posts tagged “Monster”
[Manga Reviews]
08 Nov 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Monster]
The sixth instalment focuses very closely on Tenma’s former fianceé Eva, as well as the irrepressible Lunge and highlights how our hero is being hunted down on all sides. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned as the old saying goes; true enough, Eva will stop at nothing (except maybe a bar) to exact her revenge on him. She even goes as far as teaming up with Roberto in order to get what she wants, which really shows how she is at her lowest ebb.
Lunge also exhibits an almost fanatical desire to bring Tenma in - who else would try to arrest someone while suffering from a serious knife wound?! It’s a shame really that Lunge’s suspicions are so all-consuming yet so misplaced - a mind like his only works to its full potential when it is open to alternative possibities. As it is, he is so convinced of Tenma’s guilt that his insight is very blinkered indeed.
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[Manga Reviews]
21 Jul 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Monster]
The fifth volume shows little of Johan’s larger plan but makes up for this with portraying Tenma’s efforts in trying to understand him and track him down. There’s a great side-story featuring Lunge, who is still convinced that Johan is Tenma’s alter-ego but the main event is Tenma’s effort to understand Johan at a criminal psychologist level, which causes him to cross paths with an old friend and, ultimately, face Lunge himself.
It goes without saying that Monster is downright awesome on several levels; that said, thisvolume adds more background and side-stories than scenes that follow the course of the main story. There’s a married couple who are visiting their son who is serving time for murder, who Tenma and Dieter encounter while hitch-hiking; in another chapter we are introduced to a serial killer who has crossed paths with Johan. In this volume the level of mystique surrounding Johan increases though, as we are introduced to Roberto, the guy who annoyingly crops up during the rest of the series. His ability to survive and cause problems for Johan’s opponents wore on me after a while but at this stage he’s menacing and actually quite cool.
The main event of this volume is Tenma’s relationship with Rudi Gillen, although prior knowledge of what happens later in the story leads me to conclude that Rudi is merely a secondary supporting character. Gillen is an interesting guy though, having an almost pathological fixation on his tape recorder - not unlike Cooper in Twin Peaks actually (another reference/similarity to that series). We get to see a bit of Tenma’s character in this volume because of this, which is a nice change when we’re used to seeing his infallible ‘present’ self. If nothing else, this volume highlights Johan’s almost superhuman ability to use people for his own ends - in this case, Jurgans and his penchant for serial killings with some ‘family’ issues that probably attracted Johan to Jurgens’ M.O. in the first place.
There are plenty of ‘murder-mystery’ style scenes as Tenma learns a little bit more about Johan - if you’re already familiar with where the series is heading (i.e. you’ve already seen the anime like I have), this element of surprise is lost but revisiting it is as fun as always and it effectively builds on what’s gone before in a gradual and realistic way: we’re introduced to the character of Roberto, as well as Johan’s uncanny knack of manipulating others. It’s not an outstanding volume in the grand scheme of things but it can’t be called filler either; at the very least it’s another worthy if unremarkable addition to the series. If you’re already on track, keep reading and your patience will be rewarded.
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[Manga Reviews]
17 Mar 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Monster]
I know it’s been a while since I’ve done a manga review so I thought I’d kick things off with the fourth outing of Naoki Urasawa’s Monster. This is the first Frankfurt-set arc and features a rug thief, neo-nazis, an evil-minded midget and Nina brandishing a gun. Surprisingly, it also continues to be the most true-to-life and believable graphic novel I’ve read to date.
This volume opens on something of a side-story featuring Tenma’s former fiancee, Eva. It does little to add to the bigger picture but neatly highlights how far-reaching the effects of Johan’s case have proved to be - it is also easy to hate Eva and dismiss her as a complete bitch but I’d be missing the most interesting aspects of her character. By the end of the chapter I actually felt quite sorry for her…just.
Meanwhile our man Tenma is hot on the trail of Johan, which takes him into the Turkish quarter of Frankfurt where he runs up against some nasty characters who are planning on making Johan their new leader who will, in their eyes, supersede Hitler in terms of charisma and ruthlessness. Unless Tenma can stop them it really does seem like a likely outcome.
It is at this point that we meet the Baby, a fellow whose short stature is the likely explanation for his delusions of grandeur. He also reminds me of that guy from Twin Peaks for whatever reason…anyway, he appears to be a key player in the nasty goings-on in Frankfurt where a number of others, to varying degrees, know Johan.
There are some pretty shocking moments in this volume but interestingly this aspect is conveyed without excessive gore or violence. An innocent woman is murdered but we do not even see her face; neo-nazi skinheads crop up in several scenes, babbling on about how they are expecting Johan to front their new world order; and the Monster himself (or is it…?) disposes of a number of his followers with seemingly little effort.
