Heroes for Hire #15

Eight skulls arranged around a bold question mark make for one of 2007's most unsettling Heroes for Hire covers — each skull distinguished by its own hair, headgear, or accessories, hinting at a roster of recognizable characters rendered in chilling memento mori fashion. The large mechanized skull at the bottom center, flanked by figures sporting everything from a motorcycle helmet and goggles to a wild afro and purple-streaked hair, raises genuine questions about who among the team survives the ominously titled "Extermination." Francis Tsai's cover art is quietly haunting, trading action-hero bravado for something far more unsettling and thought-provoking.