Legion of Super-Heroes #5

The cover of this March 1990 issue presents a striking hourglass at its center, its two chambers each containing a snowy winter scene — the upper bulb showing a colorful futuristic cityscape blanketed in snow, while the lower reveals a more rugged, ancient-looking settlement in similar wintry conditions. The contrast between the two worlds, framed by a darkened, cave-like surrounding, suggests a meditation on time and civilization across eras that suits the Legion perfectly. Keith Giffen and Al Gordon's cover art, paired with writing from Giffen alongside Tom and Mary Bierbaum, promises the kind of ambitious, thoughtful storytelling that defined this era of the series.