G.I. Combat #69

Few war comics from 1959 capture the raw emotional weight of combat quite like this cover by Jerry Grandenetti — a close-up of a battle-worn soldier, face streaked with what appears to be rain or tears, staring out from beneath his helmet with wide, haunted eyes, a weapon in hand and a large gun barrel looming in the foreground. The muted, steely palette and dense, shadowy brushwork give the image an unsettling intimacy that sets it apart from the more action-packed covers of the era. Inside, Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert bring "The Steel Ribbon!" to life, a combination of talent that made DC's war titles some of the most compelling reads of their time.