Cerebus #217

Rain streaks down the facade of a dark stone building in this atmospheric cover from Dave Sim and Gerhard, where a single warmly lit window glows against the cold, wet night — a quietly striking image that speaks volumes about isolation and shelter. The painterly crosshatching Gerhard brings to the stonework and the heavy downpour is simply masterful, giving the scene a mood that feels more like noir fiction than traditional comics. Issue 217 of the long-running Cerebus saga, this April 1997 entry continues "Guys Part 17" with the same creative ambition that has defined this series.