Usagi Yojimbo #78

Stan Sakai's cover for this 2004 Dark Horse issue tells a vivid story all on its own: a stern, elderly cat woman in a flowing yellow kimono strides forward with a walking staff while, behind her, Usagi himself leaps into action against a sword-wielding opponent amid a forest clearing strewn with fallen foes. The contrast between her composed authority and the chaos erupting at her back makes "Samurai for Hire" feel like a tale with real texture and personality before you've even cracked the spine.