Namor: The First Mutant #4

Part of Marvel's "Curse of the Mutants" crossover, this 2011 issue brings the "Royal Blood" arc to its conclusion with a cover by Jae Lee that crackles with brooding intensity. The Sub-Mariner — shirtless, airborne, and unmistakably fierce — squares off against a dark-cloaked, pale-skinned adversary in a teal-lit confrontation that feels simultaneously mythic and dangerous. Stuart Moore and Andres Guinaldo deliver the underwater kingdom's drama while Rachelle Rosenberg's colors keep the whole package looking sharp.