Blade of the Immortal #31

Hiroaki Samura's pencil-toned cover for this third chapter of the "Dark Shadows" arc presents a solitary figure — long-haired, composed, arms folded — rendered in delicate monochrome against a layered circular motif that gives the image an almost meditative stillness. The ornate scroll-work trim on the character's robe adds quiet elegance to what is otherwise a portrait of restrained intensity. It's a beautifully understated cover from Samura, perfectly in keeping with the series' reputation for melding fine-art draftsmanship with samurai drama.