Stormwatch #44

Promising "A Torrid Tale That Spans Decades," this 1997 Image series entry showcases a tense jungle scene penciled by Tom Raney and inked by Randy Elliott, where a white-haired armored figure strides protectively in front of a young blonde woman while a grotesque, disembodied floating head issues a menacing warning in dialogue balloons. The cover's portrait medallions spotlight the issue's featured players — Battalion, Lady Eternity, and Undying Evil — teasing a confrontation with real stakes. Warren Ellis was firmly in his stride on this title by 1997, and the mix of superhero grit and pulpy horror energy on display here makes for a genuinely compelling package.