Best Selling Books by Inio Asano

In a split second, everything changed for Meiko Inoue. But time continues to unfurl, whether we like it or not. Now, ten years later... -- VIZ Media

Punpun is on his own now. His mom is dead and his dad is useless. When he’s not working crappy part-time jobs, he spends most of his time on the floor of his room. But buck up, Punpun! It’s only for the rest of your life, right? -- VIZ Media

Longing for Something Bigger From the Eisner Award-nominated Inio Asano, creator of Solanin and Nijigahara Holograph, comes one of his most challenging works yet—an intense teen romance set in what may at first glance be one of the sleepiest places in Japan. When Koume and Keisuke''s relationship begins to take shape, it is apparent that they are both searching for something. Maybe Keisuke wants something more than a kiss from the fair Koume. Maybe Koume is looking for someone better than Misaki, the local playboy. But what they find in each other over the course of a summer might be far greater than anything they were expecting. Their lives are going to change. And this will all transpire before high school exams!

Terumi Morgan bitterly accepts that he shouldn’t expect a lot from life. He just wants to meet his deadlines at work and watch his porn in peace. But then an unexpected sick day sends him on a collision course with two people who will change his world forever—a runaway kid and a thirtysomething mujina assassin. Suddenly life is expecting a lot from him. -- VIZ Media

The Japan Self-Defense Forces are still looking for a way to combat the alien threat, but so far conventional weapons have had no effect. Maybe it’s time to try something unconventional. Meanwhile, Kadode Koyama and her best friend avidly track the aliens’ movements on social media and less enthusiastically study for college entrance exams. When the end of the world looms overhead, you learn to take things one step at a time. -- VIZ Media

Punpun was an average kid in an average town... But things have changed. The love of his life wants to kill him. His parents got divorced. And God is being mean to him. What are you going to do now, Punpun? -- VIZ Media

Punpun has finally reunited with the love of his life, Aiko! But she isn’t as exciting and wonderful as he remembered. And she doesn’t make him exciting and wonderful. In fact, he thinks they’re both terribly banal. And now they’ve done something terrible... Punpun, what do you do when there’s no way out? -- VIZ Media

Punpun gave himself a strict deadline. By the time his lease is up, he and Aiko will be together, his life will be better and he’ll be someone... Or else. Hey, Punpun, your lease just ran out. -- VIZ Media

Fantagraphics is proud to welcome the great Inio Asano (Solanin, What a Wonderful World!) to its acclaimed literary manga line. Even as butterflies ominously proliferate in town, the rumor of a mysterious creature lurking in the tunnel behind the school spreads among the children. When the body of Arié Kimura’s mother is found by this tunnel’s entrance, next to apparently human traces, the legend seems to be confirmed. Is the end of the world coming? In order to appease the wrath of the beast, the children decide to offer it a sacrifice: The unfortunate Arié, whom they believe to be the cause of the curse, is shoved into a well that leads to the Nijigahara tunnel ― an act that in turns pushes Komatsuzaki, the budding thug who has carried a torch for Arié for a while already, entirely over the edge. But this is only the beginning of the complex, challenging, obliquely told Nijigahara Holograph, which takes place in two separate timelines and involves the suicidal Suzuki; Higure, his stalkerish would-be girlfriend; and their teacher Miss Sakaki, whose heavily bandaged face remains a mystery; and many more ― brothers, sisters, parents, co-workers, teachers, aggressors and victims who are all inextricably linked to one another and all will eventually ― ten years later ― have to live with what they’ve done or suffered through.

Meet Punpun Punyama. He’s an average kid in an average town. He wants to win a Nobel Prize and save the world. He wants the girl he has a crush on to like him back. He wants to find some porn. That’s what he wants, but what does he get...? -- VIZ Media

Despite the ongoing menace of wild Invaders and A-ray contamination, people are still moving to Tokyo to find opportunities and themselves. After all, the likelihood of getting squashed by a crashing Invader vessel is still extremely low! Meanwhile, Kadode and her friends have started university, where they must face the crisis of choosing which student club to join—a critical decision that will affect the rest of their lives! -- VIZ Media

International relations are crumbling as the hotheaded American president demands that the Japanese government share what they know about Invader technology. But the Japanese prime minister has more important things to think about than diplomacy—he wants to make sure his favorite idol is in the bunker with him when the mother ship blows. Meanwhile, the Occult Club is taking a trip to the seashore to meet with someone who claims to have had an extraterrestrial experience! The silly lark ends up revealing something shocking about Oran’s past, but at least the scenery is lovely! -- VIZ Media

The Occult Club’s trip to the seaside has been a great chance for Kadode and her friends to unwind from the dual stresses of college and living through an endless alien invasion. Oba and Makoto forge a special friendship after hanging out on the beach, culminating in the two of them taking a scenic tour through Oran’s memories from another timeline! Too bad it looks like every timeline is the worst timeline... -- VIZ Media

