The Books of Magic #71

MW Kaluta's cover for this April 2000 Vertigo issue is a striking vision of otherworldly pageantry — a winged, armored figure stands at center, butterfly wings spread wide and a clock-faced shield in hand, while cherubic attendants hover above and goblin-like creatures clamber at the edges of cascading crimson drapery. The overall image feels like a tapestry of mythic symbolism, blending mechanical and fantastical elements with real elegance. Peter Gross helms the interior as writer and artist on "The Hunter," promising the kind of richly layered storytelling that made The Books of Magic one of Vertigo's most imaginative ongoing series.