Secret Invasion #1

Against a blood-red sky torn by lightning, the cover of this eight-part Marvel limited series presents a chilling tableau: a group of figures wearing the costumes of beloved heroes — including what appear to be Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and others — but rendered with unmistakably alien, Skrull features. Gabriele Dell'Otto's painted cover radiates dread, the imposters advancing as a unified front that makes you question who among Marvel's greatest champions can actually be trusted. It's a superb opening statement for Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu's 2008 event series, and that unsettling image alone is more than enough reason to dive in.