Legends of the Dark Knight #16

Batman strides forward through a flooded underground tunnel in José Luis García-López's moody cover for this March 1991 issue — lantern light catching ripples at his feet while shadowy pipes and a rusted cage door frame him in an atmosphere of grim determination. This is "Venom: Part One," the opening chapter of a five-part story written by Dennis O'Neil with interior art by Trevor Von Eeden and Russ Braun. It's a compelling entry point from Legends of the Dark Knight, a series that consistently offered grittier, more grounded takes on the Caped Crusader.