Monster

There is only one world, and it is false, cruel, contradictory, corrupt, meaningless (...). We need to lie to win this truth, that is, to live (...). Metaphysics, morality, religion, science (...) are considered merely different ways to lie: with your contribution if it is believed in life.

Naoki Urasawa, through his unquestionable resources, develops Monster with a dual premise, which can be considered Manichean. This challenges the moral behavior of the characters. On one side, there is Tenma, "the doctor," and on the other, Johan, "the depravity," engaged in a paradoxical ideological confrontation.

Monster gives real meaning to the definition of psychological genre, its plot delves into the human mind, their fears, and anxieties. The narrative structure is complex, with dialogues and characters tending towards surrealism, which is rarely found in this manga genre.

Johan is a cold character, his personality is logical, fascinating, above all, human, and rational. He demonstrates the nature of man in the most cruel, harmful, and true form, with an approach somewhat selfish and devastating. His moral complexity is amazing, making him an extremely intriguing character with a horrific and obscure past.

Tenma, the protagonist, follows a nonexistent morality designed to make life bearable. It is intrinsic to his moral training as a doctor to value life, but he fails to realize that behind this morality lies a deception about the world. From this perspective, it is a fact—he only believes what he wants to believe. In the end, everything is interpretive; Tenma is attached to ideas that transcend and thus exist only in his consciousness—a chain of morality. If he were to confront the real worldly nature, he would see that his morality is nothing more than an interpretive makeup of the world, and the true nature of the world is cruelty.

The ending is the great moral lesson of Monster. What happened to Johan? Did his nature prevail again? Was he seeking revenge? These questions don't need answers because, for Tenma, killing or not killing Johan makes no difference. Both choices would be based on moral interpretations: either to favor his revenge or his duty.

I discovered Monster while browsing the Top Manga List on MAL in early 2020. Its high ranking, impressive score, and straightforward title caught my attention. Without hesitation, I added it to my "plan to read" list because it seemed like a must-read. Fast forward two and a half years, and I still hadn't started reading it—simply because I forgot about it. Then, around a month ago, several Monster-related videos appeared on my TikTok feed. Most of these were top ten lists featuring favorite anime, manga, and characters. I noticed that Johan Liebert was frequently mentioned as a favorite antagonist. After some digging on TikTok, I found edits highlighting how great an antagonist he supposedly is. This prompted me to finally start reading Monster, with high expectations.

People warned about a slow start, so I knew I had to persevere. I thought this "slow start" would only affect the first two volumes. But I was mistaken. After finishing volumes three and four, I realized, "Wow, this manga is really taking its time." I assumed it was setting up for something amazing. So, I kept reading, one volume after another. By volume ten (chapter 86), I'd had enough. I'd read more than half of Monster and still didn't enjoy it. It was okay, but nothing more. I felt disappointed; the manga I had such high hopes for turned out to be boring.

Johan Liebert, the main antagonist, hailed by some as the best antagonist in anime and manga, barely appears. I expected him to be like Light Yagami or Lelouch vi Britannia—a smart, cunning, and charming villain. Instead, he's a psychopath and serial killer who wants humanity to go extinct for no apparent reason. The reader is told he's highly intelligent and charming, capable of feats most people couldn't imagine. However, we never see him perform these acts. We only hear about them from side characters whose sole purpose seems to be telling us how insane Johan is. In Death Note, we see exactly how Light pulls off his schemes. Imagine if instead, a side character just told you what Light did without explaining how. That's how I felt following Johan Liebert.

Dr. Tenma, the protagonist, is a likable character but not particularly special. He's your typical good guy who can't bring himself to kill someone due to hesitation. Despite being the protagonist, we often don't see much of him. Many chapters pass without his appearance. Each volume introduces new characters whose stories we follow for a while before they are discarded. While this isn't unusual in many stories, Monster shifts focus between characters quickly, and most of them are forgettable, especially when the protagonist interacts with them briefly.

The story of Monster revolves around Dr. Tenma trying to catch Johan to stop him from killing more people. Along the way, he meets various people and helps them in different ways. Sometimes he spends an entire volume with them, and sometimes just a chapter or two. Imagine if in One Piece, after Luffy meets each crew member and helps them, he just leaves and we never see them again. That's how reading Monster feels. You meet so many characters, but how many are truly memorable and impact the story? Not many, in my opinion.

In conclusion, I think Monster is just alright. It's somewhat interesting if you don't mind the slow pacing, infrequent appearances of the protagonist and antagonist, and lack of insight into how the genius antagonist achieves his feats. Personally, I find Monster overrated and struggle to understand its popularity.

Before Death Note, there was Monster. It starts off somewhat slowly and can be a bit too verbose at times, but it does redeem itself. The story revolves around the human condition when everything is stripped away from a person. It's like an advanced version of Death Note on steroids, featuring more talkative characters, a dash of history, and neo-Nazis.

I loved the characters, their backstories, and the mystery woven throughout the series. However, the slow start was a drawback for me; I even skipped a few pages at times. Occasionally, the plot became a bit unrealistic, but it remained an interesting read overall.

