Mage, Book Three: The Hero Denied #0

That stark, minimalist cover — a crumpled black jacket bearing a familiar lightning-bolt emblem, lying abandoned on a white ground — speaks volumes about the weight of heroism and the cost of setting it aside. Matt Wagner frames the entire premise of The Hero Denied in a single quietly haunting image, making this zero issue a compelling entry point into the third chapter of his long-running Mage saga. At just $1.99, it's an uncommonly thoughtful piece of 2017 comics storytelling that earns its place on any fan's shelf.