Tekkonkinkreet: Black & White 30th Anniversary Edition (2023)

Two orphaned street kids, the hard-edged Black and the dreamy White, rule the rooftops of Treasure Town until the yakuza arrive with plans to remake it. The city is the real star: crowded, tilting panoramas where alleys bend and buildings lean as if seen by a child hanging upside down. This is the book that made Matsumoto's name in English, winning the 2008 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material, Japan. The 30th Anniversary Edition from 2023 collects the whole story in one 624-page hardcover and is the edition to buy. Read it after one of the friendlier entries if the style feels chaotic at first; it rewards a second pass.