Usagi Yojimbo #28

The cover of this 1999 Dark Horse issue sets an atmospheric, autumnal mood as our rabbit ronin Usagi stands sword drawn in the foreground, while an elaborately dressed courtesan — adorned with ornate hair ornaments and a flowing kimono — looms behind him amid a shower of falling maple leaves. The pairing of these two figures hints at the intrigue promised by the story title "The Courtesan (Part 1)," blending elegance and tension in a single beautifully composed image. Stan Sakai's linework and Tom Luth's colors give the scene a rich, woodblock-print quality that feels right at home in feudal Japan.