Epic Illustrated #28

Marvel's Epic Illustrated was always a showcase for adventurous fantasy and science-fiction art, and this February 1985 issue is a fine example of that ambition. Mike Kaluta's cover — both pencils and inks his own — draws the eye into a dreamlike woodland scene framed by a circular stone portal: a large, spotted big cat rests in the foreground beside vivid red blooms, while a long-necked serpentine creature rises in the misty middle ground among tall trees and tangled thorns, with a distant mountain peak glowing softly beyond. Inside, contributors include John Byrne and Terry Austin (whose work on "The Last Galactus Story" continues here), along with Bill Sienkiewicz and Dave Sim — a remarkable lineup for any single issue of Marvel's prestige fantasy magazine.