The Goon #13

The cover of this Dark Horse issue says it all — the Goon stares dead-eyed into the camera, holding a "Cade's Island" prison placard, rendered in striking pencil-and-ink detail by Eric Powell that gives the mugshot an almost photographic weight. That scarred, unimpressed face framed against a height-chart backdrop is a wonderfully dour piece of visual storytelling, hinting at serious trouble ahead for everyone's favorite bruiser. Powell's complete creative command of this series — writing, drawing, inking, and lettering the whole thing — makes The Goon #13 a particularly personal entry in this beloved Dark Horse run.