Legion of Super-Heroes #56

This January 1989 issue of Legion of Super-Heroes opens with a cover by Steve Lightle that commands immediate attention: a massive, grey-skinned brute charges straight at the viewer against a bold yellow background slashed with vivid red streaks, his bolted arms outstretched and teeth bared in a menacing grin. The monochromatic figure's sheer physicality against that stark, energetic backdrop gives the cover a raw, visceral punch that sets a tense tone for "By Hope Ensnared." With Paul Levitz writing and Eduardo Barreto on interior art, this is a fine example of the Legion title firing on all cylinders in the late 1980s.