Mystique #4

Part four of "Dead Drop Gorgeous" arrives with a cover by Joseph Michael Linsner that puts Mystique front and center — blue-skinned, red-haired, and armed with a pistol in each hand as she glances coolly over her shoulder. The skull adornment at her forehead and the bold tribal designs framing the background give the image a sleek, dangerous elegance that suits Marvel's most unpredictable shapeshifter perfectly. Writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Jorge Lucas continue their run on this 2003 solo series, and the cover alone makes a strong case for why Mystique deserves her own spotlight.