The Spectacular Spider-Man #42

The cover by Mike Zeck and Joe Rubinstein sets an immediate, dramatic tone: Spider-Man twists in mid-air at the Statue of Liberty while a fiery, flame-wreathed figure below fires a blazing energy beam that explodes just past him — Lady Liberty's massive stone face and torch looming over the whole confrontation. It's a striking composition that makes terrific use of one of America's most recognizable landmarks as a battleground. Bill Mantlo's story title, "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!", promises the kind of clever, high-stakes adventure that made this 1980 series such a reliable thrill.