Ultimate Spider-Man #2

The "Growing Pains" chapter of Marvel's bold 2000 reimagining continues here, with cover pencils by Mark Bagley placing Spider-Man in a crouching, street-level pose atop the hood of a sleek black car amid a bustling New York backdrop of city buildings and a yellow cab. There's an energy to the image that feels grounded and kinetic — this is a Spider-Man navigating a real, gritty urban world rather than soaring above it. With Brian Michael Bendis and Bill Jemas crafting the story and Bagley's dynamic linework setting the tone, this series was already staking out its own distinctive identity in 2000.