House of Secrets #148

DC's long-running anthology of dread delivers a memorably visceral image on this 1977 installment: a man in a blue suit is overwhelmed by a pack of snarling lions while an enormous skeletal hand — ringed and looming — reaches in from the right, as if Death itself is orchestrating the carnage. The cover tagline "Death Takes a Roman Holiday" sets a darkly ironic tone that perfectly frames the issue's story, rendered here with grim elegance by cover artist Gray Morrow. Inside, writer Paul Levitz and artist Michael Golden bring their own sensibilities to the tale — making this a fine showcase of the distinct talents DC was assembling in 1977.