The Avengers #197

This 1980 issue of The Avengers arrives as a delightful departure from the typical single-battle format, presenting a collage-style cover by George Pérez (inked by Bob McLeod) that teases multiple vignettes: Iron Man, Vision, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, and the White Tiger among others assembled in what's billed as "The Untold Story" of Avengers Mansion's behind-the-scenes life, from an elevator incident to after-hours hijinks at a rock club. Looming over it all is the ominous silhouetted figure of the War-Devil — glowing eyes cutting through a red background — promising that these slice-of-life glimpses are building toward something far more serious. With David Michelinie writing and interior art from Carmine Infantino, this issue offers a genuinely clever blend of superhero domesticity and creeping menace that makes it a memorable entry in the team's long run.