Swamp Thing #18

A tender moment framed by blooming water lilies and lush green flora dominates Yanick Paquette's cover for this May 2013 New 52 issue — a white-haired woman cradling the mossy, plant-formed face of Swamp Thing, surrounded by pink lotus blossoms in a composition that feels equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful. The tagline "'Til Death Do Them Part!" sets a poignant, high-stakes tone that Scott Snyder's run has made its signature. This is the kind of cover that stops you cold in the rack — quietly emotional rather than bombastic, with Paquette's art-nouveau-inflected linework making every leaf and petal count.