Uncanny X-Men #18

Tied into the Avengers vs. X-Men crossover event of 2012, this issue's Ron Garney cover pulls no punches — a blonde woman engulfed in roiling flames struggles against the iron grip of a darkly armored figure, both of them caught in a city-skyline backdrop that crackles with tension. The composition is genuinely striking, all heat and desperation, setting a dramatic tone for whatever confrontation awaits inside. Kieron Gillen scripts alongside Garney's art and Jason Keith and Morry Hollowell's colors, making this a compelling chapter in one of Marvel's most ambitious team-event tie-in runs.