Universe X #12

The penultimate issue of Marvel's sweeping Universe X series arrives with a haunting, painterly cover by Alex Ross — a silver, symbiote-like figure curls within a luminous column of light, flanked by a golden-skinned figure and a blonde woman who regard the scene with quiet gravity, while a looming robotic giant and shadowy presence watch from above. The atmosphere is solemn and ceremonial, suggesting consequences that have been building across this entire series. With Krueger and Braithwaite driving the interior story toward its climax, this is the kind of issue that rewards readers who've followed every chapter.