Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey (Kakukaku Shikajika) #5

Volume 5 of Akiko Higashimura's autobiographical manga series brings a quietly confident energy to its cover: a silver-haired man in a green athletic jacket stands arms crossed against a lush backdrop of tropical foliage and bold splashes of orange and yellow. The title's multicolored lettering — splattered like paint across the top — perfectly captures the creative spirit at the heart of this candid, heartfelt story about the messy, unglamorous pursuit of becoming an artist. If you've been following this series, volume 5 is a welcome continuation of one of manga's most refreshingly honest self-portraits.