Feb 7, 2021
*spoiler-free
i got into fire punch only knowing it as chainsaw man's predecessor. i had to reaffirm my thoughts about fujimoto being a genius and i was not wrong at all. although, one thing i've learned after reading this is that the man really is much more of an artist than he is a writer.
to start off i'd like to say that fire punch is definitely not for the weak-hearted, exploring many disturbing topics such as incest up until cannibalism. much like chainsaw man, many would argue that it is used as a device, simply to make the manga seem "edgy", that it's all for shock
...
value. personally i didn't think much of it in a literary sense, instead i understand it in a sense that those things are touched on simply to emphasize how shitty of a world they're living in- how it's so far fetched from our reality.
such heavy topics aren't ever to be taken lightly, but in this manga, these things are just meant to be taken in face value. hence, if you're super particular about such things then this won't be as an enjoyable as a read for you. "just enjoy the ride"- is what i'd say and how i'd always choose to approach fujimoto's work.
now that's out of the way i'd like to say how the entire premise of fire punch felt poetic. a man burning endlessly in a world cursed of ice- that man named agni, was revered as a God. this unfounded faith in agni is the story's main baseline, serving to push as its main conflict all while exploring broader themes beneath it such as love, dreams, faith, retribution, idealism, and more. all of these guised under a mask of blood & violence.
when first starting fire punch, you will notice how aimless the story feels. it feels like there is a lack of direction, and things happen just because. though many would simply dismiss it as "badly-written", i feel like it's a clear reflection of how the main protagonist is treated throughout this series. agni isn't your typical protagonist, he is only the protagonist because the story was written Around him and not Based on him like how it typically would be.
fujimoto still leaves many questions unanswered after 83 chapters and if you're the type to fret over minor loopholes and whatnot then i wouldn't recommend this at all. much like my chainsaw man review, this is a purely subjective 10/10. this was because i chose to see fire punch using more of an artistic perspective and not much so in terms of technical writing as i will admit it indeed often feels like a very rough draft.
as of september 2021, i've reread fire punch over 10 times and it has easily become my favorite piece of literary work. it was the first time that something really managed to move me- the feeling i got after finishing this manga was much unlike any other. it was as though i was watching something special unfold, this journey of agni's is definitely one to witness.
or maybe it's just because i'm a fujimoto stan? who knows. all i know is that fujimoto's artistry really shines best here in fire punch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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