Guardians of the Galaxy #54

Set in Marvel's 31st-century universe, this November 1994 issue delivers one of the more startling cover images the Guardians of the Galaxy series had to offer — a tattered Spider-Man materializing in a glowing chamber while the assembled Guardians react with open-mouthed disbelief, one of them gasping "It — it can't be!" Surrounding the web-slinger are several recognizable team members, including a leonine figure, a blue-skinned Guardian kneeling at the base of the platform, a dark silhouetted hero with a star emblem, and at least two women in striking costumes, all rendered with real energy by cover penciler Kevin West and inker Steve Montano. Writer Michael Gallagher and artist Scot Eaton take the Guardians to Mars for "The Spiders From Mars," and if the cover is any indication, this one leans hard into the fun of dropping a very familiar face into the far future.