Lex Luthor: Man of Steel #2

Lee Bermejo's cover for issue #2 of this five-part 2005 DC miniseries is a striking study in crimson and shadow — Lex Luthor strains against heavy chains wrapped around his body, his face contorted in a raw, defiant roar. The monochromatic red palette gives the image an almost primal intensity, presenting Luthor not as a scheming corporate villain but as a man who sees himself fighting against restraint with every ounce of his considerable will. Brian Azzarello and Bermejo's collaboration here promises a deeply human — if ruthlessly ambitious — portrait of one of DC's most compelling figures.