Epic Illustrated #5

Marvel's ambitious adult fantasy-and-science-fiction magazine marks its first anniversary with this striking cover by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt, depicting a fierce blonde warrior woman in mid-leap above a massive, horned dragon while an armored, winged figure looms in the smoky background. The composition crackles with the kind of painted fantasy energy that defined Epic Illustrated's ambition to push beyond the Comics Code into richer, more mature storytelling. Inside, Roy Thomas and Tim Conrad bring their own vision to the table, and the issue also features an exclusive interview with the Brothers Hildebrandt themselves — a fitting bonus for a cover this vivid.