Nocterra #16

Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel's Nocterra continues its dark journey into issue #16, and the cover — rendered by Daniel with colors by Marcelo Maiolo — is a striking vision of tension and power. A blonde woman stands at the center, arms outstretched, bathed in radiant golden light while shadowy, corrupted forms writhe and claw at the edges around her; in the foreground, an open book and an ominous glowing red vortex demand your attention. It's a beautifully composed image that captures the series' signature balance of warmth against encroaching darkness.