Blade of the Immortal #86

Hiroaki Samura's cover for this 2004 Dark Horse release draws you in with an intimate, almost haunting close-up of a young figure — hair swept across a downcast face, a flowing robe edged with delicate scrollwork — rendered in Samura's signature muted, painterly tones. It's a quieter, more introspective image than you might expect from a series known for its intensity, perfectly suited to the second chapter of the "Mirror of the Soul" arc. A compelling addition to one of manga's most artistically ambitious ongoing series.