Le Pacte des Yôkai #2

The cover of this second volume from Yuki Midorikawa sets a quietly enchanting tone: a silver-haired young man rests in the embrace of a large, luminous white fox-spirit, surrounded by delicate flowers and a flutter of colorful butterflies, while he holds what appears to be a small book or box. Published by Éditions Delcourt in 2008, Le Pacte des Yôkai brings a distinctly poetic, dreamlike sensibility to the world of Japanese folklore. If this gentle, atmospheric artwork is any indication, this series balances the supernatural and the tender in equal measure.