Maremagnum #[nn]

From Ventura & Nieto and published by Planeta DeAgostini in 1998, Maremagnum arrives with a cover full of cheerful cosmic energy — two cartoon characters clinging to a sleek rocket as it blasts away from Earth, one of them clutching a oversized purple flower while the planet curves dramatically below. Three gold-medallion portraits of additional characters ring the lower portion of the cover, hinting at a lively cast, and the dripping red logo crowning the whole scene gives it a wonderfully playful edge. A fitting showcase for Enrique Ventura, who handled art, inking, color, and lettering himself — and whose work earned him the Gran Premio del Salón del Cómic '97, noted proudly right on the cover.