chrysalis11's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
brunjact's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jekutree's review against another edition
5.0
I figured Tatsumi would grow and mature from the already excellent “Push Man” collection, but I didn’t expect him to hit his stride this hard.
This collection of stories takes the silent, blue collar, melancholy short stories Tatsumi was telling in the previous volume and perfects them while also sprinkling in some curveball stories. Basically every story here was a stand out, but the story this collection is named after takes the cake for my favorite. It’s the best version of what I’d call up to this point a typical Tatsumi story.
This collection of stories takes the silent, blue collar, melancholy short stories Tatsumi was telling in the previous volume and perfects them while also sprinkling in some curveball stories. Basically every story here was a stand out, but the story this collection is named after takes the cake for my favorite. It’s the best version of what I’d call up to this point a typical Tatsumi story.
morralia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
read on a long road trip i loved it - hard to separate the characters though
sorenpanda's review against another edition
5.0
Extremely bleak short stories with lots of twists and small details to catch. I really love the story telling, the art style, everything. One of my favorite graphic novels I’ve read so far. Be warned some of these stories are a bit difficult to read and talk of very taboo subjects, but I really recommend them all!
ropey's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first time coming across gekiga, which Tatsumi describes as a "darker, more realistic style of cartooning." A similar style to Junji Itou's collections, although much more disturbing to say least.
maevefly's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first time coming across gekiga, which Tatsumi describes as a "darker, more realistic style of cartooning." A similar style to Junji Itou's collections, although much more disturbing to say least.
lapingveno's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first volume of Tatsumi's work I've ever read, but it CERTAINLY won't be the last!
Tatsumi's work combines all of the delicious nihilism and angst of modernist literature with all of the reading ease and fun of manga! Each piece felt almost poetic, like a haiku with legs whose semi-ambiguous ending leaves the reader to pick up the pieces and make sense of it all. Plus, it's got a delightful art-style!
Definitely a good read!
Tatsumi's work combines all of the delicious nihilism and angst of modernist literature with all of the reading ease and fun of manga! Each piece felt almost poetic, like a haiku with legs whose semi-ambiguous ending leaves the reader to pick up the pieces and make sense of it all. Plus, it's got a delightful art-style!
Definitely a good read!
lookhome's review against another edition
4.0
Dark. Very dark.
Darkly humorous and memorable in a way that many contemporary authors hope to be.
Tatsumi attempts to make us realize that contemporary society is one that alienates, ostracizes and ultimately breaks humans stemming from all classes of the social stratosphere.
Though made up of various stories, Abandon the Old in Tokyo could nevertheless be seen as a fluid nightmare. Composed mainly of male protagonists, these stories continuously illustrate that the modern 'man' is one that is rudderless.
Factory employees, window washers, garbage collectors, sewer cleaners... All of them typically seen as 'blue collar' jobs, all of them, in tatsumi's world, daydreamers of a sort... All of them lost in a cosmic joke.
These stories ring as true today as they did when they were first written. Recommended.
Darkly humorous and memorable in a way that many contemporary authors hope to be.
Tatsumi attempts to make us realize that contemporary society is one that alienates, ostracizes and ultimately breaks humans stemming from all classes of the social stratosphere.
Though made up of various stories, Abandon the Old in Tokyo could nevertheless be seen as a fluid nightmare. Composed mainly of male protagonists, these stories continuously illustrate that the modern 'man' is one that is rudderless.
Factory employees, window washers, garbage collectors, sewer cleaners... All of them typically seen as 'blue collar' jobs, all of them, in tatsumi's world, daydreamers of a sort... All of them lost in a cosmic joke.
These stories ring as true today as they did when they were first written. Recommended.
pilarsangga's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5