Children of the Whales #6

Volume 6 of Abi Umeda's *Children of the Whales* announces itself with haunting, watercolor-lush artistry: a pale figure with green hair and crimson eyes holds clasped, bloodied hands to her lips while an extraordinary menagerie of creatures — butterflies, beetles, birds, lizards, frogs, a badger, and more — swarms across her body and crown of thorns in a riot of jewel-bright color against a deep red background. The image carries the series' signature blend of beauty and melancholy, feeling at once like a nature altar and a quiet lament. Umeda's draftsmanship is simply stunning here, making this 2018 volume as visually arresting as any in the series.