The Saga of Swamp Thing #20

Tom Yeates' cover for this January 1984 DC issue captures Swamp Thing engulfed in flames and energy blasts as a ring of armed, uniformed soldiers closes in from the murky bayou behind him — helicopters sweeping searchlights overhead to complete the siege. The image has a raw, atmospheric tension to it, with the creature's massive green form holding its ground against overwhelming force. "Loose Ends" promises exactly the kind of moody, high-stakes storytelling that made this series a compelling corner of the DC universe in 1984.