Proposition Player #1

Vertigo's 1999 six-part series kicks off with a cover that sets the mood perfectly — a sharp-eyed, confident man reaches toward the viewer, surrounded by playing cards, a queen of hearts, and snapshots of the Las Vegas strip. John Bolton's painted cover art gives the whole thing a slick, sun-bleached atmosphere that feels right at home in the world of high-stakes games and shady propositions. Written by Bill Willingham with art by Paul Guinan, this is the kind of mature-readers series that rewards anyone drawn to stories where the real wagers might be bigger than money.