I would recommend this series, but with fair warning about its pacing issues.

Monster is simply marvelous. I hadn't watched or read any anime or manga for a year, but then I came across Monster on Netflix and got curious about the synopsis. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life, seriously. It's in my top 3 manga of all time and is fantastic. The whole contradiction between Tenma and Johan, Tenma's journey where he makes new friends along the way, and the villain who is just perfect—so complex and absurdly bizarre. The final arc wraps everything up beautifully, and that last scene is the diamond key. It's really good, and I highly recommend it. The last manga that gave me the same feeling as Monster was Berserk, and that's even before I finished the Golden Age arc. Even today, I go back to read it. That's it.

Spoilers free

"Doctor Tenma, for you all lives are created equal, that's why I came back to life. But you've finally come to realize it now, haven't you? Only one thing is equal for all, and that is death." - Johan Liebert

Oh boy, what a story. I rarely give 10/10 ratings for mangas. I try to reserve that score for the best manga I will ever see. At least, that was my stance before reading Naoki Urasawa's masterpiece.

Story:
It was... oh man, an essay on human psychology and philosophy, as someone aptly put it. Every small detail makes a significant difference, and I feel I'll need to read it multiple times to fully grasp what Urasawa was aiming for. 10/10, without hesitation.

Characters:
Monster is well-known for its character development. Johan Liebert is one of the best antagonists ever. Even with limited screen time, his impact on the story and other characters' growth is immense. Clearly one of the best characters in this medium. The supporting cast is excellent, and Tenma remains a top-tier protagonist. 10/10

Art:
The weakest aspect of this manga. While some panels are outstanding, the overall art is just decent. 7/10

Enjoyment:
For some, the dense dialogues might be boring, but if you enjoyed series like Death Note, you'll likely love this too. 9/10

Overall:
This truly is a masterpiece. Imagine if Death Note was perfect, and you get Monster. 10/10

I fell for the hype surrounding this manga, and it is vastly overrated compared to its actual quality.

Story:

Monster is slow and boring. While the premise is intriguing, it overstays its welcome significantly. The story drags on in a very predictable manner. The ending is ambiguous, leaving much open to interpretation. This isn't inherently bad, but the issue is that it feels extremely anti-climactic after such a drawn-out narrative.

4/10

Characters/Themes:

Monster excels in character development, which unfortunately is its only strong point. Dr. Tenma embodies kindness, innocence, and perseverance, Grimmer showcases humanity beautifully, and Johan Liebert epitomizes nihilism, cunning, and evil. However, while these themes are interesting to discuss, the story doesn't do much beyond equipping characters with them. The themes are not presented or explored in any innovative way, and Urasawa adds little of his own commentary.

7/10

Art:

The backgrounds and landscapes are beautifully detailed with masterful shading. However, the characters often look too similar, making it difficult to distinguish between them. The paneling is basic and straightforward, adding to the overall monotony.

6/10

Personal Enjoyment:

This manga was a slog to read. I dropped it multiple times but eventually pushed through to the end because my friends wouldn’t stop talking about it and wanted to hear my thoughts. Grimmer was definitely my favorite character; I enjoyed watching him slowly regain his humanity in response to Johan’s inhumane actions. Dr. Tenma is an extremely relatable character, hunting down the monster he feels guilty for saving while helping others along the way. His pure heart serves as an ideal example of a doctor.

5/10

Conclusion:

Although Monster and its themes can be discussed for hours, none of that reflects the quality of its story. People's perception of Monster often gets skewed by focusing on how Johan is considered one of the greatest villains ever written, rather than judging the story itself, which I think is merely decent.

6/10

A true seinen masterpiece! If you read manga for its deep and intricate plots, then Monster is a must-read.

This manga features one of the best villains ever created in the genre. I was always on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting the antagonist's next move, and I was never disappointed.

The characters are incredibly realistic, showcasing a wide range of personalities. There are those who don't trust others, and there are naive characters; some are greedy while others are humble. The misunderstandings and situations involving the main character, the mystery that surrounds him, and how he impacts the lives of those he encounters are all brilliantly portrayed.

The story unfolds at a deliberate pace, but once you reach the end, take a moment to look back. You'll experience a sense of satisfaction that is hard to achieve with most stories.

Excellent writing from start to finish. "Monster" is more than just a manga; it's a piece of art that everyone should read and experience before they die, as no one can ever replicate this work. Many parts of it feel like an average crime series on HBO or other platforms, but the numerous plot twists in this series are nothing short of genius. It's almost beyond human capability to create something like this. Apologies if my review seems hyperbolic, but I'm serious—there are so many words to describe how great this manga is, but I don't know how to put it properly. I'm incredibly glad I got to witness it at least once in my life.

