Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin #2

The second chapter of this three-part 2000 limited series pulls no punches — Ron Frenz and Pat Olliffe's cover drops us into a harrowing bird's-eye view of Spider-Man sprawled on the ground, battered and surrounded by a ring of armed thugs closing in from every direction. It's a beautifully composed image of a hero at his lowest, the kind of stark, dire moment that makes turning to the next issue feel absolutely essential. Roger Stern's "Lives in the Balance!" promises high stakes, and this cover delivers that tension immediately.