Arata: The Legend #4

Volume 4 of Yuu Watase's Arata: The Legend brings together the series' two protagonists on a cover that captures the story's dual-world heart — a dark-haired figure in a school uniform tumbles through a vivid red-and-blue sky above a brown-haired boy, while in the foreground a wide-eyed, blue-haired character clutches an ornate mystical device, a beaded accessory draped around their neck. Watase's crisp linework and expressive character designs shine in both the pencils and inks, giving each figure a distinct energy that hints at the tension woven through the chapter "Pain of the Heart." Published by Viz under the Shonen Sunday imprint in 2010, this volume is a compelling entry point into the series' blend of modern-day drama and fantastical adventure.