The art and world-building, along with character design, aren't the best out there, but they fit the vibe and tone of the series perfectly. Naoki Urasawa's art is very melancholic and well-crafted, simple yet conveying a lot of feeling and quality throughout. The plot is straightforward, telling the story of how Johan, born a cunning genius, used his intellect to establish an organization and attempt to ruin Tenma's life. Tenma is destined to be the only one capable of stopping the monster (pun intended). For those who enjoy investigative and crime-chasing series, "Monster" will be a top-tier choice.

The cast is superb, with an outstanding portrayal of the antagonist Johan, truly one of the most vile and malevolent characters to ever exist in the manga/anime universe. I don't believe there will ever be another character as manipulative and brilliant as Johan; Light Yagami might be the closest villain to approach his standard. The character development makes us feel like every character throughout Tenma's journey is worth honoring. The pacing is good, though not extraordinary, but it holds up well on its own. The paneling is fine.

Overall, the series is easily 10/10 for me; everything about it is highly worth binging.

It's crucial to understand before diving into Monster that this manga is intended for mature audiences. You won't find any chibi characters or moments of comic relief to lighten the mood when things get intense. The artwork is highly realistic.

I read the manga after watching the anime, and even though I was familiar with most of the plot and the ending, I can confidently say that Monster is an exceptional manga. It stands out as one of the finest psychological thrillers for more mature readers. The story keeps you on edge frequently, blending intrigue with a spooky atmosphere that sometimes feels almost supernatural. The character development is thorough, with many characters receiving extensive backstories (though some characters are developed extensively despite not being central to the main plot).

The sole reason I'm not giving it a perfect score is due to the somewhat anti-climactic ending, especially considering the significant buildup towards the conclusion.

A promising young doctor is framed by his own patient for a series of murders. Seeking revenge to clear his name, he soon finds himself entangled in a mystery where every answer only leads to more questions. What happened at Kinderheim 511? How are the events linked to a series of children's books? And most chillingly, who is the Monster?

Monster is often regarded as one of the greatest manga series ever created. While I don't consider it flawless like some readers do, it is undoubtedly worth reading. The thrilling plot and continuously perplexing mystery make Monster a real page-turner. However, the pacing frequently slows down and drags, especially during chase scenes where climaxes are often interrupted by fires or character injuries, resulting in several chapters of downtime. This also causes the story to get bogged down with minor characters. Although these short-lived but positive relationships tie into the themes of the manga, cutting most of them would have improved the series.

Thematically, Monster explores the opposing forces of love and indifference. Johan, though mostly working off-page, makes for an excellent villain. He wields significant influence over others, and his many followers kill without remorse. Tenma embodies love; as a doctor, he stops to care for any sick or injured person he encounters, believing every human (except Johan) deserves to live. Anna stands in between, trying to find her place and uncover her true self.

Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is a classic manga series. Despite its frequent pacing issues, I still highly recommend it.

For a story that should be deeply rooted in humanity, "Monster" feels strangely detached from it. Many characters come across as mouthpieces for ideas rather than genuine individuals, and even the main character and antagonist lack depth, which is surprising given the length of the series. Often, it was the side characters who captured my attention because they had emotional backstories, but most of them ended up being forgettable plot devices. In long series like this, this can be a significant drawback, making it hard to follow if you don’t binge-read. My immersion was frequently interrupted because I would forget so many details that I’d have to go back and skim old chapters almost every time I picked it up again, even after just a day. Meanwhile, with other, longer series with larger casts, I recall nearly everything, so I don’t think it’s an issue with my memory. I think I simply didn’t care enough to remember; the author couldn’t make me, nor could my own interpretations.

Ultimately, the main reason I cannot say I fully enjoyed "Monster" was that I couldn’t suspend my disbelief. The series features some questionable and vague portrayals of mental illnesses, disorders, and trauma, which are crucial for the story to work. Additionally, it depicts Tenma’s surgical genius, an intricate plot in a politically charged setting, and methods of manipulation in a way that feels like the author is just throwing things at you and saying, “trust me, bro.” While I’m not closely familiar with all the subjects it presents, and thus not an optimal judge for their accuracy, neither is the average reader, and things did feel off. Considering that the series otherwise seems to aim for realism, this can be damning, as it’s much easier for me to take something at face value when I know it’s supposed to be a little ridiculous to begin with. Then again, considering that many characters may have been nothing more than plot devices, maybe it wasn’t supposed to be realistic after all. So I should focus on the “themes”…except, nothing motivated me to do so, and again, it hinges on the antagonist’s trauma responses being convincing…and now I’m stuck in a loop.

I’m sure "Monster" feels suspenseful and well-crafted if you don’t overanalyze it. I’d be willing to dismiss myself as a picky old curmudgeon who just couldn’t get immersed. It was so rough that I initially dropped it after volume 4 a year ago, and was deathly afraid to pick it up again. Now I fear that if I am to ever actually appreciate it, I may have to do some external research, but I feel like that’s not something one should have to do just for a story to be believable or impactful. Overall, "Monster" probably just wasn’t for me, and I should have given up a while ago. Maybe if I had approached it with more forgiveness—although there was nothing that made me want to—I would have had a better experience.