Empire #3

The third chapter of DC's mature-readers series Empire arrives with a cover by Barry Kitson that pulls no punches: a powerfully built armored figure dominates the foreground, dagger raised and gauntleted fist glowing, while a second costumed figure lies sprawled and helpless below, bound by red cables. In the background, a sleek aircraft and a lone caped figure set the scene's broader stakes. Mark Waid and Kitson's dark, world-conquering saga is well into its stride by issue three, and this tense composition makes clear that the balance of power here is anything but equal.