Astro Boy #6

Volume 23 of Osamu Tezuka's original manga collected into Dark Horse's digest format, this 2002 edition puts Astro Boy front and center — fists raised, jet boots blazing, bearing down on the reader with quiet determination as a massive, dark mechanical giant looms directly above him, its gaping maw and mechanical tentacles surrounded by a storm of scattered robot parts and debris. The dynamic perspective makes it feel like the little robot hero and his enormous adversary are hurtling toward each other at full speed, with Tezuka's cover art — both pencils and inks by the master himself — radiating that perfect blend of warmth and high-stakes tension the series does so well. If you're following "Once Upon a Time," this volume is a fine place to be.