Ciguatera Vol. 2 (Kodansha, 2021)

Against all odds, self-proclaimed loser and punching bag Yusuke Ogino has found himself a girlfriend: the gorgeous, motorcycle-riding Yumi Nagumo. But just when things seem sweetest, life takes a series of unexpected and excruciating turns. Violence and temptation lurk just around the corner, and no one's getting out unscathed. With his patented mix of brutal honesty and pitch-black humor, Minoru Furuya masterfully depicts the dark corners and messy realities of life. While not for the faint of heart, Ciguatera is nevertheless required reading for all devotees of graphic storytelling, and will ring true to anyone who's been through the awkward, painful joy of being young. WARNING: INCLUDES DEPICTIONS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE