Island #11

Island #11 wraps up its four-part story with a cover that crackles with elemental energy — a commanding woman stands at the center of a volcanic flow, arms outstretched, surrounded by swirling golden orbs while two long-necked bird-like creatures loom watchfully on either side and a massive dark, feathered presence fills the sky above her. Penciled and inked by Johnnie Christmas, the image pulses with that warm purple-and-amber twilight palette that makes this anthology magazine so visually distinctive. At $7.99 for an oversized issue, Island continued in 2016 to be one of Image's most ambitious showcases for comics storytelling.