Jumbo Max #1

The opening volume of Tsutomu Takahashi's Jumbo Max arrives via Pika Édition with a cover that sets a wonderfully offbeat tone — a slender, glasses-wearing young woman stands with her back turned, while beside her a wide-eyed, heavyset man reacts with exaggerated surprise, and a third, scruffier figure grins between them, clutching cash near a large jar of pills. It's a tantalizing, slightly absurdist first impression that blends social comedy with something a little edgier lurking just beneath the surface. Fans of Takahashi's distinctive character work will find this 2023 French-language edition a compelling place to start.