The Spectre #40

The Spectre grapples with a massive, feathered beast atop what appears to be a towering cross or post, surrounded by billowing clouds of fire and shadow — cover artist Rafael Kayanan fills every inch of this April 1996 image with raw, atmospheric menace. Written by John Ostrander with art by Tom Mandrake, this run consistently delivered some of DC's most spiritually charged storytelling, and issue #40 — "Ill Wind" — looks to be no exception. If you've been following this series, the cover alone makes a compelling case to keep reading.