Urasawa Naoki - Monster, vol. 01-04 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

Dr. Tenma ends up ruining what could have been a very prosperous career and an engagement to the daughter of a very influential man when he opts to operate on a boy instead of another very influential man. Unfortunately for him, the boy grows up to be a depraved monster serial killer. Since Tenma feels very guilty about this, he tries to track the boy down.

This sounds like a very boring thriller. So far, it's not.

Tenma is the key to the entire series (or at least, what I've read); he's truly a good man caught up in increasingly bad events. Usually I don't like the heroes of thrillers, but Urasawa manages to give Tenma an innate humanity and kindness that I really like and feel drawn toward.

The eponymous monster is much more boring; I don't buy people being naturally soulless and evil, as this boy apparently is. And the series does tend toward "natural evil" as a justification for the increasingly violent measures that Tenma and others end up taking, which bores and disturbs me.

On the other hand, I like moral questions in general, and Tenma really is a compelling character, because he does try to be good and is faced with hard choices.

There is an interesting female character who pops up in vol. 2, which makes me happy, as Tenma's ex-fiancee is your standard rich bitch blah blah.

Anyway, I think I'll keep reading, though maybe this will be delegated to tachiyomi or library loans.

Links:
rilina's review (scroll down)

Also, I swear coffeeandink wrote it up because that's how I heard about it, but I can't find the post.

ETA: coffeeandink's tags

Comments

[mystickeeper.livejournal.com]

I'm interested to see whether or not your opinion of Eva changes as the series goes on (I've seen the anime, but haven't read the manga, but they're so similar that I'll assume they go the same route).

Question: Do you buy all or most of your manga, or do you rent it from libraries?

[oyceter]

I'm really happy that Eva seems to get more depth and characterization later!

I buy, borrow and dl manga, along with standing in the bookstore and reading it. It's a mix of practicality, what's available in the library, what's available translated, my budget, and pure whim. Usually I don't buy a series unless I know I like it (or if it's been highly recced, or if it's on sale, or... on a whim).

[mystickeeper.livejournal.com]

We seem to share similar habits! However, I'm thinking that I should download manga more often. It must take up less space than anime....

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

I really need to update my memories and tags. Sorry!

My Monster discussion are here (http://coffeeandink.livejournal.com/tag/a:+urasawa+naoki).

I do want the entire series eventually, but it's one of the first ones I let slip while trying to budget. But it may be worth noting that Tenma's fiancee eventually becomes one of my favorite characters.

[oyceter]

Thanks for the link!

I'm really glad to hear that Eva gets more characterization! The original portrayal of her as a scheming, greedy alcoholic really turned me off.

[hysteriachan.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, Monster. SO good. I'm only reading the manga as it comes out, but I've seen the whole anime, and it's just fabulous.

[oyceter]

Oh, there's an anime?

I really like the art of the manga, actually. People have lumpy noses!