Captain Marvel #17

Few covers capture a hero's relationship with her fans quite like this one — penciled and inked by Joe Quinones, it shows Carol Danvers soaring upward in her signature red-and-black suit, cradling a laughing child dressed just like her, while a diverse crowd of real-looking supporters — many sporting Captain Marvel stars and colors, one even bringing along a dog — fills the ground below, fists raised and smiles wide. It's a genuinely moving image that frames "Earth's Mightiest Hero" not just as a powerhouse but as someone who inspires ordinary people. With Kelly Sue DeConnick writing, Filipe Andrade on art, and Jordie Bellaire's warm colors, this 2014 issue radiates exactly the kind of hope that made this run so beloved.