Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man: 17–21

I loved this book. Each of the 4 stories has something fantastic to offer, from an offbeat love story to an out of this world love confession. None of the stories ended like I thought they would, and that's why I highly recommend this work, whether you're a fan of Fujimoto's work or have never even heard of him before. This one was so worth it.

This is a really good, somewhat rough collection of short stories from Tatsuki Fujimoto. His earliest proper works (aside from two that I doubt will ever see the light of day), they showcase where he got his footing both as an artist and storyteller. A cool bonus, if you've read both Fire Punch and Chainsaw Man, is you'll see character designs or personalities that were later repurposed. All in all, I'd say it's probably great for fans looking to see where he got his start, but if you haven't tried either of his series or didn't like them, I don't think you'll get much enjoyment here.

It’s crazy to believe that Tatsuki Fujimoto is only in his late 20s (and about a month younger than myself). It’s also wild to think that he had some killer manga before Fire Punch. Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man: 17-21 is an anthology of assorted one-shots from the Chainsaw Man mangaka. It’s a mostly strong showing of interesting manga stories, and demonstrates the writing chops of the author. This anthology collects four stories, each from Fujimoto’s college years. A Couple Clucking Chickens Were Still Kickin’ in the Schoolyard, Sasaki Stopped a Bullet, Love is Blind, and Shikaku. The stories have their own spin on the genre they represent, from a romantic comedy to a sci-fi monster adventure. While Fujimoto’s trademark style is present in these stories, it’s interesting to see how his work advances in that aspect. My favorite would be the first one, as it has the biggest twist in its storytelling and raw artwork. Sasaki Stopped a Bullet and Love is Blind have similar school themes with much different approaches. The weakest of the stories is Shikaku, but only because the “assassin turned vampire” plot is a bit overused. All in all, this collection of one-shots is a great recommendation for those looking to get started with Fujimoto’s work. It’s a brilliant showing of how versatile the mangaka is, and there’s a lot of emotions to process throughout.