Blade of the Immortal #19

Hiroaki Samura's *Blade of the Immortal* returns with this 2008 Dark Horse volume, "Badger Hole," featuring a striking cover portrait of a young woman in partial armor, a sword slung across her back and a flame tattoo visible on her wrist, rendered in Samura's characteristically fluid and painterly linework. Her braided hair, patterned scarf, and star-motif boots give her a vivid, lived-in quality that feels both fierce and quietly contemplative. At $17.95, it's a handsome entry point into one of manga's most visually distinctive samurai series.