John Carter, Warlord of Mars #5

Billed as a "Giant Battle Issue," this October 1977 Marvel entry in Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter, Warlord of Mars delivers on that promise right from the cover by Gil Kane and Pablo Marcos. A wide-eyed woman dominates the foreground as two warriors — John Carter and the villainous Stara Kan — clash furiously behind her, blades drawn, with armed figures lurking in the background and a chilling speech bubble warning that the two must fight "to the death." It's a visually charged composition that captures the pulp-adventure spirit of Burroughs' Martian saga, making this a satisfying chapter in Marvel's 1977 adaptation.