めぞん一刻 [Maison Ikkoku] #2

The soft blue palette of this volume's cover sets a quietly contemplative tone, centering on a young man in a varsity jacket gripping what appears to be a sports implement over his shoulder — a casually determined pose that captures the series' blend of everyday life and understated emotion. Rumiko Takahashi's beloved romantic comedy Maison Ikkoku needs little introduction, and this second volume from Shogakukan continues the story of its endearing cast. A gentle, character-driven series that holds a special place in manga history, this is a wonderful addition to any collection.