The Savage Sword of Conan #189

Standing atop a mound of skulls and bones against a fiery orange sky, Conan dominates this September 1991 cover with a battle-axe raised in one hand and a round shield held ready in the other — every inch the self-proclaimed "Most Ferocious Hero of All." Ovi Hondru's painted-style cover work gives the Cimmerian a raw, muscular presence that feels genuinely imposing, his horned helmet and warrior's stance leaving little doubt that trouble is either just past or fast approaching. Inside, Michael Higgins and Mike Docherty bring "The Eye of the Storm" to life, promising the kind of sword-and-sorcery adventure that made this long-running Marvel magazine a staple of the genre.