Invincible #24

Few covers in 2005 hit as hard as this one — Ryan Ottley's artwork presents a battered, bloodied hero sprawled across rubble while a dark, looming figure stands over him, the sheer amount of crimson splatter making clear that things have gone very, very wrong. Robert Kirkman's Invincible consistently earns its self-proclaimed title of "probably the best superhero comic book in the universe," and this issue's cover suggests the series isn't pulling any punches. Colored with visceral impact by Bill Crabtree, issue #24 is a striking entry in one of Image Comics' most compelling superhero runs.