Strikeforce: Morituri #21

Strikeforce: Morituri was launched by Marvel Comics in 1986, created by writer Peter B. Gillis and artist Brent Anderson. Set in a near-future where Earth is occupied by an alien race, the story centers on human volunteers who gain superpowers through a procedure that inevitably leads to their death within a year. Issue #21, released in 1988, occupies a unique space in the series' arc, maintaining the title's somber tone as it explores the existential dread and moral complexities faced by characters who know their time is strictly limited.

The series is often cited as a bold experiment for Marvel in the 1980s, moving away from traditional superhero power fantasies to focus on mortality and the cost of war. The design of issue #21 reflects the gritty, high-stakes aesthetic characteristic of the late-eighties comic landscape. While the series eventually concluded after 31 issues, it remains a cult classic among fans of science fiction comics for its refusal to grant its protagonists plot armor, grounding the fantastical premise in a visceral, human reality.