Elephantmen #4

The fourth volume of Image's Elephantmen collects what Starkings, Moritat, Medellin, Roshell, and Cook have been building, and the cover alone makes a compelling case for the series. Dominating the image is a massive, battle-scarred cybernetic crocodile-human hybrid — bloodied, heavily armed, and radiating raw menace — while a confident blonde woman in shorts and tactical boots stands her ground in front of him, pistol in hand and pink headphones around her neck. Subtitled Questionable Things, this 2011 trade perfectly captures the series' blend of gritty sci-fi muscle and surprisingly nuanced character dynamics.