Reviews

Nov 27, 2024
Mixed Feelings
City of Light – Spoiler Free – Mixed Feelings

TLDR
Overall: 5/10

Disclaimer: due to the nature of this work – a collection of short stories –, my normal parameters of Story, Art, Characters and Enjoyment with a weighted average won’t be applied. Instead, a global overview will be offered.

The City of Light is yet another take by Inio Asano on short stories, although this time things were better than in other attempts – Ozanari-kun, What a Wonderful World or Before Dawn and the End of the World.
Inio Asano once more tries to make a couple of slices of life wrapped in a manga. This time, we follow an apartment block in the so-called City of Light, as we follow the (rather strange) lives of those who live there.
One of the positive aspects of this manga is that the different stories weren't disconnected from each other, both geographically and thematically – there are stories that are continuations of previous ones, which gives the short stories more flavour and better development. Moreover, there are interesting stories in this manga, most notably the moral implications of the person who helped others kill themselves.
However, not all stories are worthy of praise, as most are just randomly average slices of life. However, since they take place near each other, they more or less create a human geography and a biography of the City of Light. This is Inio Asano's main achievement in this work, as well as the fact that the stories are relatable, realistic (but not all of them) and present thoughtful dilemmas.
The art style, as per usual, is impeccable, as Inio Asano clearly knows how to draw beautiful mangas. The character design is rich, and the scenarios and landscapes are gorgeous.
It is quite a feat that in such short stories Inio Asano was still able to make some interesting characters, or at least more interesting/compelling than a given character are the dilemmas they face (although this only happens in one of two stories).
Enjoyment wasn't that high in a collection of short stories, as, once again, it isn't where it shines the brightest; however, of all the attempts he made – Ozanari-kun, What a Wonderful World or Before Dawn and the End of the World – this is his best to date. Yet, one cannot fully endorse this work, although a few stories nearly justify a recommendation. For these reasons, it is still more deserving of a mixed feelings stamp.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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