Squadron Supreme: Hyperion vs. Nighthawk #1

Paul Gulacy's cover for this 2007 Marvel limited series opener sets the tone immediately: a battered, bloodied Hyperion is being driven into the ground by a looming Nighthawk, whose dark armored form towers over the red-suited hero in a brutal display of raw violence. Writer Marc Guggenheim clearly isn't pulling punches with this Squadron Supreme clash, framing two former allies as genuine threats to each other rather than sparring partners. If you've ever wanted to see what happens when these two powerhouses stop holding back, issue one of four is the place to start.