Superman: Birthright #10

Mark Waid's retelling of Superman's origins reaches a chilling turning point in this 2004 installment. Leinil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan's cover delivers an unsettling image: a decayed skeleton draped in Superman's unmistakable red cape and blue costume, its bony hands reaching outward against a sickly green-lit background. It's a haunting visual that makes the story title "Death of Superman" feel genuinely ominous rather than simply provocative.