The Punisher #4

This 2011 Marvel issue drops you right into the thick of it — the cover by Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary depicts the Punisher, skull emblem front and center, surging upward through a rain-soaked urban environment with a gun in one hand and a bat bearing down on opponents surrounding him. The dynamic, almost vertical composition gives the scene a visceral, close-quarters energy, with two adversaries framing the shot as if the viewer is caught in the crossfire. Inside, Greg Rucka's script and Marco Checchetto's art, colored by Matt Hollingsworth, promise the same gritty intensity this creative team has been delivering throughout the run.