It's an open secret that the manga industry is a nightmare to work in, and nothing makes that more clear than Downfall from Viz. The pressure to sell copies can make the life of a dedicated mangaka absolute hell, and in Downfall it leads to some absolutely tragic places.
Created by the critically acclaimed creator of Goodnight Punpun, Inio Asano, 2017's Downfall tells the story of a middle-aged mangaka named Kaoru Fukusawa. Though Fukusawa's long-running series, Goodbye Sunset has finally reached its conclusion, finally giving the well-respected manga creator a break, all he can think about is his next project. Most distressingly for Fukusawa, he has no idea what his next project will be at all. Facing increasing pressure from his publisher to deliver a hit concept while also dealing with his rapidly deteriorating marriage to a manga editor, Fukusawa is pushed into increasingly dark places.
Though Downfall stands on its own, it's even more tragic when viewed in the context of its creator. It's no coincidence that Fukusawa bears a passing resemblance to Asano himself, even down to both having a long period where they dyed their hair blonde. It's also easy to see the similarities between the titles of Goodnight Punpun and Goodbye Sunset. Throughout the manga, Fukusawa constantly expresses frustration at the industry and how it repeats the same content ad nauseam. Though it's obviously important to recognize that artists typically don't agree with every single thing their characters say, it's hard not to see Fukusawa's frustration with the manga industry as Asano's own.
Much larger than just the restrictions on creative freedom though is just the sheer toll it takes on mangaka's lives and health. The ending of Yu Yu Hakusho is famously rushed entirely because the pressure of being a mangaka drove its creator to nearly experience a mental breakdown. Though it might seem like a dream to have a massive hit series that receives an anime adaptation and merchandise, that adds even more pressure. Fans buy magazines like Shonen Jump primarily because they want to see huge series like Dragon Ball and One Piece. There is so much pressure to release manga on a regular schedule that Naruto's creator waited a decade for his honeymoon so that it wouldn't interrupt his duties in crafting Naruto.
These all too common experiences are what make Downfall such a brave work. Being a mangaka is a dream for so many, and while that is undoubtedly noble, it's important to understand how difficult the industry is. Downfall certainly isn't for everyone. As hinted at by the title, the manga goes to dark places so those who want to avoid traumatic subjects like abuse and sexual assault should steer clear or at least go in knowing what's coming. Still, it's rare that mangaka can be so honest about the industry that they work in. Downfall is harrowing, but it is well worth the read for anyone willing to see the manga industry's darker side.