Red Sonja / Claw: The Devil's Hands #1

This 2006 co-publishing venture between Dynamite Entertainment and WildStorm brings together two sword-and-sorcery heavy-hitters in the first issue of a four-part miniseries, written by John Layman with art by Andy Smith. Alex Ross's cover painting sets an immediate tone: a red-haired, armor-clad Red Sonja crouches in the foreground, sword and bow in hand, her expression fierce and ready, while behind her stands Claw — a broad-shouldered warrior whose monstrous demonic hand grips a massive blade — lightning crackling around a dark fortress looming in the storm-lit background. It's a striking visual promise of two warriors from very different worlds sharing one dangerous horizon.