Blade of the Immortal #21

Hiroaki Samura's *Blade of the Immortal* continues with "Demon Lair II," and this volume's cover immediately communicates the series' signature blend of raw brutality and unexpected tenderness — the scarred, chain-bound immortal Manji cradles a curled, vulnerable figure in his massive armored arms, his expression hard and watchful against a cold, washed-out blue backdrop. The contrast between his fierce, weathered strength and the fragile form he shelters makes for a quietly gripping image. Dark Horse's 2009 trade collection is a compelling entry point into one of manga's most visually distinctive samurai epics.