Protectors, Inc. #4

Protectors, Inc. #4 brings the action front and center with a fierce mid-air clash between two costumed combatants — a dark-haired woman in purple and burgundy striking hard against a powerfully built man in tan and black who deflects her blow with a metal rod, both surrounded by crackling energy bursts above a packed stadium crowd. Gordon Purcell's cover crackles with kinetic energy, and with J. Michael Straczynski writing and Michael Atiyeh's vivid colors, this 2014 Image series continues to deliver superhero drama with real stakes. At $2.99, it's a satisfying read from a creative team clearly invested in making these powered characters feel grounded and dangerous.