Heroes for Hire #8

Five formidable women — one in black with a throwing blade, one in a red bodysuit leveling a pistol, a warrior in white gripping a katana, a figure in a dark costume with white hair, and another in sleek black — are arranged against the looming, riveted iron mask of Doctor Doom, his eyes cold and watchful behind the steel. It's a striking composition from cover penciler and inker Billy Tucci that sets a tense, conspiratorial tone perfectly suited to the third chapter of "Guns, Gems, Robots and Terrorists!" With Wells, Rio, Koblish, and Anderson steering this 2007 Marvel series, Heroes for Hire #8 promises the kind of high-stakes ensemble action this book does so well.