Ballad of a Shinigami #1

The opening volume of this manga adaptation sets a graceful, otherworldly tone right from the cover — a pale-haired shinigami girl tumbles through white space, her flowing garments and teal stockings trailing behind her, accompanied by a small winged creature clutching a tiny scythe. Adapted by Asuka Izumi from K-Ske Hasegawa's original story, this 2009 release from DC promises a poetic take on death-god mythology with an unexpectedly delicate visual sensibility. If you're drawn to manga that blends the ethereal with the intimate, this first volume makes a genuinely compelling starting point.