Guardians of the Galaxy #23

The 31st-century Marvel Universe promises raw, feral intensity in this 1992 issue, as the cover — penciled by Jim Valentino and inked by Mark Texeira — pits two savage combatants against a blazing yellow sun: the blue-maned, clawed Talon squaring off against the hulking, bestial Rancor in what looks like an all-out clash of teeth and talons. Both figures crackle with ferocious energy, leaping and snarling at each other across a rocky outcrop, and the cover's own tagline settles the matter cleanly — "Talon vs. Rancor, 'Nuff Said!" Guardians of the Galaxy was delivering some of its most visceral confrontations during this era, and this issue looks like a prime example of why.