Superman: The Man of Steel #114

The cover of this July 2001 issue announces "The Eradicator: Harbinger of Doom" in bold lettering, and the image delivers on that promise — a colossal, grinning stone-like creature dominates the composition against a blazing orange and black cosmic backdrop, its enormous hands clutching a tiny, helpless Superman in blue. Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen craft a genuinely unsettling sense of scale here, making the Man of Steel look almost insignificant against this looming threat surrounded by massive mechanical orbs and fiery destruction. Mark Schultz's "Poor Elijah" storyline, brought to life by this powerhouse creative team, looks like a thrilling cosmic-scale challenge for the Last Son of Krypton.