Inio Asano

From the Eisner-nominated, best-selling author of Goodnight Punpun and solanin, a dark look at what happens when living the life of your dreams becomes your downfall. Selling copies is the only thing that matters. So what if your first series just ended and you have no idea how to start the next one, your marriage is breaking up, your pure love of manga has been destroyed by the cruel reality of the industry and nothing seems to fill the sucking void inside you… Find the secret combo for a new hit manga series and everything will be okay. Right?

Downfall

I like Asano and Im sure its a fine one shot book, but damn bro I cannot read anything this depressing rn you give me anxiety and I have to drop it LOL

Idk it just feels empty, I can only do so much self aggrandizing cynicism man

Sierra Scanlan

I like Asano and Im sure its a fine one shot book, but damn bro I cannot read anything this depressing rn you give me anxiety and I have to drop it LOL

*****went back and finished*****

Idk it just feels empty, I can only do so much self aggrandizing cynicism man

Selling copies is the only thing that matters. So what if your first series just ended and you have no idea how to start the next one, your marriage is breaking up, your pure love of manga has been destroyed by the cruel reality of the industry and nothing seems to fill the sucking void inside you... Find the secret combo for a new hit manga series and everything will be okay. Right? -- VIZ Media

Briar's Reviews

Downfall by Inio Asano is a coming of age tale about a struggling manga artist trying to figure himself out in his mid-life crisis.

This story is depressing, sad, low and down yet it is powerful and moving. Our lead protagonist's life is in turmoil: his manga series is finished, his marriage is crap, he's seeing ladies of the night, and he just seems down in the dumps. His life continues to spiral, and we watch everything unfold before him.

As the story progresses, we learn more about the manga industry (or book industry in general - some people get a hit and then phase out), and our lead's past. We see why he became such a workaholic and is nothing but toxic. It's truly intriguing to read this little masterpiece on loneliness. Despite this man not being top tier, I felt sympathy for him. He truly leads a lonely, miserable life but he's not trying to pull himself out of the rut.

I think this story is truly intriguing, especially if you're looking for something a little more sad. It's not going to bring you out of the blues, but it will make you think and examine your own life. What happens when you go down a troublesome path but don't help yourself out of it? Honestly, if anything, this book made me think a lot and reflect on myself.

I can't really see any negatives for this book, if I'm being brutally honest. Yes it's sad and you need to be in a good headspace to read it, but it's not bad. It's a character study on flawed characters and I can respect that. I'd like to read more by Inio Asano and follow his characters again. This was truly marvelous.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for an opportunity to read this wonderful book!

Downfall by Inio Asano is a coming of age tale about a struggling manga artist trying to figure himself out in his mid-life crisis.

This story is depressing, sad, low and down yet it is powerful and moving. Our lead protagonist's life is in turmoil: his manga series is finished, his marriage is crap, he's seeing ladies of the night, and he just seems down in the dumps. His life continues to spiral, and we watch everything unfold before him. 

As the story progresses, we learn more about the manga industry (or book industry in general - some people get a hit and then phase out), and our lead's past. We see why he became such a workaholic and is nothing but toxic. It's truly intriguing to read this little masterpiece on loneliness. Despite this man not being top tier, I felt sympathy for him. He truly leads a lonely, miserable life but he's not trying to pull himself out of the rut.

I think this story is truly intriguing, especially if you're looking for something a little more sad. It's not going to bring you out of the blues, but it will make you think and examine your own life. What happens when you go down a troublesome path but don't help yourself out of it? Honestly, if anything, this book made me think a lot and reflect on myself.

I can't really see any negatives for this book, if I'm being brutally honest. Yes it's sad and you need to be in a good headspace to read it, but it's not bad. It's a character study on flawed characters and I can respect that. I'd like to read more by Inio Asano and follow his characters again. This was truly marvelous.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for an opportunity to read this wonderful book!