inked_illusion
Member
A friend gave me all of Goodnight Punpun way back when in University in '08/'09 and I totally forgot about it. I finally finished it today and this is probably the best example of a "feel bad" manga.
For context, I have read the author's previous work Solanin and read a bit of slice of life mangas like Molester Man and Onani Master Kurosawa. The main difference between all these and Punpun is clearly the ending, with most of these having bitter sweet endings whereas Punpun just ends on a depressing note.
Goodnight Punpun is the story of Punpun, a relatively normal kid with a hyperactive mind dealing with a dysfunctional family, unrequited love, and lost of innocence as we see him go through childhood, high school, and university years.
The first half honestly is far stronger than the second half as you also get to see snippets of his family and friends through their side stories. Lots of the manga's strengths come from how messed up everybody is with their lives making the somewhat mundane feel pretty special.
The author, Inio Asano, initially wanted to span the manga over seven volumes but extended it to add more side stories as well as focusing on the art. Honestly, I wished he stick to the original plan cause the second half (and a bit of the first half) dragged on for too long with unnecessary characters, overtly preachy dialogue, and way-too-much time spent on punpun's existential crisis.
Aiko, Punpun's first crush and love interest seems like your typical girl next door but as the manga goes on the lengths that Punpun goes to be with Aiko goes off the rails and I find somewhat unnecessary.
. To build Punpun as a someone we can relate to and an underdog only to drive him insane adds to the whole "feel bad" tone of the manga. I can also get Punpun's sad revelation that everything he dreamed as a child came crumbling down on him as he grew older. For him to become worse than all his friends and family just for a bit of happiness seems a bit overkill as well (though somewhat plausible).
Overall, I just wished the manga was a lot leaner and focused more on Punpun's story as well as his friends (did not care at all for the cult leader's side story cause fuck him) but alas I made it through the end. There were lots of feels even as it reached the end and it was a total page turner but again so much of the side stories could have been cut as well as make Punpun somewhat redeemable at the end (cause I feel like he didn't). I'd like to read more mangas like this but for now, I think I've have my fill.
TL;DR: Read Punpun, first half was better than the last half and Punpun should've had less unnecessary side stories and a much leaner main plot. Punpun should've also redeemed himself a little better but I think he got what he deserved. Great example of a "feel bad" manga but I like the author's previous work, Solanin, better.
For context, I have read the author's previous work Solanin and read a bit of slice of life mangas like Molester Man and Onani Master Kurosawa. The main difference between all these and Punpun is clearly the ending, with most of these having bitter sweet endings whereas Punpun just ends on a depressing note.
Goodnight Punpun is the story of Punpun, a relatively normal kid with a hyperactive mind dealing with a dysfunctional family, unrequited love, and lost of innocence as we see him go through childhood, high school, and university years.
The first half honestly is far stronger than the second half as you also get to see snippets of his family and friends through their side stories. Lots of the manga's strengths come from how messed up everybody is with their lives making the somewhat mundane feel pretty special.
The author, Inio Asano, initially wanted to span the manga over seven volumes but extended it to add more side stories as well as focusing on the art. Honestly, I wished he stick to the original plan cause the second half (and a bit of the first half) dragged on for too long with unnecessary characters, overtly preachy dialogue, and way-too-much time spent on punpun's existential crisis.
Aiko, Punpun's first crush and love interest seems like your typical girl next door but as the manga goes on the lengths that Punpun goes to be with Aiko goes off the rails and I find somewhat unnecessary.
I get that it's Punpun's first love, but for him to ditch his current girlfriend, accidentally kill Aiko's mother, and straight up lead to Aiko's death just feels forced and half assed in my opinion
Overall, I just wished the manga was a lot leaner and focused more on Punpun's story as well as his friends (did not care at all for the cult leader's side story cause fuck him) but alas I made it through the end. There were lots of feels even as it reached the end and it was a total page turner but again so much of the side stories could have been cut as well as make Punpun somewhat redeemable at the end (cause I feel like he didn't). I'd like to read more mangas like this but for now, I think I've have my fill.
TL;DR: Read Punpun, first half was better than the last half and Punpun should've had less unnecessary side stories and a much leaner main plot. Punpun should've also redeemed himself a little better but I think he got what he deserved. Great example of a "feel bad" manga but I like the author's previous work, Solanin, better.
