Captain Atom #81

Captain Atom squares off against a uniquely chaotic threat on this 1966 Charlton cover by Steve Ditko and Rocco Mastroserio: five color-coded versions of Dr. Spectro surround a glowing, determined Captain Atom from every direction, making good on the cover's promise of "The Five Faces of Dr. Spectro." The bold composition — Atom at the center of a blazing energy burst while his rainbow-suited adversaries close in — gives the whole scene a kinetic, almost kaleidoscopic energy that feels perfectly matched to a villain billed as the "Diabolical Master of Moods." At just 12 cents, this Charlton gem showcases Ditko's knack for dynamic staging and makes it very hard to argue with the cover's own enthusiasm.