I, Vampire #3

Part of DC's New 52 initiative, I, Vampire #3 from January 2012 announces "The War of the Vampires Begins!" right on its striking cover by Jenny Frison. The composition pits two bloodied vampires in fierce combat — one wielding a gore-slicked axe, the other collapsing with wounds — while a red-haired vampiress looms above them both, glowing-eyed and smirking, licking blood from her finger with unsettling calm. Flanking the ornate border are two impaled human hearts, a grim decorative touch that sets the tone for Joshua Hale Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino's dark, atmospheric series beautifully.