無限の住人 [Mugen no Jūnin] #1

The pencil-and-ink cover of this 1994 Kōdansha release immediately signals something formidable: a rugged, intense swordsman grips his blade close to his face, rendered in 沙村広明's striking monochromatic linework with a bold red kanji emblem anchoring the composition. Volume 1 of Mugen no Jūnin (Blade of the Immortal) arrives with a visual mood that is simultaneously spare and visceral — the kind of image that sets a serious, atmospheric tone from the very first page. A compelling opening to one of 1994's most distinctive manga series.