The Books of Magic #70

The Books of Magic reaches issue #70 in 2000 with a cover by MW Kaluta that balances tenderness against menace in striking fashion. At the center of a ornate, heart-shaped shield, a dark-haired bespectacled boy shares a quiet moment with a fair-haired companion — while looming behind the shield, massive bestial creatures with glowing eyes press in from the shadows, a sword cutting across the composition like a threat barely held at bay. Peter Gross and Ryan Kelly bring the story "Ashes Time" to life inside, and Kaluta's cover perfectly frames the series' signature blend of fragile human connection and the dangers that surround it.