Guardians of the Galaxy #17

Part of Marvel's 2009 "War of Kings" crossover, this issue of Guardians of the Galaxy bears a striking cover by Daniel Acuña that sends four figures surging through what appears to be a swirling cosmic portal. A blond figure in a red-and-black suit dominates the foreground with glowing energy at his hands, while a green-skinned warrior woman armed with a blade lunges nearby, a dark-haired woman in a purple bodysuit floats behind them, and a winged figure in a sleek black costume charges in from above. Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning with interior art by Brad Walker and Victor Olazaba, this "Adam Magus"-titled chapter promises the kind of high-stakes cosmic tension that made this era of Guardians storytelling genuinely compelling.