A Certain Magical Index #16

Volume 16 of Chuya Kogino's manga adaptation — based on Kazuma Kamachi's original story with character designs by Kiyotaka Haimura — puts the magic front and center with a striking cover featuring a large, intense close-up of a red-braided girl looming above the action, while two characters in matching dark nun habits and golden braids surge forward amid swirling green magical energy and glowing arcane circles. The contrast between the commanding figure above and the urgency of the two below gives the composition a real sense of escalating tension. Fans of the series will find this 2019 Yen Press volume a visually compelling addition to the shelf.