Like most kids his age, Punpun is in high school. In fact, he has made it into the best high school in town. He is such a good student. He studies so he doesn’t have to think about his life. Maybe a meteor will crash into Earth and destroy everything. A guy can wish, Punpun... -- VIZ Media

A dream recaptured. A life on a new track. The absurdity of death. Laughter in the face of reality. With this series of intersecting vignettes, Inio Asano explores the ways in which modern life can be ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. -- VIZ Media

The collaboration between S.E.S. and the Self-Defense Forces is going beautifully. Fujin Type 9s patrol the streets of Tokyo, and the slaughter of the Invaders is at an all-time high. It’s almost enough to distract the populace from the ominous smoke coming from the mother ship! Meanwhile, Kadode is getting used to having an Invader living in her apartment. His delicious cooking almost makes up for the stress of dealing with the constant threat of vigilante exterminators taking him down right in front of her eyes! -- VIZ Media

This is the end, Punpun. -- VIZ Media

The cruelty of childhood. The delusion of adulthood. The endurance of death. Laugh in the face of reality. With this series of intersecting vignettes, Inio Asano explores the ways in which modern life can be ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. -- VIZ Media

It’s just an everyday apocalypse. Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again. But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary. Oda and Futaba are lurking in Oran’s memories from an alternative timeline where she and Kadode simultaneously save the earth and ruin their lives. When the worst happens, Oran takes a desperate leap into another timeline. But things don’t seem to be going very well in that timeline either. Good thing there are endless timelines, right, Isobeyan?

The defense business is booming in Japan, and the amazing Hujin weapons are finally getting their chance to shine. But civilians are fed up with the inconvenience of being collateral damage, and their protest signs are starting to get really pointed! Meanwhile, Kadode has to face up to the realities of living in an apocalypse and not taking her college entrance exams seriously. At least high school is finally over! -- VIZ Media

Oba and Makoto are lurking in Oran’s memories from an alternative timeline where she and Kadode simultaneously save the earth and ruin their lives. When the worst happens, Oran takes a desperate leap into another timeline. But things don’t seem to be going very well in that timeline either. Good thing there are endless timelines, right, Isobeyan? -- VIZ Media

The alien menace has been hovering over Tokyo for years, but the Invaders aren’t content to just sit back and loom. One of them has taken to the streets of the city in human disguise in order to observe the locals. He may not be the first, and he certainly won’t be the last. Meanwhile, Kadode Koyama and her friends continue to deal with the peril of upcoming college entrance exams as the stress of studying under the constant threat of annihilation sends some running to safer cities. At least it’s almost Christmas! -- VIZ Media

Wow, it’s the end of the world! Everyone is so screwed... -- VIZ Media

Eine dunkle Macht – Finsternis genannt – benebelt den Verstand von Menschen und Monstern und beschwört das Chaos herauf. Tapfer stellt sich eine ungewöhnliche Heldentruppe der Gefahr. Doch immer, wenn diese gebannt scheint, wartet schon die nächste Herausforderung auf sie. Schnell lernt die Gruppe eins: Wer der Gefahr ins Auge sieht, blickt dabei nicht selten in das Gesicht eines Freundes ...

Now that it’s totally legal for civilians to kill Invaders, private companies have been rushing to prove their worth in the containment efforts, and their confirmed kill rates are starting to rival those of the SDF! But there are signs of trouble with the mother ship, and perhaps the Invaders are getting tired of this one-sided slaughter. Meanwhile, Ontan has found an Invader in a human suit and is keeping him at Kadode’s apartment. He’s a bit strange as housemates go, but at least things between Kadode and Mr. Watarase seem to be heating up! -- VIZ Media

Kota hat genug: Sein Vater drängt ihn zu besseren Noten, er selbst aber will nur nicht so werden wie sein Vater. Glaubt er zumindest ... Tae hingegen wäre froh über einen Elternteil, der sie zurechtweist und ihr durchs Leben hilft. Stattdessen hängt sie ihren trüben Gedanken nach und beobachtet quakende Frösche ...

Toga hat keinen Elan. Ihr Leben zieht an ihr vorbei, ihre Lieblingskneipe macht zu und ihre Schildkröte hat ein spannenderes Leben als sie. Auf ihrem Streifzug durch die Stadt trifft sie ihren alten Bandkollegen Horita wieder. Er lädt sie zu sich ein, sie trinken ein Gläschen, doch ihre Erwartungen werden absolut nicht erfüllt ...

