The Pulse #10

Part of Marvel's 2005 "House of M" event, this issue of The Pulse features a striking cover by Mike Mayhew of a purple-costumed archer — bow drawn taut, broadhead arrow aimed with fierce determination — set against a bold red-and-white striped background. The tension in that drawn bowstring practically leaps off the page, making it one of the more visually arresting covers in the series. With Bendis writing and the Lark/Gaudiano art team inside, this is a compelling chapter in one of Marvel's most grounded superhero titles of the era.