The Goon #17

Eric Powell's cover for this 2006 Dark Horse issue is genuinely unsettling in the best way — a brooding, scarred Goon looms in the foreground while dozens of glowing-eyed shadow creatures swarm every telephone wire and rooftop behind him, filling the murky twilight sky with an overwhelming sense of dread. The sheer contrast between the Goon's grim, solitary composure and the teeming horde at his back makes for a striking image that showcases Powell's remarkable range as a solo storyteller and visual artist. If this cover is any indication, issue #17 delivers the perfect blend of noir atmosphere and supernatural menace that makes this series so compelling.