Invincible #5

The cover of Invincible #5 says it all with a single word: a battered, blue-and-white-suited hero drifting limply against a star-filled void, arms splayed and eyes closed, with only a deadpan speech bubble reading "Ouch." to sum up his situation. It's a perfectly understated image from Cory Walker that balances genuine peril with a wry sense of humor — entirely fitting for a series whose tagline reminds us that being a teenager means juggling girls, acne, homework, and super-villains. Robert Kirkman, Walker, and colorist Bill Crabtree were clearly having a lot of fun with this series in 2003, and this cover captures that spirit beautifully.