The Beast And The Villainess

brilliant book loved it can't wait for book 2

I came across this manga entirely by chance while looking for Black Jack (by Tezuka). Although the two mangas are unrelated, they both rank among my favorites.  

This manga revolves around an ordinary intern grappling with the concept of what it means to be a doctor. Who is he? What is his role? The protagonist dislikes the bureaucracy inherent in the medical field. He aspires to remain true to himself rather than becoming a mere robot governed by the rules of the medical association.  

It's crucial to note that this manga isn't aimed at a broad audience seeking humor and action. It's a seinen manga crafted for thoughtful readers. I can guarantee that if you appreciate meaningful narratives with a robust plot and a relatable main character, you'll adore this.  

The tales of various patients are deeply touching and thrilling as well. These stories are inspiring and occasionally make us believe that nothing is unattainable, yet not every story concludes happily. Sometimes, harsh reality comes as a shock. You can see that the author isn't aiming for grandiose stunts but instead keeps a pleasing balance between reality and enjoyment.  

Therefore, I would suggest giving this manga a try. Read a few chapters, and I doubt you'll regret it.

tl;dr: A manga with compelling stories about patients and their doctors, but a protagonist who seems lost and fails to convey much overall.  

This manga features a variety of intriguing subplots that evoke strong emotions, yet after finishing it, I was left unclear about its purpose or message. It begins with Saitou as an overly idealistic and naive young doctor who is initially shocked by the harsh realities of medical practice. However, he eventually finds some resolve and decides to do what he believes is right to save his patients. This setup works well for the early stories, where bureaucratic issues, corruption, and the arrogance of those in power threaten his patients' lives. In these situations, the "right" course of action is clear, and Saitou bravely takes it despite the personal risks involved.  

However, as the manga progresses, the narrative continues with a similar structure even as Saitou faces far more complex dilemmas. These are cases where there isn't a straightforward "right" answer to pursue single-mindedly. Yet, Saitou approaches them as though there is, and the manga doesn't convincingly argue why his actions are justified. Moreover, the complexity here isn't just about breaking rules or taking risks—success or failure wouldn't necessarily validate his choices. Instead, these are deeper existential questions about his role as a doctor and what he truly wants to achieve for his patients. Unfortunately, by the end, it feels like Saitou hasn't arrived at any meaningful conclusions. He claims to have stopped asking himself what kind of doctor he wants to be, but this feels less like resolution and more like giving up on finding an answer. As a result, the manga leaves me unsure of its overarching message beyond the observation that life—and medicine—are incredibly complicated, which isn't particularly profound.  

That said, aside from Saitou's journey, the exploration of different individuals and doctors grappling with various diseases is engaging and well-written. These segments are gripping and emotionally resonant, making the series worth reading for those aspects alone. There's also a minor romantic subplot, but it lacks depth and purpose. Additionally, while the art attempts a hyper-realistic and gritty style, I found it quite unappealing.  

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Say hello to Black Jack is one of the most overlooked manga on MAL due to its lack of English scans and publications (I read it in French). However, it is one of the few manga that left a strong impression on me.  

Story: 10/10  
The story revolves around a young intern at Eiroku (a prestigious university known for medicine) and chronicles his experiences as an intern across various hospital departments. Each story arc represents a 3-4 month internship in one of the major medical fields, with Saito (the protagonist) always assigned responsibility for a specific case or patient. His naive ideals and stubbornness make him rebellious and skeptical about the ethics of medicine in Japan. From neonatal care to cancer treatment and psychiatry, each department offers a unique perspective on the difficulties and challenges within society. The storyline is wonderfully crafted, tackling extremely mature, critical, and hard-hitting subjects with a profound emotional and psychological impact on readers.  

Art: 9/10  
Some characters' faces are exaggerated in a serious yet realistic manner. The artwork can be classified as realistic seinen, occasionally approaching the level of detail seen in Vagabond.  

Characters: 10/10  
The characters are truly multi-dimensional. Many of the "antagonists," such as the senior doctors in each department, initially appear insensitive and corrupt. As the story unfolds, however, it becomes clear that there is no simple right or wrong between Saito's ideology and that of his seniors. By the end of each arc, not only does Saito grow by realizing that his initial thoughts about the patient-doctor relationship are overly naive, but some of the senior doctors are also influenced by him. Some rediscover aspects of their youth that they had lost after years spent in a corrupted system.  

Enjoyment and Overall: 10/10  
This manga is a SHOCK manga, exposing some of the most obscure facets of Japan's medical system. While pessimistic and dark, it still confidently portrays the presence of hope for both patients and doctors—even when there seems to be none. Some of the story arcs, particularly the last two, are incredibly emotional. Personally, I shed tears during the cancer story arc and found it to be one of the deepest and most well-developed emotional and psychological episodes in all the manga I've read. I highly recommend this to anyone willing to explore a realistic manga that critiques the social system (of Japan) while adding a "human" touch to everything. One of the masterpieces.

This manga isn't for the typical otaku seeking an escape from the harshness of reality.  

This manga is all about reality.  

It's tough to read, but once you start, it's hard to stop.  

This is one of the few mangas that might make you feel like you don't want to live in this world anymore, and the main reason is its unflinching realism. 100% realistic scenarios, underpinned by real-life problems and issues that are reported in any media outlet.  

It's no surprise that some people rate it so low. Many readers turn to manga to escape into worlds filled with magic, superpowers, and protagonists who always achieve their goals, where dreams inevitably come true.  

"Black Jack ni Yoroshiku" is the exact opposite. No magic, no superpowers, no miracles. The main character is as human as they come, and dreams are just what they are in reality—mere dreams, while goals remain distant and unclear.  

Like most people, Saito Eijirou doesn't know what his goals are or why he does what he does.  
Like most people, Saito Eijirou sees his dreams shattered by reality.  
Like most people, Saito Eijirou hopes for miracles that never materialize.  

And as in real life, things rarely go according to plan.  

All 13 volumes lay bare the realities of human existence, illustrating the fragility and hopelessness that define life for so many.  

If you've already embraced reality and understand your own powerlessness, you'll find a masterpiece in this manga.  

But if you're still clinging to notions like "dreams come true" and "believe in yourself," then perhaps you should seek something more optimistic and fantastical. Come back here when life has taught you the meaning of "reality."

Interesting storyline... Looking forward to more chapters ...

thank you for giving my book a chance, I am sure you will enjoy it because it's worth it...️...️

Book was decent. Had some major plot errors and lots of typos