The Ultimates #8

Against a backdrop of electric, crackling lightning, this issue's cover by Bryan Hitch presents a striking portrait of a silver-haired man in sleek body armor standing close with a young woman in red — their hands clasped together in a pose that feels equal parts intimate and charged with tension. The story title "The Experts" hints that this chapter of Mark Millar's run brings some serious new players into the Ultimates' world. It's a quietly compelling cover that trades spectacle for atmosphere, and it works beautifully.