Superman: Birthright #9

Superman stands front and center on this striking 2004 cover, cape billowing dramatically as he faces down a gathering of formidable figures — including a robotic or armored being looming behind him, a golden-haired woman in ornate mechanical attire, a red-costumed warrior, and a steely, imposing bald man in the foreground — all set against a glowing, futuristic cityscape that unmistakably evokes Krypton. The cover tagline "Krypton Lives!" sets a thrilling tone for whatever lies within, promising that Superman's lost homeworld plays a major role in this chapter of Mark Waid's reimagining of the Man of Steel's origins. Leinil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan bring a vivid, cinematic energy to the composition that makes this ninth installment of Birthright a visually compelling addition to the series.