Vol.42 – Chica Umino tribute variant

Volume 42 cover variant given as an appendix of the magazine Anteprima n.396, August 2024. Bundled together with March Comes In like a Lion vol.17

This is the variant released in Japan more than 15 years earlier as a result of an “artistic exchange” between Kentaro Miura and his friend Chika Umino, where they had illustrated the other author’s series cover. The Anteprima magazine includes both variants

I won’t even comment on the significance of this artwork anymore, historic! I must say, though, that the purple border isn’t bad at all; it complements Little Witch Schierke’s cape nicely, giving the whole piece a sense of uniformity. Sure, it’s the complete opposite of the otherworldly, fairy tale vibe the Japanese cover was going for, but hey, I’ve seen worse

Same cover art as the Japanese vol.33 – Young Animal and vol.33 – Exhibition variant