Powers #13

A triumphant blonde superheroine in a red cape, corset, and matching boots strikes a victorious pose in the foreground, shades on and arms raised, while a heap of defeated costumed figures piles up dramatically behind her — it's a wonderfully confident image that sets an energetic tone for "Cosmic Part One." Michael Avon Oeming's cover art captures exactly the kind of swagger this series does so well, and with Brian Michael Bendis driving the story, there's every reason to be curious about what earned her that grin. Powers #13 from 2005 looks like a sharp, fun entry point into whatever cosmic-scale chaos is about to unfold.