1992 : Hard Boiled, by the comic art expert (and later designer of the Matrix films), Geof Darrow.

And then, here in 2007, the cover to the new comic by Kyle Baker. Thing is, Baker’s a terrifically talented comic writer / artist too.

Actually, I doubt it’s a swipe, but I wanted to point out the similarity anyway (chances are there’s a Frontline Combat cover from the old EC comics which predates this layout anyway).