The Books of Magic Annual #1

This 1997 Vertigo annual brings an oversized chapter to DC's enchanting Books of Magic series, with a story bearing the evocative title "Dark as Day, My Lady, Bright as Night." The cover, painted by Hermann Mejia, is a quietly arresting image: Tim Hunter — recognizable by his round glasses — crouches warily among moss-covered rocks and lush foliage, while a fair-haired young girl in a white dress reaches into a still, rippling pool, seemingly transfixed by whatever lies beneath the surface. It's a beautifully atmospheric piece that balances childhood wonder with an unmistakable undercurrent of unease, perfectly suited to the strange, magical world John Ney Rieber and Mark Buckingham were crafting at the time.