New Avengers #12

Part two of the "Ronin" arc finds the New Avengers charging headlong into what looks like a fierce urban battle, with Captain America's shield at the center of a beautifully composed rush of heroes. David Finch and Danny Miki pack the cover with Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Wolverine, and a looming dark figure dominating the background, all rendered in a kinetic, larger-than-life style that defined Marvel's mid-2000s aesthetic. Brian Michael Bendis and Finch were clearly swinging for the fences with this team lineup, and the cover alone makes a compelling case for what was one of Marvel's most talked-about relaunches of 2005.