L'Ombre de Shanghai #5

The fifth chapter of L'Ombre de Shanghai arrives with its subtitle L'Évasion — "The Escape" — promising tension and momentum in this French-language series set against a Shanghai backdrop. The cover, illustrated by Li Lu, draws the eye immediately to a close, intimate moment between a blonde man in a white suit and a young woman in a striking red dress with a red bow in her hair, their faces nearly touching in what feels equal parts tender and urgent, while a bespectacled young woman in a blue outfit watches coolly from behind them, arms folded and holding a small book. Crépin Marty's storytelling paired with Li Lu's expressive, manga-influenced art makes this 2016 volume a compelling continuation of what is clearly a story full of romance, intrigue, and unresolved tensions.