Uncanny X-Men #19

The "Uncanny X-Men vs. S.H.I.E.L.D." banner says it all — this 2014 Marvel NOW! kick-off pits Cyclops's team of mutants against a heavily armed S.H.I.E.L.D. strike force, and Chris Bachalo's cover (inked by Tim Townsend) captures the tension beautifully: armored agents descend from above with rifles raised while X-Men figures, including a striking blonde in black-and-yellow, brace for the confrontation amid a burst of fiery orange light. With Brian Michael Bendis scripting and Bachalo's kinetic, detail-packed linework driving the visuals, this opening chapter of the arc promises the kind of high-stakes clash that made this era of Uncanny X-Men such a compelling read.