When you see someone put a Masterpiece on a title, you assume to yourself that just can't be; for 10/10 implies something is perfect, but as we all know nothing in this world is perfect.... But it can damn-well be close. And since nothing in the world can't be perfect, why does such a rating exist? Well, for this very reason.

Oyasumi Punpun (or, Goodnight Punpun) is the perfect example of this; the story kept me drawn in the entire time, and while the character's themselves are often depicted as comical with their really silly faces, it doesn't take away from the amount of sad and darkness this manga brings.

DO NOT BE FOOLED by Punpun's appearance, or those around him. Reading this manga for the first time I read the first 9 chapters and nearly gave up. I didn't understand why Punpun is depicted as a bird, or why everyone's face is so silly. I'd be lying if I told you I had the intelligence to deconstruct why Inio Asano depicts his characters like he does, but I can tell you that it doesn't effect the story at all. If you like real, sad, depressing and dark coming of age, slice of life stories... Then Goodnight Punpun is for you.

There really wasn't anywhere in this manga that was slow, or boring for me. I can maybe think of a few chapters, which is why I don't rate the story a 10, but rather a 9.8. For those that don't know, I round my score's up/down to determine a true rating, and I believe Punpun's true rating is a Masterpiece.

Final ratings:

Story - 9.8
Art - 10
Characters - 9.7
Enjoyment - 9.9
Overall - 10