Iron Man #23

This 1999 installment of The Invincible Iron Man delivers a cover that pulls no punches: a helmetless Tony Stark, still partially armored, struggles desperately in open ocean waters, clinging to what appears to be a life raft while the Iron Man faceplate bobs nearby — a striking image of a hero stripped of his defenses. Looming overhead is a massive, dark mechanical vessel breaking the surface, with a tentacled robotic figure lurking to one side and a golden armored figure airborne in the background, suggesting Tony is far from alone in this crisis. Cover artists Sean Chen and Rob Hunter bring a real sense of kinetic urgency to "Ultimate Danger," making this issue a compelling addition to the run.