The end of the world really sucks—rogue AI, foreign occupation, constant firefights between freedom fighters and terrorists, sudden death raining from above. How do you even begin to start over in the middle of all that? Maybe you can’t. Maybe you just have to reset. This is the end! -- VIZ Media

Huge chunks of the mother ship are starting to crash into Tokyo, leveling whole neighborhoods. The Japanese government is ready to nope out of the impending destruction, and the Americans are using the growing panic as an excuse to make their move. What’s worse, the internet is down! With just days left before the end of humanity, at least the Occult Club is having a pretty good vacation at the beach. -- VIZ Media

Tasuku lebt im »Sun Village« bei seinem Vater, der nach und nach seinen Verstand verliert und nichts weiter als seine verschimmelten Kirschtomaten gießt. Dass sein Sohn die Schule schon lange nicht mehr besucht und stattdessen lieber im Viertel herumläuft, weiß er nicht. Tasuku hat außerdem noch ein weiteres Geheimnis: Er hilft Menschen bei ihren Selbstmorden und tut manchmal auch ein klein wenig mehr ... Eine Kurzgeschichtensammlung aus Inio Asanos Anfangszeit.

It’s just an everyday apocalypse. Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again. But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary. Huge chunks of the mothership are starting to crash into Tokyo, leveling whole neighborhoods. The Japanese government is ready to nope out of the impending destruction and the Americans are using the growing panic as an excuse to make their move. What’s worse, the internet is down! With just days left before the end of humanity, at least the Occult Club is having a pretty good vacation at the beach.

Aiko und Punpun sind in Kagoshima angekommen, doch die kindliche Vorstellung eines wundersamen Ortes, der all ihre Probleme löst, wird nicht erfüllt. Ihre Beziehung nimmt immer groteskere Züge an und die Situation eskaliert! Sein Verstand scheint sich nun endgültig von ihm verabschiedet zu haben ... Der letzte, aufwühlende Band der Serie!

Punpun und Aiko befinden sich auf der Flucht und versuchen, nach Kagoshima zu kommen. Doch Punpun wird immer unberechenbarer und seine Freundin kann ihn kaum noch kontrollieren. Währenddessen macht sich Sachi Sorgen und stellt bei Punpuns Onkel und seinem Vater Nachforschungen an ...

Kadode findet das Leben langweilig. Am Himmel sind Ufos erschienen, doch keinen beeinflusst das maßgeblich. Selbst als ihr Vater bei einem Angriff der "Eindringlinge" verschwindet, geht ihr Leben trotzdem irgendwie weiter. Viel mehr stört es sie, dass sich nun alle einen gemeinsamen Feind gesucht haben ... Was ist, wenn die Eindringlinge Beweggründe haben und gar keine wirklichen Feinde sind? Doch bevor sie sich mit der Frage befassen kann, muss sie sich wieder etwas Langweiligem widmen: zur Uni gehen oder arbeiten?

Dans une petite ville au bord de la mer, Koume vit une déception amoureuse et se rabat par dépit sur Isobe, dont les sentiments pour elle semblent plus sincères. À moins que ce ne soit l’inverse ? Inio Asano adopte une approche narrative à l’opposé de celle de Bonne nuit Punpun, pourtant écrit à la même période. Délaissant les longs monologues-défouloirs qui lui permettaient d’exprimer ses propres réflexions sur le monde, il laisse ici la parole à ses personnages pour en saisir toute la complexité. L’école, la maison, les copains, Internet… autant de cercles où Koume et Isobe jonglent avec les codes et les apparences tout en s’interrogeant sur leur propre identité. Sans tabou ni voyeurisme, l’auteur les suit sur la pointe des pieds jusque dans leurs moments les plus intimes, montrant la sexualité comme le seul espace où les adolescents s’autorisent à être eux-mêmes. Paradoxalement, la retenue exemplaire dont fait preuve Asano donne lieu à certaines de ses plus belles planches, son trait hyper-réaliste croquant avec une justesse inouïe les visages et les paysages. La Fille de la plage invite le lecteur à retenir son souffle pour revivre l’angoisse de grandir.

In den sozialen Netzwerken brodelt die Gerüchteküche: Angeblich soll ein Alien, das in den Nishieifuku-Unfall verwickelt war, überlebt und in ein Wohngebiet geflüchtet sein. Die Medien versuchen dies jedoch zu vertuschen ... Die Mädels erleben derweil ihr vermutlich letztes Weihnachten zusammen, bevor es an die Uni geht!

Punpun wandert auf der Suche nach Aiko ziellos in der Stadt umher, als er plötzlich wieder auf Sachi trifft. Sie will mit ihm ein Projekt starten: Ein Manga soll es sein und Punpun soll die Story liefern. Punpun hat diesen Tritt in den Hintern bitter nötig, denn seine Melancholie droht unbekannte Ausmaße anzunehmen. Aber vielleicht reicht ja auch ein bisschen Sex ...