In Middle-earth, there’s always been one villain to rule them all – a baddie so nefarious that his name strikes fear into the minds of Men, Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits (or Harfoots) alike. That name is none other than Sauron. And as The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power returns for a supercharged Season 2, ready to take audiences back to J.R.R. Tolkien’s expansive realm, the cat is out of the bag: Sauron has been revealed, and he’s ready to reign. Amazon’s mega-budgeted high-fantasy drama, set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, is back bigger, bolder, and – thanks to a certain someone – badder than before. Prepare yourselves: the Dark Lord rises.

This month’s issue of Empire takes a trip to Middle-earth for a massive Rings Of Power world-exclusive – going on set of Season 2 and seeing how the ultimate all-out fantasy saga is upping the stakes in a major way. And it comes with two covers to collect – each featuring 3D lenticular designs that offer brand new looks for the show’s two central figures. First up, there’s Morfydd Clark’s elf warrior Galadriel getting battle-ready:

And the second cover shows off a brand new sinister disguise for Charlie Vickers’ Sauron – say goodbye to Halbrand, and prepare to meet Annatar.

Inside, we discover Sauron’s next deception, venture on Galadriel’s new mission, probe the ongoing mystery of The Stranger, and do battle with Barrow-wights, as the show’s true narrative – and major villain – emerges from the shadows. Expect brand new interviews with showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay; stars Charlie Vickers, Morfydd Clark, Sophia Nomvete, and Daniel Weyman; director Charlotte Brändström, and more – along with brand new exclusive images and never-before-seen concept art from the upcoming season. It’s an issue forged in the fires of Mount Doom that you really won’t want to miss.

This month’s exclusive subscriber cover offers a brand new look at the series’ scariest addition – the ghoulish Barrow-wights, figures drawn from Tolkien’s source material that are finally making their way to the screen. Art by Einar Martins.

All that, and there’s plenty more inside – we walk into M Night Shyamalan’s Trap, talking pop stars and pulse-pounding thrills; we buckle up for Borderlands, speaking to Eli Roth and his all-star cast about a blistering videogame-inspired blockbuster; and we dive into the dark heart of The Crow, discovering more about the new take on a gothic classic.

It’s an issue more desirable than the One Ring itself – find a copy on newsstands from The Shire to Mordor, on sale from Thursday 4 July. Pre-order a copy here – choose the Galadriel cover, or the Sauron cover. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Season 2 comes to Prime Video from 29 August.