After reading a review from someone I relatively trust, mostly because we have the same taste in entertainment, I decided to pick up volume 1 of Goodnight Punpun. It is the omnibus version so it actually has a few volumes of the original in it. What I can say before even starting is that the first volume with over 400 pages, I ended up finishing in a few hours. Sure it is a manga and the pages are mostly art, but I was so in love with the main character and the wackiness of the story, that I am already waiting on a few more volumes to arrive.
The story is written Inio Asano and although I havent read many of his prior manga, he adds some similarities within the character designs and a bit with the ideas. The story is about a young boy Punpun Punyama who is going through elementary school and figuring out life for the most part. He has a crush on a new transfer student whose a bit quirky and weird, but Punpun likes her nonetheless.
The character of Punpun is represented by what I can only explain as a ghost puppet bird and his family is based on various versions of the same design. Within the first 20 or so pages his father beats up his mother and is forced to leave, while his mother stays in the hospital, removing herself from the situation completely. In their absence Punpun's loser unemployed uncle comes to take care of him, but mostly just lets Punpun fend for himself.
I wont ruin anything else, but the story in the first volume is very much a coming of age story because it starts almost at the exact point Punpun realizes his parents no longer have a relationship and everything will be different from now on. Compounded with things like learning about girls and watching porn with friends, many things are new for Punpun. This will continue and in the end he needs to make a decision about where he wants to take his life. The story ends with him in middle school, but continues on in other volumes to the point of young adulthood.
Overall the story and the characters put within it are absolutely charming. Inio Asano has made a wonderful piece of art and this is only the first volume. I have a few of the other ones on the way, but I will read them and review them when they come. The book is a bit expensive for a manga ($20) so I would suggest buying it used or maybe read the story online and then buy the manga if you agree it was a good read. I look forward to updating you guys on this bizarre but lovable character and where his adventures take him. For the first volume, I would have to say its a must read for any manga fan or someone thinking about reading something in the future.
