The Amazing Spider-Man #615

Part of Marvel's "The Gauntlet" storyline, this issue of The Amazing Spider-Man pits our wall-crawler against Sandman in a visually striking way — Spider-Man is pinned flat against a surface of shifting, cracked sand, seemingly at the mercy of his grainy foe. Looming large in the corners are two imposing faces watching the scene unfold, while a small inset spotlights Sandman himself, making clear who's behind Spidey's predicament. Writer Fred Van Lente and artist Javier Pulido bring "Keemia's Castle" to life, with Paolo Rivera's cover doing a wonderful job of conveying just how outmatched Spider-Man appears against an opponent who can reshape the very ground beneath him.