The Shadow #10

Against a blazing crimson background, Alex Ross's painted cover for this 2013 Dynamite issue presents a striking power struggle: a black-clad woman in a domino mask stands triumphant, chains in hand, looming over a bound and masked Shadow who lies sprawled beneath her in his signature wide-brimmed hat and dark cloak. The tension between these two figures — one captive, one commanding — makes this an arresting image for any fan of pulp crime drama, with a ghostly pair of watching eyes materializing in the red mist behind them. Victor Gischler and Aaron Campbell's ongoing series continues to push the Shadow into genuinely dangerous territory, and Ross's cover sets that mood with elegant menace.