Thunderbolts #4

Part of Marvel NOW!'s darker, morally complicated corner of the universe, this 2013 issue of Thunderbolts arrives with a cover by Julian Totino Tedesco that centers on the massive, red-skinned Red Hulk, debris exploding outward from him in every direction as teammates — including a sword-wielding figure and a gunslinger in tactical gear — are sent flying through the chaos. The deep crimson palette gives the whole image a sense of barely contained fury, making it immediately clear this team operates at a scale few others can match. Daniel Way and Steve Dillon bring the story titled "Massive Response," and with a cover like this, that title feels entirely earned.