Downfall feat. Life

Downfall - Inio Asano
Viz Media asked if they could use this image, I feel so honoured.

It's been a  while since I last posted here for I have been dealing with a lot of things, finding motivation to blog or been drowning an anxiety with doing things I use to do in my old place, which basically involves doing dishes and dealing with washing. Something I was once forced to do but now is oddly something I have to, no, I must do. Otherwise I get so antsy if I don’t, I feel like I’m not doing anything, feel like trouble will be around the corner, that feeling that I can’t breathe if I don’t do them… It’s too much even though I don’t have to do the dishes or the clothes but lately, I feel that I must. 

Otherwise, in my life I went to the city, got some mangas, novels and a figurine from Kino, I should make a post image just for them, to be honest because adding them here would be an injustice. Also went and had dinner with my partner and his mother, it was a lovely meal and I joined the local club since being local requires me to do so now. 

Anyway, then I don’t recall Tuesday. 

Wednesday was a contributor to my stress for my mother was being unreasonable since I didn’t resolve to be quick to answer her, resulted in her throwing a tantrum and basically being done with me, which is code for basically being disowned in my family. So, since I had other plans, I went to drop off boxes, dealt with the woman-child and resolve to see her the next Wednesday for her Birthday, which I have not found a suitable gift for her. Then I saw a friend that I haven’t seen in ages and had a long convo over sushi with and ended the day with picking up an order, obtaining a shelf and did a spot of shopping to end a stressful morning but a relaxing afternoon.

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But I am not here to talk about my life, I am here to talk about Downfall by Inio Asano which was published by Viz Media.

We follow a mans journey as he navigates the dark waters of being a manga creator who had a taste of glory and started to feel it slip away from him. At first he seems to scorn women and those who don’t seem to support him and his dream, then question on where to go after he finished his series. So he starts to consort with other women for love while his marriage seems to be crumbling to nothing with his career slowly following. It was here another character leads him to find himself more and learned more about her but their relationship doesn’t seem to last as they go their separate ways. He reflects upon his path as he finds a spark within his works, during a signing a fan he chat to on social media meets him and it was thanks to her he found a human side to himself and his works, possibly.

Sure, I basically spoiled the story in a vague as fuck way since this story has so much depths and darkness to it, I feel like Asano is talking about a truth that may be lurking within them, showing us readers a side of the industry that we try to overlook since we want to only see the works more than the creator. It was truly a fascinating read though it was not my favourite of the year but it left me feeling heavy and tired, since there was so much inside the work. I would recommend others to read this since I don’t have enough yet too many words to describe this work.
Then again, this is often reflected in Amano’s works like Solanin, Nijigahara Holograph and A Girl on the Shore, which a stories that make people think of a darkness, changes in life and usually of serious nature that a lot of mangas these days don’t have since they are so not often licensed by companies, which I can say a lot on but don’t wish to waste this post on.

Downfall art is similar to all Asano’s works and is easy to spot from a distance. It’s still appealing and I have moments where I mixed up characters, mainly due to possibly me reading a part before bed. The detail is gorgeous with a sense of depth and somewhat realism. I really love the simple cover and how it looks upon my shelf. I’m glad I accidentally dropped it and felt guilty that if it was damaged that someone else ends up getting it. It was quite the read for me and I hope others, especially fans of his works, gets this manga. It’s a single volume and is really worth the buy.