Fire Punch Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links   542h68

Fire Punch is a genius piece of insanity. Fujimoto starts with a simple idea of revenge and destroys everything until it becomes a mess full of pain, faith, movies, redemption and pure chaos. Agni is a protagonist who is fucked in the head and in the body, burning up all the time, both on the outside and on the inside. We see him change from a good boy to a religious symbol, then he becomes a monster, and in the end... maybe he'll become someone again. Or not. I don't know.

The characters are few, but heavy. Togata is an absurd character, she's lived for centuries, ... is addicted to movies and just wants to make a movie while the world is going to shit. She and Agni are two lost people, trying to make sense of all this shit. Doma, who you think is the evil boss, turns out to be a broken, repentant guy, wanting forgiveness that may never come. Sun, Neneto... everyone has crazy layers.

The fun of this work is that you never know where it's going. It's fucking unpredictable. It changes tone all the time: there's action, drama, social criticism, religion, existentialism, fun, gore, all mixed together. And even though it's all exaggerated, bizarre and extreme, you feel there's a lot of truth in it. It's like the real world: a bunch of people loving any kind of shit just to fill the void.

In the end, Fire Punch isn't just about revenge. It's about emptiness. And how we try to fill that hole with anything - even eternal fire.

Note: This review was written in early 2020 (pre-quarantine era)

It works in parts. There’s definitely a lot of creativity and novel ideas that went into the plot devices, characters, post-apocalyptic set-pieces, and world-building. The artwork, as expected from Tatsuki Fujimoto, is fantastic. But its tone and story are confusing to say the least. It constantly feels like it’s at odds with itself—trying to be both horrific and light-hearted, which rarely blends well. And no, this manga doesn’t make it work. At times, it’s a convoluted mess for no real reason, which only slows down its progression. It’s a true hit or miss.

Fire Punch is a manga that, despite its unique premise, left me feeling more frustrated than impressed. While it opens with a dark, intriguing setup, the story quickly spirals into a chaotic mess that feels gratuitous and, ultimately, narratively hollow. It’s clear that the series tries to explore heavy themes and push boundaries, but its approach often comes off as excessive rather than meaningful. The grim tone and brutal content don’t add depth to the story; instead, they often feel like shock value for the sake of it.

I love Fujimoto's chaotic art style and story telling don't get me wrong but with this manga he ... didn't quite get it right , If not for Fire Punch we wouldn't have Chainsawman , But narratively, Fire Punch struggles to stay coherent. The pacing is erratic, with scenes jumping from one extreme to another in ways that disrupt the flow and make it hard to connect with the characters. Agni, the protagonist, is certainly complex, but the story doesn't flesh him out in a way that feels satisfying or engaging. Instead of a clear, compelling arc, it’s as if we’re watching random events unfold with little purpose or cohesion.

In the end, Fire Punch feels like wasted potential. It has an interesting foundation but falls apart in its execution. For me, it was a disappointing read, lacking the narrative substance or character depth that could have made it memorable.