Nova #6

The cover of this 1999 Marvel issue says it all: Nova — the Human Rocket — charges forward in his gold-and-blue uniform while the imposing, green-and-purple-clad Sphinx looms large in the foreground, fist cocked and ready, with debris exploding across a fiery yellow cityscape behind them. The blurb "Showdown with the Sphinx!" promises exactly the kind of high-stakes clash the cover delivers so vividly, with cover art by Erik Larsen and Al Gordon making every punch feel like it carries real weight. With Erik Larsen also writing and Joe Bennett on interior art alongside inker Armando Durruthy, this installment of Nova's 1999 run is a treat for fans of cosmic Marvel action.