Invincible Iron Man #509

Framed against a swirling cosmic backdrop of crimson and deep shadow, Iron Man looms on this striking cover by Salvador Larroca — his armor rendered in stark black and white, arc reactor blazing, while jagged, spike-laden appendages curl ominously at his sides, suggesting something far darker than a standard suit of armor. Tied into Marvel's Fear Itself crossover event, issue #509 carries the evocative subtitle "Mercy," hinting at high stakes and difficult choices for Tony Stark. Matt Fraction and Larroca were consistently delivering some of their most visually arresting work during this run, and this 2011 installment is a compelling piece of that story.