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Description
From Viz:
Monster weaves the riveting story of brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a famous surgeon with a promising career at a leading hospital. Tenma risks his reputation and promising career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy. Unbeknownst to him, this child is destined for a terrible fate.
A string of strange and mysterious murders begin to occur soon afterward, ones that professionally benefit Dr. Tenma, and he emerges as the primary suspect. Conspiracies, serial murders, and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics are all masterfully woven together in this compelling manga thriller.
The series won an Excellence Prize at the 1997 Japan Media Arts Festival and the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2001 and monster won the Grand Prize of Osamu Tezuka Culture Award in 1999 . .
Type
Manga
Related Series
N/A
Associated Names
Монстр Монстр: ужасная история モンスター Monster: Horrible Story
Urasawa. If your jaw doesn't drop after hearing that name, you've obviously been reading the wrong manga my friend.
I'll admit, the hype for this series was too intimidating for me to go near it. In fact, I'm glad I avoided it for so long until I was psychologically prepared for it. If I'd have to start with this manga, I'd have to applaud the author on his brilliantly coordinated narrative. An aptitude for developing his own sense of thriller, this gets thrown on top of horror lists next to Ripley Scott's feature film "Alien" and John Carpenter's "The Thing". It takes a while to pick up what devices the author uses, but you soon realize every character Dr. Tenma encounters develop 3-Dimensional character traits. With that as his basis, the author freely switches perspectives revealing trails that lead to either Dr. Tenma or Johan, and thus the plot thickens.
The bad guy, Johan, is the most evil character in all the manga series that I know, and I know them all. The author toys with rationality as he creates a smart, handsome and smiling young man with all the desire to destroy everything he comes in contact with. The discretion in Johan's actions build his character in our minds as the most evil person you will ever see. The tips and hints the author has so cleverly thrown in to the dialogue all revert back to a single name, and even though they don't know who they're looking for, we always know it's Johan.
Dr. Tenma is one of the most modest people we know in this series, as most Japanese residing in Germany at that time were. He never blames anyone but himself in this series, and that's because most of the time he believes it's his fault that this "Monster" was unleashed upon the world. It is then that this magnificent story unfolds, starting with a race of people chasing other people, knowing everyone's motivations and their exaggerated, but metaphorical methods. Dr. Tenma always remembers that it's in his blood to save lives and not destroy them at any cost, even if it means taking another man's life. But that ultimately causes his hesitation and stops him when he always has the chance.
Throughout the series it's been a roller coaster as we dig deeper and deeper into the mind of a monster, trailing behind him and learning of his goals. We piece together his ambitions in each subplot, expanding his ever-growing picture of a Utopia. We learn how it must feel tracing back the devil's handy-work. The author teaches us that there's only one thing that must be done if you saw a killing machine on the loose, and that's to stop it.
Overall, the best read I could've possibly picked up. One of the things I loved whenever I read the series was the many times Johan's name is mentioned, you suddenly want to pay attention and understand that sometimes the ends can justify the means. A masterpiece. One could say the best work from Urasawa thus far.
I guess it depends on view points, there were instances in the manga where I didn't agree with the anti-heros motivations for killing. I also wouldn't agree with the motivations and logic behind the mass murders. But then again the era was around WW2 and propaganda did have a strong influence on the masses.
My overall recommendation is, dont read this manga if your not ready to accept the twisted nature of human beings. However, if you can accept that little fact the manga on the whole is very well drawn with an indepth story line. The best word to describe the manga would be "Intriguing" .
This is one of those manga that transcends categorization. I can't really see it as horror (at least not in the literary sense), as the story's primary motive is not to thrill. If anything, the best comparison I can come up with is to 40's film noire; The Maltese Falcon in particular comes to mind. Just like with Humphrey Bogart's iconic work, Monster keeps you in the dark until the very end. You will suspect, but you won't really be able to grasp the whole picture until the final confrontation, which will, just as with the Maltese Falcon, still leave questions unanswered.
Postscript: By the way, I read this manga in one go between the hours of 8pm and 5am. These conditions, I believe, are absolutely perfect for the macabre ambiance of Monster. If you are a fast reader, like I am (i.e. 18 chapters an hour, or around one chapter every three or so minutes), give it a shot.
A story that takes you on a wonderful ride filled with mystery, action, and really makes your mind work. I was so drawn to the story and couldn't stop reading. It's a real page turner. One thing I really admire is character development, and by the end of this story, I fell in love with many of them, and feel some sort of connection.
I have read a few of Urasawa's works and I enjoyed everyone, especially Monster. Such an interesting story, and the way the plot is interwoven is amazing. READ THIS SERIES...such a story, themes, and characters shouldn't be missed out on
..this series makes everything else I read seems dull and shallow in comparison. Plus I can't stop thinking about it. It has one of the best written plots I ever had, the ending was satisfying, and the main protagonist and the villain are two of the most thought-provoking characters I've ever come across. It pretty much just blows my mind that an actual human being can come up with something this good.
A few year ago. I see Monster volume 1 on the bookstore. I've got attetion by its cover because the tagline entitled "Horrible Story" and the phrase from Revelation of Holy Bible writed. Hmm, so interesting. But, after I see the graphic ... I've remember this style. Then I remember "Master Keaton". Wow, greats. I love Master Keaton, and I trying to read it. It was shocked. What a story ... this is marvelous.
This is the story what I looking for .... superb !
This manga was the best thriller I've ever read. Honestly the first few pages were boring but this manga picks up and eventually it all ties together... If you enjoy seinen, psychological, mystery, and drama this is the best one. I suggest you read it now before it's completely licensed, you'd regret it if you pass this! It's up to you to figure out who's the true monster.
What can I say about this manga that others have not said. A masterpiece. One truly work of art. Great plot that sucks you in and drives you till the end. And when your done reading it try pointing your finger towards the real monster. The ending is okay. Some maybe won't like it, but i leave the judgement to you. Personaly I wanted to see little blood on dr.Tenma hand's but guess this manga need's a "pure" character in it so it wouldn't get completly dark.
Anyway, Monster is a great manga all the way. Unlike 20th Century Boys that lost the edge half way through. But what is common to these two is of course fabulose Naoki Urasawa. He is one of the greats. My favourite together with Death Note artist Takeshi Obata. If you haven't read any of Urasawa's work Monster is a good way to start. Artwork was the first thing, actually, that got my attention. Just take few pages and look at them. This is all this manga need's to make you start reading it. Those who did that know what I'm talking about. :-))
Yohoo.. this one's really exciting! I like Monster better than 20th century boys, although 20th century boys is also interesting.... But Monster thrilled me! Complicated story, psycho, dark, and to the very end.... it's still enchanting. I give it 10.
Before reading Monster, I was a predominantly shoujo + josei reader. This manga changed all that. It made me realize that what is most crucial to me, in a good story, is: passable art and an interesting, almost mind-blowing, plot.
Monster did exactly that for me. It's got a decent enough plot that keeps pulling me back in, even though I can't keep up with long plotlines. I doubt I'll ever finish it, but I don't doubt in Monster's brilliance. It's such a thoroughly intricate story that I just have to praise the author who can pull off such a manga.
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