Superpatriot: America's Fighting Force #1

Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker kick off this 2002 Image series with a cover that makes the promise of "Pulse-Pounding Patriotic Pandemonium" feel entirely earned — Superpatriot, his red-white-and-blue helmet instantly recognizable, is surrounded and outnumbered by a mob of heavily armored, weapon-toting enemies, with energy blasts already lighting up the melee. Val Staples and collaborators bring the chaos to vivid life, making the crowd of hulking mechanized soldiers feel genuinely overwhelming. It's a confident opening statement for America's Fighting Force that fans of big, brawling superhero action will want on their shelf.