern's script, brought to life by Nick Dragotta and Marco Santucci, promises the kind of layered storytelling — "Havoc in Hollywood" no less — that spans generations and keeps the Star-Spangled Avenger's history feeling vivid and alive.