The Stand: Soul Survivors #1

Two figures — one easygoing in overalls, the other tense and watchful — sit together on a bench while a town tears itself apart in the smoke-filled background behind them, and that quiet contrast between human connection and encroaching catastrophe makes for a genuinely striking cover by Lee Bermejo. This is the first issue of Soul Survivors, the third chapter in Marvel's adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand, with Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Mike Perkins, and Laura Martin continuing their collaboration on one of King's most beloved stories. If you've been following this series, 2009 brought another compelling installment; if you're just discovering it, this cover alone makes a strong case for diving in.