ElfQuest #18

Wendy and Richard Pini's ElfQuest continues its Marvel run with this 1987 installment of "Riddle of Blue Mountain," and the cover by Wendy Pini sets a mood that's equal parts tender and ominous. On the left, a white-haired elf and a curly-haired companion share a quiet, intimate moment, while on the right two striking dark-cloaked figures — one in dramatic black, one in an elaborate patterned robe — stand together beneath the spread wings of a looming creature in the background. The contrast between warmth and mystery makes this an irresistible entry point into one of fantasy comics' most richly imagined worlds.