The Thing #8

Few gatherings in the Marvel Universe look quite this tense — Ben Grimm sits at the center of a high-stakes poker table, a massive hand of cards clutched in his rocky fists and a towering stack of chips in front of him, while a crowd of onlookers including Wolverine, She-Hulk, Spider-Man (dangling upside down from above), Ms. Marvel, and many more watch the action unfold. With a cloaked figure, a mysterious purple-masked player, and even a large dog dealt into the game, Andrea DiVito's cover is a wonderfully chaotic snapshot of the Marvel Universe cutting loose around its most lovable bruiser. Dan Slott's run on The Thing has been a treat for fans who enjoy seeing Ben Grimm in his element, and issue #8's "Last Hand" promises a fitting finale to this crowd-pleasing series.