The Avengers Annual #4

This King-Size Special from 1971 promises double the pages and double the thrills, and Sal Buscema's cover delivers on that pledge with a sprawling, kinetic brawl pitting Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Giant-Man, and the Wasp against Zemo's Masters of Evil — a villain taunting from the melee that the Avengers will never prevail. The action is wall-to-wall, with energy blasts, shield-slinging, and even a winged horse in the fray, making this one of the most densely packed assemblages of Marvel muscle you'll find on a single cover. Fans of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's foundational Marvel work will appreciate that the interior brings those two together here, rounded out by inker Chic Stone and letterer Sam Rosen for a thoroughly satisfying package.