Omega the Unknown #6

One of Marvel's most intriguingly offbeat series of 1977 reaches its sixth issue, and the cover — penciled by John Romita and inked by Dave Cockrum — makes a striking first impression: a hulking, sneering villain known as the Wrench has Omega himself in a crushing grip, energy crackling around the hero's helpless form, while a red-haired woman cries out in the background. The antagonist's boastful speech bubble ("you ain't felt power 'til you feel — The Power of the Wrench!") sets a wonderfully pulpy tone that perfectly suits the street-level strangeness this series delivers. Written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes with art by Jim Mooney and Mike Esposito, this is the kind of tightly crafted Marvel package that reminds you why the Bronze Age still resonates.