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Kenzou Tenma, a distinguished Japanese neurosurgeon practicing in post-war Germany, finds himself at a critical juncture: he must choose between operating on Johan Liebert, an orphan boy on the brink of death, or the mayor of Düsseldorf. Ultimately, Tenma opts to risk his reputation by saving Johan, effectively leaving the mayor to die.
As a result of his decision, Hospital Director Heinemann demotes Tenma, and Heinemann's daughter Eva ends their engagement. Disgraced and ostracized by his peers, Tenma's prospects for a prosperous career seem dashed—until Heinemann's mysterious murder offers him a second chance.
Nine years later, Tenma has risen to head the surgical department and is poised to become the hospital's director. However, his newfound success is soon overshadowed as he becomes embroiled in a series of horrific murders plaguing Germany. The perpetrator is none other than the same monstrous figure Tenma saved nine years prior.
*Monster* won the Grand Prize at the third Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 1999 and the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category in 2000.
The series was published in English by VIZ Media under its VIZ Signature imprint from February 21, 2006, to December 16, 2008, and was later reissued in omnibus format as *The Perfect Edition*. The manga has also been published in Brazilian Portuguese by Panini Comics from June 2012 to April 2015; in Polish by Hanami from March 28, 2014, to February 1, 2017; in Spain by Planeta Cómic from June 16, 2009, to September 21, 2010; in Argentina by Editorial Ivrea and LARP Editores; and in Turkey by Marmara Çizgi.
REALLY fascinating manga.
It's about the genius neurosurgeon Tenma who chooses duty over hospital politics and decides to save a young child shot in the head instead of a famous celebrity. Tenma loses his job because of this decision, and even worse, the boy he saves grows up to be a crazed serial killer! WHAT.
Full of twists and turns, it's incredibly addictive. I read all of it in about two days. The ending leaves a lot to interpretation, which was a nice touch for a manga that was morally ambiguous throughout. The writing is very tight; sometimes some threads of the story seem unconnected, and you forget about them until they come together so perfectly that you find yourself going back to reread stuff. Masterful.
One of the things I kept thinking about while reading was: Monsters are strong and will kill and kill, but a monster cannot kill a monster. Only a human can kill a monster. So the human cannot lose himself to his emotions and descend into his beastly or monstrous side if he wants to right the situation. It was fascinating watching Tenma struggle with this; he's such an awesome character.
Intense, psychological, deep-thinking manga.
I loved this manga; it's one of my favorites and the first Naoki Urasawa work I've read. It has definitely made me eager to explore more of his works!
SPOILER FREE
STORY:
I've talked with friends who are big fans of "20th Century Boys" (which I've started reading), and they mentioned that the story can be a bit hard to get into. I understand what they mean. The beginning is somewhat slow, but after the initial setup chapters, the reader is plunged into an adventure and chase that never seems to have a dull moment. Completely worth it.
ART:
To be honest, I wasn't initially sold on the art. However, I did warm up to it and eventually learned to appreciate it. I think I was just being picky at first :)
CHARACTER:
This is where some of my friends had issues. They felt it was difficult to relate to a doctor, especially a surgeon. But I beg to differ. Once past those initial setup chapters, you'll find the character very similar to an 'average Joe.' We've all had times when we wanted to move up the ladder at work, fix our mistakes, or question what's 'right' or 'wrong,' and whether there's even a correct answer. These experiences make the characters, especially the main one, relatable. All supporting characters are well-developed and very human in their actions and motives.
ENJOYMENT:
I found myself always wanting to know what happens next. Once you get through the setup, you'll be hooked until the end.
OVERALL:
I'd recommend this manga. Just give it a fighting chance, and I don't believe you'll be disappointed.
Frighteningly addictive.
"Monster" is a deep and meaningful psychological thriller everyone should watch or read at least once in their life.
In this story, Urasawa explores one of the most classic themes across all media: the duality of good and evil. The darkness and light that coexist within every human being are brought to the forefront.
As we follow Dr. Tenma's journey, wrongfully convicted for murder and consumed by guilt over saving a child named Johan who grows up to be a deranged and manipulative psychopath, we encounter a wide array of characters along the way. Each character has their own backstory and purpose, lending a profoundly human and realistic touch to the narrative.
