Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5

From Mirage Studios' 1985 run, this issue of Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles plunges all four turtles into a chaotic, weapon-filled brawl — laser beams crisscross the scene as the heroes tangle with an array of bizarre robotic and alien-looking adversaries in a gritty, densely packed composition. Peter Laird's cover pencils and inks are a showcase of raw, kinetic energy, cramming swords, firearms, and a wild cast of strange creatures into every corner of the frame. It's a vivid reminder of just how ambitious and imaginative this indie title was right from its early days.