Rec
😃
Been in a horror manga kick lately, and Smiley has been one of my favorite findings.
It's a horror mystery plot focused on a cult that forces people to consistently smile, and seems to hold a lot more political power than the characters imagine.
Delves a little in the impact of cults, as well as a broader social commentary on the pressures of keeping face and collective emotional management.
Also amazing drawings and horror pacing.
Jul 5, 2025
Related Recs
Rec
I saw a recommendation earlier for The Flowers of Evil by the same creator and decided to check out his other work. I'm glad I did because Happiness is a fantastic Vampire story. Full of angst and gore. Characters afflicted with vampirism act as if they are truly cursed and wrestle with whether they should be even allowed to live.
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This is a 12 volume manga by Inio Asano. I'm not a big manga reader & consider myself highly selective. This was one of the best & most beautiful series I've ever read. A love letter to imageboard culture alongside exploration of diverse human responses to horrific circumstances that can't be understood even as they happen to you and those you love. Sympathy, empathy, pity. Aliens and teen girls trying to cope.
I believe it's getting an anime adaptation soon, which I hope will be well done and impactful. I don't know, it just really stuck with me.
I believe it's getting an anime adaptation soon, which I hope will be well done and impactful. I don't know, it just really stuck with me.
Rec
(long and personal review incoming)
This manga is my favorite piece of media ever, I've read it three times and it never fails to send me into a severe bout of depression
I couldn't really summarize the story well but if I had to I'd say it's about the dysfunctional lives of different people as they grow up and the cruelty and reality of the modern world
It's extremely realist and the events in the story can leave you with a sense of meaninglessness
Despite the cynical, nihilistic nature of this manga there's bits of dry humor and little moments of hope here and there that carry you through
While a lot of the backgrounds are CG, the art is amazing nonetheless and the character design in particular stands out
I relate to how the main character Punpun is outwardly cynical but internally emotional, how he was once praised for his aspirations and now feels apathetic towards everything I think his character speaks a lot to modern society and dysfunctional families I particularly love how his comical bird-like design prevents readers from truly relating or sympathizing with him for having a human appearance, creating a metaphor for his alienation and isolation from others throughout the story
The main "love interest" Aiko is a great example of a girl who struggles with relationships, family, and the modern world I relate to her obsessiveness and her desire for unconditional love The cult her mother participates in (and forces on her) caused me to question my own family's heavily controlling religious beliefs (mormonism), so personally—even though I experienced a horrible year-long existential crisis for it—I am incredibly grateful towards the author for "waking me up" and inspiring me to leave those beliefs and practices behind
I think my favorite thing about this manga is how it's truly morally grey; all of the characters suffer in their circumstances but it doesn't excuse their lifestyles or actions Ultimately, this story inspired me to actually care about my life and try to be better in spite of the suffering of myself and others
TLDR: Amazing manga that will ruin your life and leave you to choose what kind of person you want to be afterwards 10/10
I relate to how the main character Punpun is outwardly cynical but internally emotional, how he was once praised for his aspirations and now feels apathetic towards everything I think his character speaks a lot to modern society and dysfunctional families I particularly love how his comical bird-like design prevents readers from truly relating or sympathizing with him for having a human appearance, creating a metaphor for his alienation and isolation from others throughout the story
The main "love interest" Aiko is a great example of a girl who struggles with relationships, family, and the modern world I relate to her obsessiveness and her desire for unconditional love The cult her mother participates in (and forces on her) caused me to question my own family's heavily controlling religious beliefs (mormonism), so personally—even though I experienced a horrible year-long existential crisis for it—I am incredibly grateful towards the author for "waking me up" and inspiring me to leave those beliefs and practices behind
I think my favorite thing about this manga is how it's truly morally grey; all of the characters suffer in their circumstances but it doesn't excuse their lifestyles or actions Ultimately, this story inspired me to actually care about my life and try to be better in spite of the suffering of myself and others
TLDR: Amazing manga that will ruin your life and leave you to choose what kind of person you want to be afterwards 10/10
May 20, 2025
Top Recs from @nanabo
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🕵One of the things I like the most about Pi.fyi and the current scale of users is that it's still noticeable when a rec was inspired by another.
Sometimes the rec directly mentions the other, but other times you can kinda assume that reading an especific thing here triggered a memory or an ideia.
It's very cute and interesting to notice the small influences interacting with other humans online can have.
Rec
🧽I know there are days when you are so tired, or maybe you made a big meal for friends and family or you spent the afternoon meal prepping and now you have to clean like five pots and a tray, but be brave!!! (my inner monologue)
Don't force your future self to wake up to a bunch of dirty dishes. It will keep your mind full because you will be constantly reminding yourself to clean that up.
Don't force your future self to wake up to a bunch of dirty dishes. It will keep your mind full because you will be constantly reminding yourself to clean that up.
Rec
📠UbuWeb - archive for video, text and sound, all avant gard art
Marxists.org - archive for marxist texts
CrimethInc - archive for anarchist publications and news
Aeon - magazine on philosophy and science
Eye on Design - magazine on design news
Failed Architecture - magazine on critical architecture and urbanism
LitHub - literary magazine
Anna's Archive - love of my life ♥️
A terra é redonda - magazine of art and politics
Passa palavra - news and articles on Brazillian politics
Digilabour - news and articles about gig economy and surveillance capitalism