now i wouldn't say this manga is a masterpiece; i believe it has its slower-paced moments that could put people off from reading it (and just moments in general lol). but when it hits, it *really* hits. what i will say is that this series definitely left its mark on me. it leaves you with a deep pit in your stomach and a few existential thoughts. it gets you thinking, and i love it for that. admittedly, i didn't get it at first. but a few hours after reading it, the delayed sadness finally caught up to me. and i've truly grown to appreciate this manga since. i also love it for its colorful, flawed cast of characters. none of these people are good people, and all of them harbor some sort of deep-rooted issue. inio asano wonderfully writes not just characters, but humans. punpun is a story about many things, but ultimately, i think one of them is about how idealism can ruin a person. maaaybe? i dunno. there's just SO much to this manga to unpack, that you'd have to read it more than once. i really love it man.