Secret Avengers #9

A sleek, tension-charged cover by Alex Maleev dominates this 2013 entry in Marvel's covert-ops series — a short-haired woman in a form-fitting tactical suit raises one gloved hand toward the viewer, her expression caught somewhere between warning and defiance, against a backdrop of digital noise and audio waveforms. The "Secret Avengers" logo stamped with a bold red "SECRET" sets the clandestine tone perfectly for "Mission 009: Lexington," written by Nick Spencer with interior art by Butch Guice and colors by Matthew Wilson. If spy-thriller atmosphere and sharp comics craft are your thing, this issue delivers both in style.