Delving deeply into the psyche and memories of these characters, through a single sentence, "Look at me, the monster inside of me is growing bigger," we are prompted to ask ourselves: who is the real monster? Is it the loneliness and darkness that consume the hearts of abandoned children? Is it the person who brainwashes them? Is it the mother who sacrifices one of her children? Is it the individual who feels no compassion but only emptiness?
What makes a human 'exist'? Is it the ability to feel emotions? Is it their memories? Or is it the name they were given that integrates them into the world and ensures they are remembered?
In the end, Urasawa leaves it to his readers to decide the correct answer: none and all of these.
To sum it up, apart from a few minor "flaws" quickly overshadowed by the extraordinarily developed characters and the complex themes explored, calling "Monster" a masterpiece is an understatement.
This is an outstanding psychological thriller manga, featuring an intelligent plot, unpredictable twists, and memorable, deep characters. The overall atmosphere of the series is gripping.
I was impressed by how well-written this manga is, maintaining a consistently high quality throughout its 18 volumes. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The atmosphere and cliffhangers in Monster kept me on the edge of my seat every time, always leaving me eager for more. That's exactly how a thriller should be.
The story delivers intense and tense moments, especially when the plot reaches its peaks. Thanks to the unpredictable nature of the plot, readers are always surprised by the truth, adding to the thrill and excitement.
Naoki Urasawa is renowned for not outlining his stories before writing them, and this becomes evident in his work. Fortunately, he is a remarkably skilled thriller writer. "Monster" turns pages like a professional page-turner would, keeping you hooked. Throughout the narrative, you encounter fascinating characters with intriguing backstories that interweave beautifully. However, Urasawa struggles to wrap up the story satisfactorily; after following numerous threads for 162 chapters, you realize that even Urasawa doesn't seem to know how to conclude them. He attempts to tie up as many loose ends as possible, but it often feels unsatisfying. While the process of *reading* "Monster" is immensely enjoyable, the final product leaves a somewhat unremarkable impression on your mind.
REALLY fascinating manga.
It's about the genius neurosurgeon Tenma who chooses duty over hospital politics and decides to save a young child shot in the head instead of a famous celebrity. Tenma loses his job because of this decision, and even worse, the boy he saves grows up to be a crazed serial killer! WHAT.
Full of twists and turns, it's incredibly addictive. I read all of it in about two days. The ending leaves a lot to interpretation, which was a nice touch for a manga that was morally ambiguous throughout. The writing is very tight; sometimes some threads of the story seem unconnected, and you forget about them until they come together so perfectly that you find yourself going back to reread stuff. Masterful.
One of the things I kept thinking about while reading was: Monsters are strong and will kill and kill, but a monster cannot kill a monster. Only a human can kill a monster. So the human cannot lose himself to his emotions and descend into his beastly or monstrous side if he wants to right the situation. It was fascinating watching Tenma struggle with this; he's such an awesome character.
Intense, psychological, deep-thinking manga.
Seeing all the positive reviews, this feels like an unpopular opinion. I don't particularly enjoy Monster, though there isn't any major reason for it. The story is well-crafted, and the mystery is one of the strongest aspects of this manga. However, what if a mystery and thriller so grand and well-executed ends up amounting to nothing? That's what Monster turns out to be.
We keep reading and reading, hoping to uncover the true nature of this terrifying "Monster," but do we get answers by the end? Definitely not. We are left to believe that the main antagonist, Johan, is a charming and highly intelligent man, and everyone who encounters him is either shocked or willing to die for him. But in my view, he is neither intelligent nor charming. If a real person acted like him, they would simply come off as weird. He never demonstrates his intelligence, and his charm is nonexistent.
The protagonist is another character I struggle to understand, and I never really cared about him or his ideals. So, can a story with a poor conclusion, unappealing protagonist, and lackluster antagonist still be worthwhile? Yes, to some extent. Most of the side characters are very good, with Grimmer, Lunge, and Reichwein being some of my all-time favorite supporting characters. Especially Grimmer and Lunge, whose development, fitting dialogues, and character resolutions stand out.
The ending was unsatisfactory, whether judged by traditional standards or open-ended interpretations. We don't know what happened to Johan, we don't get answers about what "Monster" refers to, and we are left with only good side characters and a sense of emptiness.