Manga Review: Goodnight Punpun, Volume 7, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~1.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2017

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A dark coming-of-age tale where slice-of-life slices back.

This is Punpun Onodera s coming-of-age story. His parents marriage is falling apart. His dad goes to jail and his mom goes to the hospital. He has to live with his loser uncle. He has a crush on a girl who lives in a weird cult. Punpun tries talking with God about his problems, but God is a jerk. Punpun keeps hoping things will get better, but they really, really don't.

This is the end, Punpun.

Review:

I missed the previous volume, and I could tell as I started this one, that I had missed some important scenes. We find Punpun in a very different place as this volume starts, and it only goes downhill from there.

Punpun seems to be struggling with his identity, with what his purpose is and what has been happening in his life. The story follows him and Aiko for a while, but then it also skips over to his old friends and what they're doing.

During all of this, we're also getting snippet of information regarding the politics happening and whether the world is ending and there are stars falling at one point.

This series definitely feels like a book I'd be given in college to analyze to death. I'm sure there's a lot of deeper meaning to everything that's happening in this series. (I'm sure not reading the whole series doesn't help, either.) There's definitely a lot of underlying messages, psychological reasons for why we're seeing Punpun in the image he is, how he talks differing from how other people talk, and everything to do with that ending and what led up to the conclusion of Punpun and Aiko's relationship.

There's a lot here, but honestly I think I just hated all of it. It's all deeply disturbing and depressing, and there aren't any even slightly good endings here. It's also kind of a mess to follow, and I don't know what's supposed to be real or metaphorical or what any more.

While I have found some of Asano's manga interesting, this was not one that I enjoyed in any way. It was not for me, at the least.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Volume 7, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2019

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 5. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s just an everyday apocalypse.

Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again. But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary.

International relations are crumbling as the hotheaded American president demands that the Japanese government share what they know about Invader technology. But the Japanese prime minister has more important things to think about than diplomacy—he wants to make sure his favorite idol is in the bunker with him when the mother ship blows. Meanwhile, the Occult Club is taking a trip to the seashore to meet with someone who claims to have had an extraterrestrial experience! The silly lark ends up revealing something shocking about Oran’s past, but at least the scenery is lovely!

Review:

In this volume, we get some insight on the US's stance on what is happening in Japan. The president has some statements regarding it, and some gamers we meet are also somewhat opinionated. I can definitely say I didn't really appreciate this part, but I can't refute it.

Throughout this volume, everyone is aware that there's a countdown bearing down on them all. Something big is going to happen, any time now really. The group goes on a little summer trip, there's some romantic attention; Oba definitely knows more than he's saying, but he's also reflecting on his changing feelings.

And then we're thrown an off-the-wall reveal as the volume is ending, new information regarding Oran. (At least, new information to me. I missed the first couple of volumes, it's possible we were told something then?)

This series is crazy and disturbing, while also being controversially thought-provoking and off-putting. It feels like it has a specific audience in mind, but also it's very easy to get sucked in and curious about where it's going.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Goodnight Punpun, Volume 5, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2017

Volumes: 13 / 7 Omnibus.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A dark coming-of-age tale where slice-of-life slices back.

This is Punpun Onodera’s coming-of-age story. His parents’ marriage is falling apart. His dad goes to jail and his mom goes to the hospital. He has to live with his loser uncle. He has a crush on a girl who lives in a weird cult. Punpun tries talking with God about his problems, but God is a jerk. Punpun keeps hoping things will get better, but they really, really don’t.

Punpun finally has a plan. But it gets shattered. He wants the world to shatter too. And it does. How can he live with himself? Maybe you just need to find a different life, Punpun.

Review:

I have only read a few things by Inio Asano. I've definitely been warned about their books, but the few volumes I've read haven't been quite as disturbing as I expected. I think I can safely say that changed with this volume. It was a bit of a ride more than I expected.

With zero knowledge of this series, I had different expectations. I thought Punpun was just an odd character in a normal world, but there's a lot of plot with normal humans. And what Punpun does is disturbing, his presence is odd, but it also feels like his image might just be symbolic of something more. He might just be representing a more psychological thing, possibly not so literal. But then again, it's hard to tell with this author. He might also be an alien taking over different people's lives?

This volume was disturbing in a few different ways. Firstly, there's some very graphic detail, some weirdly crude and sexual language and scenes that I didn't expect. There's definite political undertones, and even clear preaching from some crazy guy on the sidelines a few times. What takes the forefront of the story, though, is the drama regarding Punpun's friends and, as they attempt to publish a manga, the relationships changing around that.

This was an odd volume, to say the least. I don't know if I would ever go out and read Asano's stories on their own, but I definitely understand why people do, and must admit that sometimes the subject feels important and is being done in a very weirdly purposeful way.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Volume 5, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2019

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s just an everyday apocalypse.

Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again. But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary.

Private companies have been rushing to prove their worth in the Invader containment efforts, and their confirmed kill rates are starting to rival those of the SDF! But there are signs of trouble with the mother ship, and perhaps the Invaders are getting tired of this one-sided slaughter. Meanwhile, Ontan has found an Invader in a human suit and is keeping him at Kadode’s apartment. He’s a bit strange as housemates go, but at least things between Kadode and Mr. Watarase seem to be heating up!

Review:

Prejudices and dangers to the invaders are getting real. While the girls have their own alien friend, the military is out there killing them all, and people are warring on both sides of their rights about it. It all seems to be counting down to something, a time drawing closer to some inevitable doom.

Getting to see the aliens talking really sets a different mood for this series. From the aliens' perspective, the humans are the aliens. At times, we get to see them trying to hide and live in their sectioned off area, talking and not understanding the human language. All while the humans technology is getting smarter about hunting them out, and the humans are murdering them on sight.

Relationships are getting more intense just as the political danger is, too.

This series is off-setting, honestly; it feels disturbing in a very real way. I'm honestly enjoying it, though; it's interesting, even though I don't care for any of the characters very much.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Volume 4, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2019

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s just an everyday apocalypse.

Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again. But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary.

Despite the ongoing menace of wild Invaders and A-ray contamination, people are still moving to Tokyo to find opportunities and themselves. After all, the likelihood of getting squashed by a crashing Invader vessel is still extremely low! Meanwhile, Kadode and her friends have started university, where they must face the crisis of choosing which school club to join—a critical decision that will affect the rest of their lives!

Review:

We follow Takemoto for the first half of this volume, as she's getting ready to go to Tokyo despite everyone's warnings. Then we're back to Oran, and college and clubs.

The overarching theme in this volume is the rights of aliens. These creatures have invaded Japan, and now people are debating and protesting over whether they should outright attack the aliens or whether they have rights that should be protected. We see both sides here, as we get to meet the aliens who're stranded and have taken shelter on Earth. Both sides of this are a bit disturbing, and then the reality check we're given is quite awful.

I don't know any of the characters in this series, really, so instead I get to follow the politics more. And it's disturbing and hard to take at times, how surreal and yet so very real, it is.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Volume 3, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 7+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s just an everyday apocalypse.

Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again.

But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary.

The defense business is booming in Japan, and the amazing Hyujin weapons are finally getting their chance to shine. But civilians are fed up with the inconvenience of being collateral damage, and their protest signs are starting to get really pointed! Meanwhile, Kadode has to face up to the realities of living in an apocalypse and not taking her college entrance exams seriously. At least high school is finally over!

Review:

While the protests and debates continue, and there's an attack that kills a main character, their lives still have to continue on? Everything is happening in the background, and yet is very much apparent. I must admit it's quite well-done. I wouldn't call this horror, in any way really, but this plot is subtly unsettling.

The girls are graduating, and get to move on in their lives. Start something new.

The brother who's been stalking/cyber-bullying? This popular girl, finally gets to meet her, and instead of being mean or tricking her, he actually ends up making her feel better. It's an odd change. We also get to see Ai go on a date with a boy who likes her. I kind of understand why she decides the way she does, but it's also really sad to me. I think it would have been nice if she'd let him in, instead.

This is a really odd series. I definitely wouldn't have picked it up on my own, and I'm not sure if I'm enjoying it or not.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Volume 2, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 7+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s just an everyday apocalypse.

Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again. But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary.

The alien menace has been hovering over Tokyo for years, but the invaders aren’t content to just sit back and loom. One of them has taken to the streets of the city in human disguise in order to surveil the locals. He may not be the first, and he’s certainly not the last. Meanwhile, Kadode Koyama and her friends continue to deal with the peril of upcoming college entrance exams, as the stress of studying under the constant threat of annihilation sends some running to safer cities. At least it’s almost Christmas!

Review:

I really had no idea what to expect of this volume. I hadn't read the first one, or anything by Asano, but I've heard so many things. I expected it to be more horrifying?

This series takes place in a world that has been invaded by aliens. Their spaceship is above the city, and they're not quite invading, though people believe they're doing something. A lot of people are moving away because of it, and yet it's slow going. Even though this city is being invaded by aliens, a lot of people still can't imagine living elsewhere. And people have to continue their lives, you know? School and work and life still goes on.

When the invasion isn't big and violent, life goes on. It's an odd idea, and a little unsettling, and yet it also makes perfect sense. Sometimes these changes happen slowly, and people see them, but continue on anyway. It's kind of a depressing thought, but it is true.

This series mostly follows a group of girl friends, and how they go along and deal with things. Some of them are odd, and then there's an undercover alien mixing into school life.

This is an odd series, and I'm not sure what to think about it.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!