La cité des esclaves #5

Volume 5 of La Cité des Esclaves delivers a striking visual statement from writer Shinichi Okada and artist Hiroto Ooishi: the cover juxtaposes a screaming figure, a looming syringe, and what appears to be a pair of scissors against a textured, painterly background that feels equal parts unsettling and arresting. Casterman's 2015 release makes clear this series isn't shying away from visceral, provocative imagery. If you've been following this dark, atmospheric manga, volume 5 promises the same bold artistic vision that has defined the series from the start.