Sonic the Hedgehog #146

Shadow the Hedgehog commands the entire cover of this 2005 Archie issue, his black-and-red form surging forward against a deep, glowing void as the tagline "The Good, the Bad and the Unknown!" sets a fittingly mysterious tone. Patrick Spaziante's cover pencils and inks give Shadow a striking intensity — red eyes locked forward, fist extended — perfectly capturing the brooding edge that makes the character so compelling. With a creative team including writer Ken Penders and artist Steven Butler, issue #146 looks to be a genuinely gripping entry in the series.