Star Wars: Republic #78

The subtitle says it all — "The Rise of Darth Vader" — and Luke Ross's cover delivers on that promise with Vader's helmeted visage looming enormous over a sun-drenched cityscape, his armored hands reaching outward as if the galaxy itself is already within his grasp. The warm, fiery glow reflecting off that black mask against the gleaming spires below creates a genuinely striking image of darkness descending on a civilization. John Ostrander and Luke Ross bring their talents to this 2005 Dark Horse chapter titled "Loyalties," and the cover alone makes clear the stakes have never felt heavier.