Monstress #48

Sana Takeda's cover for Monstress #48 is a study in quiet, unsettling tension — a single feline paw stretches upward into a cold green shaft of light against near-total darkness, claws extended and fur tinged with grime. It's a strikingly intimate image for a series known for its sprawling, ornate visuals, distilling everything down to one desperate, reaching gesture. Marjorie Liu and Takeda continue their award-winning collaboration with this 2023 issue from Image Comics, and covers like this are a reminder of why the series commands such devoted attention.