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This is a 12 volume manga by Inio Asano. I'm not a big manga reader & consider myself highly selective. This was one of the best & most beautiful series I've ever read. A love letter to imageboard culture alongside exploration of diverse human responses to horrific circumstances that can't be understood even as they happen to you and those you love. Sympathy, empathy, pity. Aliens and teen girls trying to cope.
I believe it's getting an anime adaptation soon, which I hope will be well done and impactful. I don't know, it just really stuck with me.
Sep 11, 2024
Related Recs
(long and personal review incoming)
This manga is my favorite piece of media ever, I've read it three times and it never fails to send me into a severe bout of depression
I couldn't really summarize the story well but if I had to I'd say it's about the dysfunctional lives of different people as they grow up and the cruelty and reality of the modern world
It's extremely realist and the events in the story can leave you with a sense of meaninglessness
Despite the cynical, nihilistic nature of this manga there's bits of dry humor and little moments of hope here and there that carry you through
While a lot of the backgrounds are CG, the art is amazing nonetheless and the character design in particular stands out
I relate to how the main character Punpun is outwardly cynical but internally emotional, how he was once praised for his aspirations and now feels apathetic towards everything
I think his character speaks a lot to modern society and dysfunctional families
I particularly love how his comical bird-like design prevents readers from truly relating or sympathizing with him for having a human appearance, creating a metaphor for his alienation and isolation from others throughout the story
The main "love interest" Aiko is a great example of a girl who struggles with relationships, family, and the modern world
I relate to her obsessiveness and her desire for unconditional love
The cult her mother participates in (and forces on her) caused me to question my own family's heavily controlling religious beliefs (mormonism), so personally—even though I experienced a horrible year-long existential crisis for it—I am incredibly grateful towards the author for "waking me up" and inspiring me to leave those beliefs and practices behind
I think my favorite thing about this manga is how it's truly morally grey; all of the characters suffer in their circumstances but it doesn't excuse their lifestyles or actions
Ultimately, this story inspired me to actually care about my life and try to be better in spite of the suffering of myself and others
TLDR: Amazing manga that will ruin your life and leave you to choose what kind of person you want to be afterwards
10/10
May 20, 2025
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My favorite manga I’ve ever read. Last summer I pulled an all-nighter and binged the entire thing in one go. Such a brutal read. Love exists in many forms and the way the manga explores this concept is so so stellar. Definitely a big inspo for me and a must read in my eyes. Whether you like shonen or not, it's undeniably great.
Aug 9, 2023
beautiful goth horror manga! creepy and beautiful but hard to get English translation that isn;t like 200$
Jun 14, 2024
Top Recs from @killer
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I feel like 12 is a wonderful place to start. 1 book a month. Keep it in your bathroom. Beside your bed. Where you eat your meals. Please read this year. It's one of the best things you can do for yourself. and for me, and for everyone who you'll tell, I'm reading again, and you should read with me too. Take pictures or screencaps of passages and send them to your friends. Read funny, easy books, evil and upsetting books, books that are boring but are still satisfying to finish. Go to the library. Challenge yourself. You will feel better, you'll feel proud of yourself, and you'll banish the negative moodlet of being mad or ashamed at yourself for not reading. It's ok that you haven't been. You had your reasons and it doesn't do any good to beat up on yourself. That was then and this was now. Start a book tomorrow bc it is a new day :)
Jan 1, 2025
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be giving, accept graciously, be thankful, withdraw when it's wise
Jul 20, 2024
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I don't listen to any AI generated playlists because I prefer to hear ones curated by people. I love sharing music as a human to human thing. It's also dismaying how music streaming services prioritize the songs of artists whose management pay them, etc.
It's so fun to simply browse anonymous person's curated lists instead on top of sharing with friends. It's never been easier to peek into someone else's semi-private music preference and walk their landscape. Just today I found a person who's made dozens of playlists for specific beanie babies (!), all with no saves or likes.
We don't need AI driven sorting to develop taste and find things we like. Break out of the corral with me and run free. Let's see what's over the hill
Aug 6, 2024