Downfall

Asano (Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction) investigates artistic self-absorption in a melancholy standalone manga featuring a comics artist struggling with conflicted desires. Kaoru Fukazawa has just finished his manga series spanning 10 years, but despite a small but dedicated fan base, dwindling sales prevent him from rejoicing in his accomplishment. He feels neglected by his manga editor wife as she becomes more involved with one of her artists, leading him to turn to the affections of young sex workers and subsequently ask for a divorce. He becomes particularly obsessed with Chifuyu, a young woman with “eyes like a cat’s.” Despite insisting that he is still working on ideas for his next manga, he lays off his assistants. He never tells his mother about his separation from his wife, going so far as to not talk to her for six months. Fukazawa lets his obstinacy destroy his relationships, all while burying his discontent with his life and his work in the arms of Chifuyu, who proves to be just as selfish as Fukazawa. Asano’s richly detailed, semirealistic artwork and signature visual and narrative moodiness are on display, such as in the black word panels framing Fukazawa’s anxiety about drawing again. This dour tale provides an antiaspirational cautionary narrative of a creator adrift. (Feb.)