Powers #20

Michael Avon Oeming's stark black-and-white cover for Powers #20 is quietly devastating — two silhouettes caught in a windswept moment, a hunched figure on the ground and a woman standing atop what appears to be a grave marker, leaves swirling around them both. The minimalist composition speaks volumes without a single word, perfectly capturing the emotionally charged tone that Brian Michael Bendis and Oeming brought to this series in 2002. If you appreciate crime comics that aren't afraid to slow down and let an image breathe, this issue's cover alone makes a compelling case.