Checkmate #31

The penultimate chapter of the "Chimera" arc arrives in Checkmate #31 (December 2008), and Manuel Garcia's cover makes a strong case for the series' ambition — a massive charge of superpowered figures surging forward, from a stone-skinned bruiser throwing a fist to a hawk-themed brawler, a green-glowing woman, a pink-clad flier with wild green hair, a red-suited figure, an armored combatant, and more, all cascading toward the reader in barely contained motion. The tagline "Over the Top!" feels entirely earned given the sheer number of characters packed into this kinetic scene. Bruce Jones and Garcia bring this six-part story to its climax with what promises to be a satisfyingly crowded collision.