Legion of Super-Heroes #52

Titled "Rites of Passage," this November 1988 installment of Legion of Super-Heroes arrives with a cover by Steve Lightle that packs an extraordinary amount of drama into a single image — a blazing inferno of orange and yellow lightning splits the composition, with Legionnaires soaring through the chaos while a massive dinosaur-like creature looms at the bottom and a crowd of heroes and supporting figures press in from both sides. The sheer density of characters, from a brooding blond hero at upper left to a pair of striking women at upper right, signals that this is a story with sweeping consequences for the Legion's sprawling cast. With Levitz, Giffen, and DeCarlo at the helm, this feels like one of those issues where the 30th century's greatest team is being tested in every direction at once.