Ultimate Secret #1

Warren Ellis and Steve McNiven launch this 2005 Marvel miniseries with a cover that assembles an impressive lineup against a deep-space backdrop — Nick Fury front and center, flanked by Thor, Iron Man, and two members of the Fantastic Four, all overshadowed by a towering armored figure whose glowing chest piece hints at cosmic-scale stakes. McNiven's pencils (inked by Mark Morales) pack the composition with energy, balancing the earthbound heroes against alien machinery and a massive green planet looming in the void. "Ultimate Secret Chapter One" promises the kind of high-concept, universe-spanning tension that makes for a genuinely compelling read.