Supergirl #9

Supergirl strides out of a wall of roaring flames on this May 1997 cover, her green jacket scorched and tattered, the classic "S" shield blazing defiantly on her chest — it's a striking image of resilience that Gary Frank and Cam Smith render with real dramatic weight. Peter David's run on this series had already established an edgier, more grounded take on the character, and this ninth issue, "Tempus Fugit," looks to push her through the fire — literally. A great snapshot of mid-'90s DC storytelling at its most atmospheric.