Scalped #36

Vertigo's gritty reservation noir reaches issue #36 with a cover by Jock that gets right under your skin — a pair of intense, watchful eyes peers out from behind a row of padlocks, each bearing a letter that spells out "SHUNKA," the overall palette a stark, unsettling orange and black. The design is tightly composed and quietly menacing, suggesting secrets locked down hard and a character whose gaze alone carries serious weight. Jason Aaron and Davide Furnò continue their acclaimed run with this 2010 installment, and if the cover is any indication, the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation hasn't gotten any safer.