The Witcher #1

Dark Horse kicks off this five-issue series with a cover that wastes no time establishing its grim tone — Geralt of Rivia strides forward through murky, skull-strewn waters, twin swords crossed at his back, while a haunting dark-haired woman, a horned beast skull, a raven, and a glowing-eyed specter loom behind him in shades of blood red and ash grey. Writer Paul Tobin and artist Joe Querio bring the monster-haunted world of The Witcher to comics in 2014 with this atmospheric opener. If you've ever wanted the brooding danger of the franchise captured in sequential art, this cover alone makes a compelling case.