Green Lantern: Circle of Fire #1

From 2000, this oversized DC special kicks off the Circle of Fire crossover event with a cover by Cary Nord (inked by Mark Lipka) that immediately sets an ominous tone: Green Lantern soars through a star-filled cosmos, ring fist raised, as a massive, coiling serpentine creature wreathed in fire looms behind him — a threat that dwarfs him in scale. The subtitle "Dark Conception" hints at something deeply unsettling at the heart of the story, while writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Norm Breyfogle bring their considerable talents to bear on the interior. At $4.95, it's a satisfying opening chapter that promises both cosmic stakes and personal challenge for the Emerald Knight.