Arata: The Legend #5

Volume 5 of Yuu Watase's Arata: The Legend brings together two very different faces of the same name — the cover, penciled and inked by Watase, shows a spirited school-uniformed figure with tousled blonde hair crouching over a longer-haired counterpart whose intense gaze anchors the composition, while an ornate, cross-shaped sword rests prominently between them against a lush green backdrop. The contrast between the modern school setting and the fantasy weapon captures the series' dual-world heart beautifully. Published by Viz under the Shonen Sunday imprint in 2011, this volume is a great entry point into Watase's blend of contemporary life and mythic adventure.