The Punisher #27

Part of the Marvel Knights line, this 2003 installment of Garth Ennis and Tom Mandrake's Punisher run carries the simple but loaded story title "Elektra." Tim Bradstreet's cover art splits the composition into two stark panels — a weary, bandage-wrapped woman (Elektra) resting against a dark background above, and a steely-eyed Frank Castle gripping a firearm below, surrounded by hints of an urban environment with Asian script on the walls. The pairing of these two formidable figures promises a tense, gritty encounter that feels right at home in Ennis's unflinching take on the character.