Nightwing #122

Three stark panels by cover artist Mark Simpson give this 2006 issue an almost cinematic tension: Nightwing stands silhouetted against a fiery orange sky and a sweeping suspension bridge, a masked woman lurks in shadowy blue tones in the middle frame, and the bottom panel closes in on a blood-streaked blade gripped in a gloved hand. The story title "Odd Couples" hints at an uneasy pairing at the heart of the issue, and with Bruce Jones writing and Paco Diaz on interior art, there's real craft behind the unease. A moody, atmospheric entry in the series that wears its noir sensibilities right on the cover.