Guardians of the Galaxy #40

The 31st-century Guardians of the Galaxy face a fierce threat in issue #40, as the cover — penciled by Kevin West and inked by Steve Montano — puts a wild-haired, blue-armored attacker front and center, screaming "You will all die!" at a full team scrambling into action around them. The banner at the bottom names the menace: Composite, billed as "The Deadliest Inhuman of All," and the assembled Guardians — several of them visible in the character portraits along the left spine — look like they're taking that claim seriously. It's a kinetic, crowd-filling 1993 cover that makes a strong case for why this corner of the Marvel Universe deserves your attention.