Sandman Mystery Theatre #43

Part three of "The Phantom of the Fair" arrives in this October 1996 installment of DC Vertigo's noir pulp series, promising what the cover calls a "deadly detective adventure." Bathed in deep amber and shadow, the photorealistic cover by Gavin Wilson and Richard Bruning depicts a darkly lit figure — a woman whose face catches just enough light to suggest dread — set against an ominous brick backdrop, perfectly evoking the menace of the arc's tagline: "His innocent evening out became a fatal twist of fate under the Death Whip of a Killer!" With Wagner, Seagle, and Davis continuing this four-part mystery novel, fans of moody, atmospheric crime storytelling have every reason to turn the page.