JLA #27

That cover says it all — a massive, red-eyed villain stands triumphant, pointing directly at the reader and demanding "How are YOU going to stop me?!" while Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and other fallen League members lie sprawled at his feet against a smoldering yellow sky. Mark Millar scripts this March 1999 chapter, with interior art by Mark Pajarillo and Walden Wong bringing the story to life, while Howard Porter and John Dell deliver a cover that makes the JLA's situation look genuinely dire. If you've ever wanted to see the world's greatest superheroes humbled in a single image, this one earns its place on the shelf.