Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5

The fifth chapter of this 2007 DC eight-part series arrives with a striking image that says everything without a word: Uncle Sam, clad in his star-spangled costume, kneels in chains against a darkened American flag, head bowed in a moment of striking vulnerability. Writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray push their patriotic hero to what looks like a breaking point, while Daniel Acuña's moody, painterly cover art — all deep shadows and muted reds — gives the story its title, "Freedom Denied," a visceral visual weight. It's a compelling midpoint in the series for anyone who appreciates superhero storytelling with a politically charged edge.