George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones #21

Dynamite's faithful comics adaptation of George R. R. Martin's landmark fantasy saga reaches a gripping moment in issue #21, with a cover by Mike S. Miller that pulls no punches — a bloodied, long-haired man is forced to his knees before a cloaked, chain-mailed figure raising a blade against the grand backdrop of a pale stone sept. The tension practically leaps off the page, capturing the brutal, high-stakes atmosphere that makes Martin's world so compelling. With Daniel Abraham scripting, Tommy Patterson on art, and the full creative team firing on all cylinders, this 2014 installment is a vivid reminder of why this adaptation earned its place alongside the HBO series it proudly shares a universe with.