Titans / Young Justice: Graduation Day #2

The second chapter of this three-part 2003 crossover delivers a cover that crackles with tension — Superman and Nightwing stand braced and battle-worn above fallen figures that include Robin and a dark-haired young woman, with a second Superman visible in the chaotic background, hinting at something deeply wrong. Judd Winick's story is brought to vivid life here by Alé Garza's pencils and Trevor Scott's inks, which give every strained muscle and shredded costume a real sense of urgency. If the "Titans / Young Justice: Graduation Day" title promised a turning point for DC's next generation of heroes, this cover makes clear that the commencement comes at a serious cost.