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turnoverthepage's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
4/10. I love the art in this - a lot of the characters are depicted as quite creepy or have over exaggerated expressions which then make any panel of Punpun more amusing. There are also panels which are so well drawn and absolutely beautiful so against the storyline and rest of the artwork, they really stand out.
I did want to like this more than I did. I finished it in one sitting because it was a quick read but also because I was waiting for it to get better. It tells the story of a young boy navigating puberty and a bad home life but it just felt like it just missed being profound or missed being really funny (I think if it leaned into either of these feelings a bit more I would have had a more enjoyable reading experience).
From reading other reviews I was surprised that I didn't like this as much as I wanted to and unfortunately I don't think I will be picking up the next volume any time soon.
I did want to like this more than I did. I finished it in one sitting because it was a quick read but also because I was waiting for it to get better. It tells the story of a young boy navigating puberty and a bad home life but it just felt like it just missed being profound or missed being really funny (I think if it leaned into either of these feelings a bit more I would have had a more enjoyable reading experience).
From reading other reviews I was surprised that I didn't like this as much as I wanted to and unfortunately I don't think I will be picking up the next volume any time soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse
unfocusedcuriosity's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
dusk9147's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Solid first volume, great art and introduces the main characters well and sets the tone for the first half of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
dawntin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This volume had a strong start, and it ends on a cliffhanger. From the very beginning, you already know that something is off about “Punpun” and the world he lives in. The way the adults were portrayed was funny and creepy. There’s a lot of stuff about sex and puberty, mostly from Punpun’s friend group; there’s also other topics like domestic abuse and divorce (about Punpun’s parents) . Punpun and his friend/crush Aiko are kids who both have strange, if not outright dysfunctional, home lives. They’re also super introspective and care about how others see them. There’s a sense of turmoil going on for them, as well as the undercurrent of climate change and an unstable economy. It’ll be interesting to see how the characters turn out in the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia
sinvvas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
5.0
This manga took my heart out of my chest, crushed it, and then spit on it. It was one of the best manga I’ve ever read and I fully understand why it’s a cult classic. This is a super poignant coming-of-age story. The main character is drawn as a little bird in comparison to every other character being fully illustrated. The contrast makes the character stick out and makes you truly put yourself in his shoes. The relationships in this manga are deeply personal, funny, and heart-wrenching. If anyone has any doubts about graphic novels, this is a perfect example of how the medium truly upholds the story. I also fully can't describe how DISGUSTING the main character becomes. Please read all of the trigger warnings before reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
rnbhargava's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is quite good, it’s characterized through the view of the title character who is a small child so he doesn’t quite fully comprehend the severity of the things going on around him. It’s fascinating and kind of heartbreaking. I wonder where it will go in the other 6 volumes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Self harm, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Violence, Sexual content, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical content
There are scenes that amount to suggesting or showing domestic violence and pornography. This isn’t a book for children. One could argue this isn’t fully suitable for younger teens too.tea_kettle's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Alcoholism
Minor: Medical content and Toxic relationship
lily_777's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
justinlewry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Today, the autumn light seemed very soft. And if he stayed like that with his eyes closed... maybe he'd evaporate like water, and the he could fly wherever he wanted.
This is a collection of the first 2/13 volumes in the PunPun series. This series has been on my radar for years because of the unique character design, but I never knew anything about the plot so I went in with no expectations. Despite being a mostly silent protagonist, so much of the titular PunPun's personality is expressed in his art style- that is the best part of this book.
The narrative balances its unexpectedly heavy themes with moments of joy and levity. For the most part, I really enjoyed reading this, but I'm not sure if I will pick up the other omnibus'.
This is a collection of the first 2/13 volumes in the PunPun series. This series has been on my radar for years because of the unique character design, but I never knew anything about the plot so I went in with no expectations. Despite being a mostly silent protagonist, so much of the titular PunPun's personality is expressed in his art style- that is the best part of this book.
The narrative balances its unexpectedly heavy themes with moments of joy and levity. For the most part, I really enjoyed reading this, but I'm not sure if I will pick up the other omnibus'.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Domestic abuse
breanne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Interesting themes on existentialism but I hated the entire process, especially the racist caricature of the black bystander at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual content