The Patriots #9

Four armored operatives charge forward beneath a torn American flag on this WildStorm series' ninth issue — a redheaded woman with dual pistols, a goggled female fighter clutching a heavy weapon, a young blond in a sleek suit, and a hulking armored soldier anchoring the foreground, with attack craft streaking the sky and a massive mechanized figure looming in the background. The cover art by Michael Ryan and Randy Elliott crackles with forward momentum, perfectly setting the stage for "Judgement Day: Part 1." With Peterson, Ryan, and Elliott driving the creative engine, this 2000 entry in The Patriots looks like a series hitting its stride.