G.I. Joe, a Real American Hero #54

This December 1986 Marvel issue puts the action front and center with a beret-wearing Joe soldier descending mid-air under a parachute, assault rifle blazing directly at a blue enemy aircraft that's already catching fire. Explosions and smoke fill the sky around him, with additional aircraft and what appears to be a launch facility visible below, all rendered with sharp intensity by cover artist Mike Zeck. With Larry Hama scripting and the story titled "Launch Base," issue #54 promises the kind of high-stakes military thriller that made this series a standout of its era.