The Guardians of Metropolis #1

Spinning out of the Superman titles, this 1994 four-issue DC miniseries kicks off with a cover by penciler Kieron Dwyer and inker Karl Kesel that puts a blue-and-yellow armored hero front and center — fist raised, shield in hand — while a crowd of Metropolis's everyday citizens fans out behind him and looming antagonistic faces fill the background with menace. The contrast between that determined guardian charging forward and the ordinary men and women rallying at his back gives the image a genuinely warm, street-level energy. Writer Karl Kesel, artist Kieron Dwyer, and inker Mike Manley form a strong creative team, and this opening chapter looks like a fine entry point for anyone curious about the unsung protectors of Superman's city.