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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The art style is def not for me and it did showcase the contrast for the character punpun to the rest of the characters. This piece gave me incel-like (?) vibes, and it comes mostly from the main character, punpun being someone who doesn't really change at all and how he treats/views women. Although he experiences extreme trauma, tragedy, comes from a dysfunctional family, and struggles with depression/anxiety - his development barely shifts. I find him to be the object that exists, that is passive, and shaped by everything around them. It's the reason I have empathy and sympathy for punpun and his experiences, and remain infuriated that he does nothing. And when he does something, it's something violent to someone else. I resent the selfishness of his character who is supported by everyone else around him. It's clear he isn't incapable but rather unable to reckon with his own perception/self narrative with what he believes.
This article goes into an in-depth analysis of punpun based from Asano's statements in interviews and their previous works. This article for me was informative, but I don't agree with all of the arguments.
https://hanagasaitayo.wordpress.com/2019/12/01/analysis-goodnightpunpun-oyasumipunpun/
This other article addresses the use of a Black man as punpun's god, something I was questioning too. Why specifically was a Black man's face/appears as a figure in this manga? Pumpun's god is a representation of pumpun's obsession and intrusive thoughts. Asano creates a link that black is equated to evil, and this god is a crucial theme/character that pops up throughout the entire series.
https://indiehellzone.com/2023/01/12/goodnight-punpun/
This article goes into an in-depth analysis of punpun based from Asano's statements in interviews and their previous works. This article for me was informative, but I don't agree with all of the arguments.
https://hanagasaitayo.wordpress.com/2019/12/01/analysis-goodnightpunpun-oyasumipunpun/
This other article addresses the use of a Black man as punpun's god, something I was questioning too. Why specifically was a Black man's face/appears as a figure in this manga? Pumpun's god is a representation of pumpun's obsession and intrusive thoughts. Asano creates a link that black is equated to evil, and this god is a crucial theme/character that pops up throughout the entire series.
https://indiehellzone.com/2023/01/12/goodnight-punpun/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, Violence
Minor: Stalking, Abortion
I'm still digesting this last volume. Aiko and Punpun realize they can't stay on the run forever, and the cult is heading toward a bad end and Seki might not be able to save Shimizu from the cult. The theme of caring for other despite the odds is so painfully detailed because you care for these kids. Ever since the explosion, they've been damaged but trying to look out for each other, except for Shuntaro, who is in the final chapter at the reunion. He lives a normal, happy and easy life.
Shuntaro runs into Punpun at a park and they reminisce about their childhood. Punpun is realistically drawn, but his face is always obscured by something like word boxes, trees or something. It become clear that what has saved Punpun is having friends and making his own family. The next day at school, Shuntaro introduces a sad and jaded new girl to his classroom and a little boy seems to fall in love with her at first sight and the cycle of Punpun and Aiko's relationship and the little boy and his group of friends seem destined to be repeated.
There's also a lovely scene outlined in black border to show the passage of time between the denouement of the climax and the epilogue near their school reunion.
Overall it has been a beautiful and heart-wrenching series.
Spoiler
After Aiko's suicide, Punpun returns to the site of the explosion all those years ago to kill himself, but Sachie finds him and vows to care for him from now on. Seki abandons nihilism and enters a burning building to save Shimizu. Punpun's uncle becomes a father and the baby carries on the family tradition of being a cartoon bird. Punpun recovers and Sachie show him the character for her next manga based on a design by Mimura -- it's the bird figure of Punpun.Shuntaro runs into Punpun at a park and they reminisce about their childhood. Punpun is realistically drawn, but his face is always obscured by something like word boxes, trees or something. It become clear that what has saved Punpun is having friends and making his own family. The next day at school, Shuntaro introduces a sad and jaded new girl to his classroom and a little boy seems to fall in love with her at first sight and the cycle of Punpun and Aiko's relationship and the little boy and his group of friends seem destined to be repeated.
There's also a lovely scene outlined in black border to show the passage of time between the denouement of the climax and the epilogue near their school reunion.
Spoiler
The pages are black and Punpun talks to an idealized Aiko about moving on and how as time passes, he forget bits of her and even Tanabata Day fades and again you see Aiko's wish from the shrine "I hope that you never forget me." It's so beautiful and sad and realistic. They will grow up but she will stay forever young and become a hazy memory. My heart aches at the familiarity of this sentiment.Overall it has been a beautiful and heart-wrenching series.
