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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
medium-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
God, this is tough, Asano really knows how to self-loath in a way I've never seen another artist achieve without being like... terribly distasteful. You could argue Asano gets there, but I find him at the very least more driven to tell an interesting story than the average "what if a guy was fucked up and sad" stories we get over here in the west.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
Someone I once knew told me that tragedies, real tragedies, are simply the sum of life's small despairs.
By this definition, this story is most definitely a tragedy. And yet, it felt more like a sort of cautionary tale to me. I don't know the person I want to be when I'm, say, 37. But I sure as hell know the person I DON'T want to be.
At every turn of the page, I tried so hard to feel sympathy towards Kaoru... Tried to empathize with him. I really wanted to. But eventually I could feel nothing but disgust towards him. And sure, I can imagine how he's feeling, I understand. I understand how it feels, to be lost and aimless, to achieve your goals and still feel so empty. I was able to be sympathetic with certain moments of his life, yes. But the stagnation. The constant stagnation in all of his actions. Even when he did try to change his life, even then, there was still stagnation. I won't comment on his clear misogynistic tendencies, you don't need to be told what's wrong with what's depicted.
He's a sensitive, intelligent, thoughtful man. And despite his virtues and his age, he acts as an angsty teenager. He gets everything. Everything he could wish for: A popular story, a name in the industry, a wife, a home... a life. But he spits on it. Like it's nothing to him. Like living in some enormous mansion, but one day he finds a chipped brick so he burns the whole damn thing down.
I'm happy that stories like this exist.
And I'm even happier that they are not popular.
By this definition, this story is most definitely a tragedy. And yet, it felt more like a sort of cautionary tale to me. I don't know the person I want to be when I'm, say, 37. But I sure as hell know the person I DON'T want to be.
At every turn of the page, I tried so hard to feel sympathy towards Kaoru... Tried to empathize with him. I really wanted to. But eventually I could feel nothing but disgust towards him. And sure, I can imagine how he's feeling, I understand. I understand how it feels, to be lost and aimless, to achieve your goals and still feel so empty. I was able to be sympathetic with certain moments of his life, yes. But the stagnation. The constant stagnation in all of his actions. Even when he did try to change his life, even then, there was still stagnation. I won't comment on his clear misogynistic tendencies, you don't need to be told what's wrong with what's depicted.
He's a sensitive, intelligent, thoughtful man. And despite his virtues and his age, he acts as an angsty teenager. He gets everything. Everything he could wish for: A popular story, a name in the industry, a wife, a home... a life. But he spits on it. Like it's nothing to him. Like living in some enormous mansion, but one day he finds a chipped brick so he burns the whole damn thing down.
I'm happy that stories like this exist.
And I'm even happier that they are not popular.
Asano is always great... like, totally engrossing and abhorrent yet tragic. Their work's bleak; every brutality is inherently human, beautiful but so ugly. Downfall is no different. A lingering thought of a manga. Creativity versus character, art conflicting with artist, money, sales over integrity, or vice versa. In this, a concentrated cruelty is captured that stings. And although it is not quite Punpun, it is familiarly unsettling. The artistic process has never felt so shameful
And Asano's art style is simply astounding... textured, organic, almost claustrophobic. A master in their craft
And Asano's art style is simply astounding... textured, organic, almost claustrophobic. A master in their craft
it doesn't get happy.
i didn't necessarily cheer for fukazawa, but i didn't hate him either. i sort of hoped there was an arc of optimism to be found - but no, we're just going to dread our potential and dwell in what we lack the entire time, about every facet of our lives. the artwork is absolutely beautiful, but GOSH this leaves me in the dumps.
i didn't necessarily cheer for fukazawa, but i didn't hate him either. i sort of hoped there was an arc of optimism to be found - but no, we're just going to dread our potential and dwell in what we lack the entire time, about every facet of our lives. the artwork is absolutely beautiful, but GOSH this leaves me in the dumps.
2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy of this manga
I have so many conflicting feelings about this book. There were things that I liked and things that I didn't. I don't think that we are really supposed to like the main character. He's there so show us what the manga industry is like and how some people get burnt out after working on a project for so long. I think that he also showed how you can fall out of love with people and things that you used to be passionate about and then you have to deal with those feelings. Now I don't necessarily agree with how he dealt with everything that was going on in his life and watching him spiral out of control was truly fascinating. It was like watching a train wreck. I could not stop reading. I downloaded this and was just going to read a few pages to see what it was about and then before I knew it, I had read the whole thing. I really don't know if I would recommend this book though. There were a lot of very heavy themes and if cheating or sexual assault makes you uncomfortable then this book is not for you. That aspect of it made me feel very uncomfortable as I was reading it. I guess if you like realistic or sad manga then you may like this one. For me, this is one of those books that you need to read for yourself. But just be prepared to hate the MC going into this.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy of this manga
I have so many conflicting feelings about this book. There were things that I liked and things that I didn't. I don't think that we are really supposed to like the main character. He's there so show us what the manga industry is like and how some people get burnt out after working on a project for so long. I think that he also showed how you can fall out of love with people and things that you used to be passionate about and then you have to deal with those feelings. Now I don't necessarily agree with how he dealt with everything that was going on in his life and watching him spiral out of control was truly fascinating. It was like watching a train wreck. I could not stop reading. I downloaded this and was just going to read a few pages to see what it was about and then before I knew it, I had read the whole thing. I really don't know if I would recommend this book though. There were a lot of very heavy themes and if cheating or sexual assault makes you uncomfortable then this book is not for you. That aspect of it made me feel very uncomfortable as I was reading it. I guess if you like realistic or sad manga then you may like this one. For me, this is one of those books that you need to read for yourself. But just be prepared to hate the MC going into this.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Melancholic, then disturbing as we watch the protagonist unravel and hurt those around him.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content