Thunderbolts #12

The Punisher sits in quiet, calculating focus at the center of Julian Totino Tedesco's moody cover for this 2013 Marvel NOW! entry, surrounded by a swirling constellation of dossiers, photographs, and images of his teammates — including a leaping Deadpool and a snarling Venom — that suggest a team leader taking stock of some very dangerous allies. It's a striking, almost cinematic composition that captures the tension at the heart of this book: Frank Castle, skull insignia front and center, trying to keep a crew of volatile wildcards in check. With writing by Charles Soule and art by Steve Dillon with colors by Guru eFX, this issue promises the sharp character work and gritty energy that defined the series.