Fool Night

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While there aren’t too many chapters out at the moment, the whole manga seems to have potential. It has a unique plot plot that I have never seen before, and really interesting world building that takes advantage of the incredible visuals and surreal yet dark atmosphere the story provides. The characters are pretty interesting too, the main character in particular giving off vibes of that protagonist in boys abyss. I think that, as a whole, this series has a lot to offer.
In short, it’s really promising, so I recommend you to give this a try if that’s your kind of thing to read.

My initial impression of this manga was that it seemed like a bit of a hammy dystopian fic, but the more I read, the more I find it's really well executed. The moral quandaries and interpersonal relationships are actually pretty complex only a couple of volumes in. I was initially worried that the series would be a shallow display of desperation, but instantly we've mixed it with mystery and fear of the unknown. The first real case (i.e. the pianist) presented some really intriguing conflicted emotions between characters. I'm really excited to see where the story goes.
I can also say that the art is really ... interesting. I'll be interested to see the new covers as volumes release.

I happened upon "Fool Night" while browsing the manga available on the VIZ app. For some reason, its cover stuck out to me. Upon reading the first chapter, I knew the manga had potential. After reading more, I saw that potential realized.

I usually don't like reviewing manga before they're completed, and even less so if I'm not caught up to the current chapters. I certainly would've read more, but VIZ still hasn't translated all of it yet, and the unofficial sources aren't delivering this time. That itself should show how overlooked this manga is (At least in the West). I assume the presentation contributes to ... the low popularity; The artstyle lacks polish, and while that feels somewhat fitting considering the tone here, the roughness remains somewhat off-putting. Ironically though, the overall presentation elevates the manga. The framing and paneling surprise me in their greatness for what is, according to MAL, the a first work of its author. I know this is the hack's go-to for discussing style in Manga today, but the Fujimoto inspiration is evident: Still frames that accentuate small, subtle moments; Considered, cinematic framing; and the aforementioned rough artstyle that enhances the dark setting. In order to earn back a little credibility, I'll now evoke the name of Matsumoto, from which this manga seems to derive use of visual metaphors from.

If Yasuda Kasumi was inspired by Matsumoto (It's far more likely that I am pretentiously reaching as to bring up obscure mangaka), this inspiration certainly extends to the sociopolitical commentary. "Fool Night" addresses current issues, but does so while creating a unique world. The sun has gone out, and trees can only grow if planted into people who consequentially die from the process. Yes, there are some logistical issues with this concept, a few (but not all) of which of which are briefly addressed by the manga. To my memory, the story never justifies why these plants can't grow in animals instead, but whatever. I'm willing to forgive the issues because of the good resulting commentary. Of course this system is used to prey on poor people. Of course the rich would still waste the precious resource of wood on decorations and extravagance. Of course there's an opposition to this, lead by an equaly self-serving leader. The world of "Fool Night" balances similarities to our world and creative divergences very well, leading to good worldbuilding that doesn't sideline the plot.

The enjoyment factor is enhanced by a few smaller, self-contained stories that are eventually integrated into the main plot. These stories are pretty conventional "superpower guy helps people deal with their emotional problems" stories, but they're well executed and ensure that the reader is invested while worldbuilding and setup occurs. These uplifting stories do a good job at balancing out the depressing world of the manga, which is given a lot of attention. The world is initially shown through our protagonist Toshiro's eyes, but other perspectives enhance the worldbuilding in interesting ways. The cast has remained pretty small, but each character is likeable enough and none feel extraneous.

Honestly though, while I do enjoy many characters here, few have realized their full potential yet. Toshiro himself eventually went through some well-justified introspection briefly, but this was interrupted by a new plot point. This plot point is compelling, but I'll be disappointed if we don't return to Toshiro's mental state. It may be too early to say, but that's true of every element of the manga. Maybe "Fool Night", just like its main character, only has a year or two left to live before leaving the world far too soon. At its current trajectory though, this could very well be a frontrunner for classics of the new decade. I definitely recommend this one.