Ultimate X-Men #3

The "Warzone" arc of Ultimate X-Men continues with issue #3, part three of "The Tomorrow People" — and Adam Kubert's cover sets a striking tone, depicting a powerfully built Cyclops mid-action, visor glowing, as debris explodes outward all around him in a wash of fiery red and orange. It's a dynamic, kinetic image that captures the raw tension Mark Millar's reimagined X-Men were bringing to Marvel's Ultimate line in 2001. Whether you're revisiting this six-part saga or tracking it down for the first time, this cover alone makes a strong case for what made the series feel so fresh.