SEAN: Though I sometimes regard reading Inio Asano as being like that required 19th century literature book in 8th grade – you know it’s worthy, but you’d rather something slightly less bleak – I have to admit that Goodnight Punpun has me intrigued, as even for Asano fans this one has more buzz than usual. And it’s a big omnibus, so good value for money.
MICHELLE: It’ll be a while before I am ready for more Asano — which is a compliment, really, given the impact A Girl on the Shore left with me, so I’m looking elsewhere. I’ll be picking up Paradise Residence, I think, but probably it’s no surprise that my real squee lies with volume 14 of Takehiko Inoue’s Real.
ASH: One way or another, it’s Viz that’s getting my pick this week. Like Sean, I am intrigued by the debut of Goodnight Punpun, and like Michelle, I am very excited for the most recent volume of Real. I don’t think I can bring myself to pick just one!
MJ: I’m pretty much where everyone else is this week! I can’t possibly turn down more Asano, so I’m definitely going for Goodnight Punpun, but a new volume of Real? That’s such a gift! I gotta get both.
ANNA: Goodnight Punpun and Real coming out in the same week is an embarrassment of riches. I can’t pick just one either!
AshLynx says
March 14, 2016 at 9:44 pmReal, it’s just so ridiculously good, it’s almost unbelievable. I did read Slam Dunk, and compared to how far he’s come with Real, SD was kinda ok in comparison (but still pretty good on its own). The fact that Real and Kaze Hikaru are the two slowest releasing Viz series is just so painful! Although Ooku may join it now that it’s caught up with Japan. Bug with KH, it’s because Viz is just being slow (there’s at least 35 volumes out in Japan, but its only up to 23 here), and with Real, it really does just come out like molasses. I wish it came out every other week instead of once a month, maybe when he’s done with Vagabond he can up the rate on Real.
Michelle Smith says
March 14, 2016 at 9:50 pmI do really love Slam Dunk for its own merits, but can’t argue that Real is by far the deeper story. The pace of Real doesn’t bug me because it is Inoue’s own pace, but man, that Kaze Hikaru delay makes me so sad. I am going to practically be a senior citizen by the time we catch up to where Japan is now!
James says
March 16, 2016 at 1:34 amGoodnight Punpun, Real, and Paradise Residence.