Ghost Rider #1

Clayton Crain's painted cover for this 2005 Marvel limited series opener is a visceral, orange-hellfire vision of Ghost Rider astride his flaming motorcycle, spiked chain raised and skull ablaze against a backdrop of crackling lightning and swirling fire. Writer Garth Ennis — no stranger to dark, morally complex corners of the Marvel universe — kicks off "The Road to Damnation" with all the atmospheric dread that title promises. If you've ever wanted to see the Spirit of Vengeance rendered in gloriously moody, almost photorealistic detail, this first-of-six issue is a compelling place to start.