白竜Hadou [Hakuryuu Hadou] #12

Volume 12 of Hakuryuu Hadou puts the tension front and center: a sharp-suited man levels a pistol directly at the viewer, his expression steely against a neon-drenched cityscape, while a coiling green dragon surges up from below him in vivid contrast. The juxtaposition of street-level grit and mythic imagery captures exactly the tone this Nihon Bungeisha series is known for — hardboiled yakuza drama with an undercurrent of something larger and fiercer. A compelling volume to have on your shelf if you're following this gritty crime saga.