The Flash #182

There's something uniquely compelling about a superhero paralyzed by fear of his own power, and this 1968 issue puts that tension front and center. The cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito shows the Flash in his scarlet costume, visibly anguished and gripping a yellow boot as a thought balloon reveals his terrifying dilemma: "I can't run again — I'm afraid it will kill me!" It's a striking image that pairs the Scarlet Speedster's raw physical power with a deeply human vulnerability, teasing a story by John Broome that promises much more than a straightforward race through Central City.