Supergirl #43

There's something genuinely lovely about this September 2009 cover by Joshua Middleton — Supergirl drifts serenely through a sun-drenched sky, arms outstretched and eyes closed, surrounded by a flock of soaring seagulls in a moment of rare, unguarded peace. The soft clouds and warm light give the image a dreamlike quality that feels refreshingly different from action-heavy superhero fare. With Sterling Gates writing and Jamal Igle on interior art, Supergirl #43 — "Guilding Day" — promises the kind of thoughtful, character-driven storytelling this creative team brought to the series throughout 2009.