The Brave and the Bold #27

The Brave and the Bold #27 pairs Batman with the concept of Dial H for Hero in a November 2009 team-up that carries real dramatic weight — the cover by Jesús Saiz shows Batman swinging urgently through a city canyon on his batrope, cape billowing wide, while a mysterious outstretched hand below holds the iconic H-Dial, its red button gleaming ominously. The blunt cover tagline "Death of a H.E.R.O.!" makes clear that the fate of heroism itself is on the line, lending the story a gravity that feels earned rather than manufactured. J. Michael Straczynski brings his signature thoughtfulness to the script, and Saiz handles both writing and drawing duties on the cover with a clean, kinetic energy that pulls you straight in.