Cinta Sang Monster

I'm not doing a dense protagonist and a brother complex tag again

i love this book🥰🥰

blurb is captivating guess I'll have to read this

I really wouldn't recommend this manga to a new fan. And honestly, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone in general. Saying the art is disgusting might sound harsh, but I need to be honest with myself here. The sole reason I stopped reading this manga is because of the art, and nothing else. The story itself is actually pretty intriguing, and the characters seem interesting too. But the art... I just can't continue reading something that hurts my eyes. It makes me uncomfortable, evoking feelings I'd rather not experience.

To be perfectly clear, Abara could be a good read if you're either an experienced manga enthusiast or someone who's used to this kind of style. Overall, I can't rate it very high because my experience with it wasn't particularly enjoyable.<p>

Abara is a captivating kind of manga, one that strongly appeals to me and aligns with the type of stories I enjoy. Nihei Tsutomu's best works are those where the narrative takes a back seat to the visual splendor showcased through his paneling, as seen in BLAME!, Dead Head, and Biomega—where this approach can be highly effective. However, in Abara, it almost becomes a drawback. To be straightforward, there's barely any story in this manga, and I'm putting this information upfront in my review. If you approach Abara expecting the same level of visual storytelling found in BLAME!, you might be disappointed.  

Instead of offering a rich and nuanced narrative presented through a strong visual style and stunning art, Abara delivers only the latter. In a sense, it makes the story feel like a short-form poem, inviting readers to extract more meaning than what the author explicitly provides. It reads more like an artbook, presenting lavish visuals with a bare-bones story that contributes very little to its substance. Nevertheless, due to Nihei's extraordinary artistic direction in this manga, I found it immensely enjoyable; though this could obviously be a problem for others who may find fault with the lack of story depth.  

Another noteworthy aspect is the characters in this story. They're essentially just present. Sure, they take actions and advance the "plot" with their objectives, but it mostly feels inconsequential. You don't form attachments to any of the characters, their goals during your brief time reading, or even the outcomes. The enjoyment primarily stems from the visual and atmospheric spectacle that Abara offers.  

For me, this is acceptable. Abara is highly experimental, which is characteristic of this period in Nihei's work. It heavily relies on environmental and visual storytelling to drive the plot and develop characters, with a strong emphasis on space, gritty detailing, visceral action, and masterful artistry. While it isn't a masterpiece, and its story and characters are sub-par, if you appreciate the vibe that BLAME! conveys, then Abara will resonate with you. Conversely, if you prefer a story-heavy and character-rich narrative, Abara may leave you unfulfilled and craving more than what it aims to provide.  

In conclusion, it was an outstanding read and a manga that I hold dear to my heart.

Again, this is yet another short series. Only 11 chapters and it ends way too abruptly.  

~SPOILERS~  

Here we go again: a promising premise, a solid art style, and then everything falls apart with an incomplete conclusion. Similar to Digimortal, there's an armored badass who wrecks havoc on these bizarre white-armored creatures that people transform into. Why? What is this strange placenta-like structure associated with some of the white and black Ghenana? Was the destruction of the mausoleum the result of a past Ghenana war? None of these questions are answered or even remotely addressed. There's also this tough-as-nails cop who can tear off someone's arm barehanded—how? Who knows. This series is riddled with unanswered questions, and the author's preference for minimal dialogue only adds to the confusion. It's the second story in my "no read confusion" category. Barely worth an hour of your time.  

I'll write a separate review for Digimortal as well.  

7/8/4/9 = 7  

~SPOILERS~  

There's not much to say about a 1-chapter, 46-page manga other than it was surprisingly good—much better than the Abara it was paired with. I found a standalone copy of Digimortal in the correct order, which resolved some of the misplaced pages in the compilation. The story was intriguing, featuring a Berserk-like armor that makes its wearer (referred to as "heretics") stronger, faster, and more powerful than even a group of 11 guards and two trained "sisters." It was gory but not gratuitously so. A one-shot with a strong premise, and definitely worth the 3 minutes it takes to read.  

<p>

The most fitting word to describe this manga is "messy." Whether you're referring to the story or the art style, both elements are likely to leave you squinting in confusion.  

At first, I wondered if I was simply not smart enough to grasp the narrative, but after reading the author's comments at the back—written a decade after its release in 2015—it seems even he was bewildered! Even the creator of the story admits he no longer understands it. He also critiqued his older art style, though it does have personality. The character designs and backgrounds are somewhat appealing, but once again, it’s messy. Sometimes, you can't even decipher what's being depicted. This isn't an unusual issue in manga, but it's particularly pronounced here.  

The ending left me thoroughly perplexed, and I wouldn't attempt to explain it. It's more of an abstract vibe than any clear emotion or resolution. I'm certain some readers might enjoy it, but it caters to a very niche audience. <p>

If you liked Blame!, you'll probably enjoy this one too. You do need to pay attention, though, because some characters look very similar but play quite different roles, which might cause confusion. The artwork is stunning, and the action scenes are vibrant, although occasionally they can get a bit lost in the detailed line work. The story is solid for what it delivers, with much of the narrative pieced together from fragments, reminiscent of some of the author's other works. It's a great read if you're seeking a compelling story that isn't overly long and has no filler.  

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