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.

Firstly, this manga is not about "killing", it's about ETHICS. It is a well paced manga that is crafted to confuse, terrify and confront. Some would argue that there is some side stories that feel irrelevant as the series goes on, but Urasawa brings those side stories and stiches them together to create his Monster. The last volume will leave you, stomach punched. Urasawa does not place "filler" characters or plot, it is all part of the act.
This story confronts you, not only with evil as a character, but evil manifested as an IDEAL, as an answer. Could anyone in this day and age, not see that for some people anarchy and destruction is the only option? What happens to the people whose whole existence is to create? Where is their role to play in a society where the Monster reigns? Is it right to turn yourself into a monster in order to beat it? Who is it? What is it?
This is a manga for the mature individual who wants something engrossing and different. A real page turner. After completing this series, I was left with no questions, just a certainty that this was one of the best series I have ever read.

10/10

... Last updated on February 19th, 2009, 3:47pm

In reading this manga, I was surprised by how many people seemed to think it the best story they've ever read. How deep it supposedly is. I did not find this to be the case. While the story is certainly readable, and entertaining for much of it, so often throughout the story, the characters do things that simply don't make sense. The doctor, Tenma, who originally healed the monster, and allowed him to live. He had multiple chances to kill him. Despite this, he chose the route of moral cowardice, meaning that he is responsible for all the subsequent murders. So despite never having pulled the trigger, Tenma killed more people then just about anyone in the story. Indeed, in thinking about it, despite his heroic deeds, he is the biggest monster in the story.

Nina likewise had many chances to do the right thing, and somehow managed to fail. Then at the end she decides to forgive the monster for what he has done. I asked myself, if he murdered everyone in the world, you would still forgive him right. Forgiveness comes after repentance. After punishment. Once justice has been done, then you can forgive someone their crimes. Not before. Honestly, Grimmer, the cop and the drunk at the end were the only decent characters in the entire book. Really too bad that the drunk was unsuccessful.

Overall, its an entertaining read. Just ignore the stupidity about killing and not killing.

To describe Monster in brief, that would be what I would say. Shifting from intense to confusing to disturbing to depressing and all over again over and over, it starts off a bit weak, but picks up steam fast. Johan is one of the most intriguing and disturbed characters of any manga I have read, and whenever you aren't waiting for him to get capped in the face, you are hoping Tenma and Nina don't. All the characters are very well-developed, and you feel a connection with many of them. If you liked Death Note, this is probably what you want to read next.

The anime adaptation strictly follows the manga, there are no deviations, no annoying fillers and it ends just as the manga ends. As many have said before me, this is a true masterpiece. Read the manga, watch the anime or do both! This is something you cannot miss.

monster similiar to long ago project "master keaton"
if master keaton i gave 10 point
than monster must have the same point which is 10

First of all, let me say that this mark is entirely subjective - I'm no manga critic. I really liked this intense manga at a human level, but I'm not into thriller nor intricate plots, and several things were, personally, a turn-off. Anyway, I find it to be an excellent manga. Urasawa is an inspired author, a formidable scriptwriter and a craftsman of drawing, and works on the cast in a strikingly brilliant way. Simply, this isn't my cup of tea.

... Last updated on October 8th, 2008, 6:11am

This type of series does not attract my attention at all.... That being said, I kept reading anyways, and by the end of the second volume I was hooked~! If only other psychological drama series were this good~! I'd definitely give more titles like this a go after reading this.... My only disappointments were the ending and the fact that I'm probably just too used to reading romantic comedies and this definitely was not one....