Secret Warriors #18

Part of Marvel's 2010 Heroic Age initiative, this issue subtitled "The Last Ride of the Howling Commandos" promises something momentous for Nick Fury and his operatives. The cover by Jim Cheung and Mark Morales is a kinetic charge forward — a battle-scarred Nick Fury leads the rush in full tactical gear, while Captain America rallies behind him with shield raised and fist in the air, soldiers pressing into the fight around them against a smoky, war-torn backdrop with aircraft overhead. Jonathan Hickman's writing paired with Alessandro Vitti's art makes this one of the more gripping chapters in this espionage-driven series.