Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #9

Against a backdrop of roaring flames, a powerful new figure stands defiantly clutching Captain America's shield — while Steve Rogers himself lies fallen in the foreground, his costume battered and his face slack. Mark Waid and Doug Braithwaite set a dramatic stage with this May 1999 issue of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, with the cover's bold tagline promising that a new Sentinel rises from the ashes. It's a striking image that makes you want to flip straight to "Back in Black" to see what's left of the star-spangled legacy — and who's ready to carry it forward.