Ultimate Captain America #2

Ron Garney's cover for this 2011 Marvel series delivers an immediate jolt of tension — Steve Rogers, still helmeted but stripped of his armor, peers up from murky water surrounded by jungle foliage and an eerie warm glow, machete in hand and steely resolve in his eyes. It's a survival-thriller mood that feels miles away from a conventional superhero tableau, perfectly suited to Jason Aaron's run on the Ultimate universe's take on the Star-Spangled Avenger. If issue #1 pulled you in, this cover alone makes a strong case for staying on board.