John Carter, Warlord of Mars #7

The Warlord of Mars takes center stage on this December 1977 cover as a ferocious, weapon-wielding John Carter squares off in an explosive confrontation — Martian air-craft blazing overhead and chains flying — while a captive Dejah Thoris appears in the corner, her presence fueling the battle cry plastered across the cover: "Showdown!" Gil Kane's dynamic pencils and Rudy Nebres's rich inks give the scene a raw, kinetic energy that perfectly captures the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs' planetary adventure. With the cover boldly declaring "Dejah Thoris Is Back!" and promising "The Big One," issue #7 delivers exactly the kind of high-stakes Martian spectacle that made this series a thrilling read in 1977.