The Goon #31

Eric Powell's cover for The Goon #31 is a quietly striking piece — the big man himself stands alone against a pale, mist-shrouded background, his massive frame rendered in loose, painterly strokes that give him an almost melancholy weight. There's something unexpectedly contemplative about seeing the Goon just standing there, hands at his sides, jaw set, staring off with that trademark scowl softened into something harder to read. Powell's work on this series has always mixed pulpy muscle with genuine atmosphere, and this 2008 Dark Horse issue wears that blend beautifully on its sleeve.