The Books of Magic #52

Tim Hunter stands fists-clenched and resolute in the center of this striking 1998 Vertigo cover by MW Kaluta, his round glasses and hoodie contrasting sharply with the chaotic crowd of soldiers, masked figures, and strange mechanized beings surging below him — dark birds wheel through a blood-red sky behind him, heightening the sense of tension. The "Homecoming" arc, written and drawn by Peter Gross with inks by Jason Temujin, promises the kind of moody, richly imagined storytelling that made this series a standout in DC's mature-readers lineup. A genuinely compelling visual for fans of magical fiction with real dramatic weight.