平和の国の島崎へ [Heiwa no Kuni no Shimazaki e] #3

Volume 3 of this intriguing manga from Kōdansha delivers a cover that perfectly captures its offbeat tension — a powerfully built man in a white t-shirt and surgical cap sits in a folding chair, glasses on, arms quietly massive, while a cheerful red mascot costume character stands beside him like the world's strangest companion. The contrast between the man's coiled, understated intensity and his cartoonishly round red companion makes for a genuinely compelling image that hints at a story balancing humor with something considerably more serious. If the first two volumes have you curious about Shimazaki's life in a "peaceful country," this cover suggests the calm may be deceptive.