Blade of the Immortal #123

Hiroaki Samura's long-running Dark Horse series continues with this atmospheric cover for the "Barefoot" arc (part 2 of 5), featuring a composed, watchful young woman in a beautifully detailed floral kimono, sheltering beneath a crimson parasol with a sword slung at her back. The muted earthen tones of the background make her red-and-pink garments and white hydrangea blossoms all the more striking, projecting an air of quiet danger beneath a graceful exterior. A fine entry point into one of manga's most visually assured action series.