The Punisher War Journal #45

Part III of Marvel's "Dead Man's Hand" crossover event, Punisher War Journal #45 brings Frank Castle front and center, blazing away with both guns as muzzle flare erupts on either side of him — the skull emblem on his chest leaving no doubt about who's in charge. Looming behind him is a mysterious woman with green-streaked hair, alongside a bold criminal organization symbol and a hand of playing cards depicting various Marvel street-level figures, all hinting at the high-stakes underworld conflict at the heart of "The Vegas Idea." John Romita Jr.'s cover pencils and Klaus Janson's inks give the whole composition a gritty, kinetic energy that makes this 1992 chapter of the crossover a genuinely compelling piece of Marvel's darker side.