A roller coaster of emotion, heartbreak, despair and hope, Inio Asano's Goodnight Punpun kept me enthralled from beginning to end as it took me through the tragic tale of a young boy who once lived his life through wonder and curiosity which unfortunately grew tainted by the poor influences around him, affecting his psyche until those bad influences began to bleed into his adult life, reshaping him into somebody unrecognisable.
Volume 7 is the conclusion to this journey, masterfully paying off arcs and clues in past volumes in a gorgeous manner, whilst also delivering gut wrenching scenes of hopelessness that prevents any thought of this story having a good ending until it approaches its last few pages. This volume had me gasping, it had me covering my mouth in shock, cursing the names of its characters and by the time it reached its bittersweet ending, left me to do nothing but cry and stare at the ceiling.
Goodbye, Punpun. And thank you, Inio Asano, for crafting such a masterpiece.
Volume 7 is the conclusion to this journey, masterfully paying off arcs and clues in past volumes in a gorgeous manner, whilst also delivering gut wrenching scenes of hopelessness that prevents any thought of this story having a good ending until it approaches its last few pages. This volume had me gasping, it had me covering my mouth in shock, cursing the names of its characters and by the time it reached its bittersweet ending, left me to do nothing but cry and stare at the ceiling.
Goodbye, Punpun. And thank you, Inio Asano, for crafting such a masterpiece.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once you reach the last volume of this series, it’s hard to put down until you’ve completed this tale of despair, love, death, and apocalypse. It’s no surprise at this point that the ending is open to interpretation—but the end, I felt, was much less the point than that series of quiet moments near the end in the brilliant sunshine as Punpun walks slowly, carrying that weight step by step.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh brother, this ending suckssssssss
Thank god Shimizu is okay, that was really all that mattered to me.
But the only moral of the story I got was that it is a woman's job to pick up the pieces of a man's life. God, this frustrated me so bad, but I'm so happy I'll never have to read it again.
But the only moral of the story I got was that it is a woman's job to pick up the pieces of a man's life. God, this frustrated me so bad, but I'm so happy I'll never have to read it again.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oct 27th edit: I was so confused by the ending but I reread it a couple of times and now i get it. This is a dark, difficult to read manga because of the subject matter. And yet it was relatable on many levels. A brilliantly written and drawn series!
Oct 26th: Gah! I have no idea what happened in the end! Wth?!
Oct 26th: Gah! I have no idea what happened in the end! Wth?!
Y así, hemos llegado al final. Usualmente cuando leo manga hago un review de la historia completa, pero con Goodnight, Punpun no pude. Cada capítulo, cada compilación eran únicos y se merecían aunque sea el mínimo comentario.
Debo confesar que después del volumen anterior no veía posible que la historia tuviera un final digno para ella o que pudiera satisfacerme lo suficiente, pero Asano lo logró. El final no es feliz, pero tampoco siento que sea triste. Es real y es lo que Punpun se merece al final después de todo lo que hizo. Como dijo el mismo autor, la muerte es más fácil que la vida y Punpun definitivamente no merece irse por el camino fácil.
Siento un gran dolor por el desenlace de Aiko porque durante los últimos instantes de la historia llegue a comprenderla y sentir pena por ella, dejando atrás el disgusto que los pensamientos de una niña pudieron generar al inicio de la historia.
Seki y Shimizu, dejando a un lado la historia de Pegasus, siempre tendrán un lugar en mi corazón. Y aunque su final fue un poco abierto, en mi mente tuvieron el mejor de todos y así se mantendrá.
Goodnight Punpun es una historia trágica y dentro de su ficción, real. Siempre tendrá un lugar especial para mí y sé que de igual manera para todo el que decida leerla.
Debo confesar que después del volumen anterior no veía posible que la historia tuviera un final digno para ella o que pudiera satisfacerme lo suficiente, pero Asano lo logró. El final no es feliz, pero tampoco siento que sea triste. Es real y es lo que Punpun se merece al final después de todo lo que hizo. Como dijo el mismo autor, la muerte es más fácil que la vida y Punpun definitivamente no merece irse por el camino fácil.
Siento un gran dolor por el desenlace de Aiko porque durante los últimos instantes de la historia llegue a comprenderla y sentir pena por ella, dejando atrás el disgusto que los pensamientos de una niña pudieron generar al inicio de la historia.
Seki y Shimizu, dejando a un lado la historia de Pegasus, siempre tendrán un lugar en mi corazón. Y aunque su final fue un poco abierto, en mi mente tuvieron el mejor de todos y así se mantendrá.
Goodnight Punpun es una historia trágica y dentro de su ficción, real. Siempre tendrá un lugar especial para mí y sé que de igual manera para todo el que decida leerla.