The Amazing Spider-Man #23 (987)

Part 2 of the nine-part "Death Spiral" saga arrives with a cover that puts Spider-Man right in the thick of a brutal three-way clash — the web-slinger caught between a looming Black Panther above and a snarling, symbiote-suited figure below, all rendered with kinetic energy by Ed McGuinness. The dynamic composition practically crackles off the page, with webs, claws, and that distinctive black-and-gold costume all vying for attention. Joe Kelly and McGuinness are clearly building toward something substantial, and this issue is a compelling reason to be along for the ride.