Gunjou

This is one of the best mangas I read in a while. I enterd this expecting... Well, surely not expecting this. I don't want to spoil anything but if you like in depth characterization and genius writing of heavy themes you'll like this. Story is an 8 I'd say. It is fairly original but nothing too special. Although it is the perfect setting to reveal the psychological drama and turmoil in the characters. The art is ok. I'll give it a 6 although I did not enjoy it that much. You don't mind the art as the manga pulls you in and doesn't let yougo. Characters... outstandingly fleshed out. A perfect ten. You'll see their thoughts, their feelings and weaknesses and small strenghts they have in them. 10/10 Overall it's not a perfect ten(because of the art mostly) but I'd give it a 9.9 if I could. I'm gonna read it again some time for sure

My first impression was the resemblance to My Broke Mariko. The tortuous relationship between two women who have been intimate since adolescence, the distance established over time, the theme of suicide involved in the reunion. But Gunjou goes further; Gunjou gets entangled in the minds of those two tortuous souls, and brings up the theme of love, what it means to be a woman, what it really is to love, what it means to be loved by someone, the ideology of existing in society and forming bonds, family, and the contradictions between what actually happens in the heart and social conventions. Gunjou has deep charactersthat involve you and make you forget how dark the premise of the work is, in many moments. The plot cradles, like a sea, in very high waves, and calms down. A good part of the bitter dialogues of the two main characters make you swallow hard, forget to breathe. Perhaps it is not a work to please, or even to move; the script seems to have as main objective to involve you in those minds and make you forget any previous judgment, be it positive or negative. There are no good guys, or heroes, just the cruelty of reality and existence.

This story is not for everyone. First of all, as much as it falls into the GL genre, this story is above all a psychological drama, and does not follow typical requirements of a love story. The personalities and decisions of the characters are not intended for a healthy narrative, whose goal is to educate you about love or sexuality. It's also not about acceptance, and while this is briefly outlined throughout the course, it's not the focal point and I don't recommend it to people who have high expectations for it. The plot centers on Soko, the woman abused by her husband, and Chiyomi, the womanwho kills him. The narrative focuses on their individual motivations, as well as the psychological and physical consequences of the crime they committed. It is a raw and realistic story that chronicles the weight of the journeys and the bond between these two adult women brought together by will - or fate - and living in Japanese society. It is important to point out the clear power imbalance between the two characters: they had very different upbringings, , which makes it difficult for them to understand each other at moments, but it's also a fuel to draw them closer: Even though the two of them pretend to accept themselves, they manage to see right through each other. They both have traumas, fears and insecurities that have never been addressed during their lives, and this social context plays a role in shaping who they are, especially their flaws. At many times, it is possible to be irritated by their actions and thoughts, and even wonder if these people are good or bad after all. But that's a possible coping mechanism for people in stressfull situations, especially when they've been suffering in silence for entire decades. Still, even if it can seem like it, it's not entirely pessimistic. The author shows several times and with different characters that no one should be defined only by their past, and that even if it seems too late, it is possible to find yourself and move on while trying to find closure, even if it's an everyday task. More than anything, it's a story about recognizing your own loneliness, and perhaps, learning to ask for help.

People, I can't tell you how twisted up this manga is. We watch two grown a** women quarrel and attack each other all the time, simply to show us how much heavy baggage they have to deal with! I mean guys… their relationship is pretty much toxic as hell, yet the author practically draws you into the story since it's so addictive that you can't put the manga down thanks to their unique reading style of luring you in... I have to agree with some folks that the art isn't fantastic, but once you get into the tale, you forget about the weird faces drawn bythe author. So, if you're expecting Picasso art, be warned that you won't get it with this one... Also if you or someone you know are affected by the domestic abuse events happening in this manga, I suggest you call your own country’s national helpline by looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_domestic_violence_hotlines. Regardless of gender, no individual has to go through this, please seek help if needed and never feel silenced ❤️