In terms of characterisation, Tenma is still doggedly determined but his reluctance to kill is still being tested; those he befriends realise how terrible it would be for a man of his moral standards to do such a thing. For this reason it will be interesting (for those of you who haven’t seen the anime series yet, at least) to see how long he can keep this up and whether he will be able to kill Johan in the end. Nina on the other hand shows a really tough streak that is inevitably mistaken for a manifestation of her brother’s evil. Twins they are but Nina is nothing like him; the Baby and his goons don’t know this of course, but she manages to use this to her advantage. She and Johan look alike and they are clearly both above-average in intelligence but the similarities end there.
Overall it’s another great instalment for what has to be one of Viz’s finest titles. The development of Nina’s character and the showdown between Tenma, the Baby and his henchmen were the highlights. Expect a review on volume #5 in the next couple of weeks…
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[Manga Reviews]
18 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Monster]
Tenma’s journey enters its third instalment as the trail left by Johan takes him to Verden, the old East Berlin and idyllic villages in the German countryside. More fascinating supporting characters are added and a few details surrounding Johan’s past are revealed. The most chilling clue of all is that of the orphanage where he was raised: 511 Kinderheim.
I remember seeing this story unfold for the first time on fansub but even now the sense of evil and foreboding that hangs over 511 Kinderheim still gives me the chills. It is amazing to think that, with all the supernatural types of horror and shocker around these days, realistic human tragedy and exploitation make for the most unsettling entertainment of all. The phrase ‘human experimentation’ and other stories surrounding this place only hint at the cruelty and suffering that the children must have endured, yet Urasawa’s storytelling delivers by what it doesn’t show as much as by what it does. In one particularly frightening showdown, Johan is described as a ‘monster’: not by someone who is terrified of him (as everyone who has seen his true colours invariably are) but someone who is in awe of what he has become.
The question of “Are monsters born or created?” is asked once again, with some semblance of an answer beginning to emerge; only when we learn more about Johan’s past will we get a clear answer however. The inner battle that Tenma himself is experiencing is also portrayed very effectively: as he continues his search that he intends to end with a cold-blooded murder, he saves lives and helps others in need. Quite a paradox, which is not lost on the story and the people who meet him; it is the succession of complex ethical questioning as well as the chiller/thriller aspect that has made me so hooked on Monster. Stirring stuff indeed.
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[Manga Reviews]
01 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Monster]
The second volume of Monster introduces more of the series’ immensely varied supporting cast, most notably Johan’s twin sister.The story shifts to the town of Heidelberg, where Tenma is convinced that Johan is trying to contact her. She turns out to be a bright young law student who has grown up as Nina Fortner, living with adoptive parents and unaware of her past.
It is clear very early on that behind the outward appearances of normality Nina feels the effects of the severe trauma that happened years previously: she is seeking counselling for terrifying nightmares and even a seemingly innocent lecture concerning certain criminal case studies brings about unpleasant flashbacks. For all this, Nina is a pleasant, intelligent and engaging character who is very unlike the calculating, psychopathic twin brother that she can scarcely remember. Considering the significance she has later on, Nina’s character is introduced very well and the reader can quickly build an impression of what sort of person she is.
Johan’s mechanations behind the scenes are also evident, as we see the extent of his influence on the actions of those around him. It appears that he can manipulate other people as he sees fit: not even the police are immune from his mysteriously persuasive nature. What is not at all clear however is the larger plan that he has in store. Like a skilled chess player, seemingly random moves on Johan’s part give no indication on the big picture beyond the fact that he is both evil to the core and frighteningly adept at everything he does.
Following Johan as always is Tenma, who will need every ounce of the determination he shows in this volume in order to get closer to the truth. Lunge is following him with an equal amount of tenacity, his conviction of Tenma’s alleged guilt blinding him to any other possible explantations for the strange events that are unfolding. Urasawa once again shows his ability to spin a twisting yarn that delivers dark, frightening shocks and a meticulously crafted story. It’s just a shame that there isn’t anything else around right now that can compare with Monster’s realism, moral questioning and all-round intelligence.
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[Manga Reviews]
07 Apr 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Monster]
As you might have guessed from my fansub series review, I’m quite a fan of Monster. Personal bias aside, Naoki Urasawa’s original manga story starts off in spectacular fashion - I’ll spare the details of the synopsis that are found in the aforementioned review but suffice to say that it is every bit as good as the animated adaptation, covering the first four episodes or thereabouts. The character designs and events are similar to the point of being pretty much identical: that is, they have an air of gritty realism that graphic novels rarely have and the pacing is spot-on.
If you have seen the anime version already, there will be no surprises to be had here: it stayed so faithful to the source material that you could follow it from the manga scene-by-scene. That said, it is the only English language version of Monster currently available so if you don’t have the software or inclination to download the animated episodes the manga is your best bet.
Viz have done well with the presentation, with the glossy cover, decent quality paper and binding. Urasawa’s art style lacks the polish of some other manga artists but considering the quality of the story and cast I can’t really hold that against him. As it is, Monster is an intelligent and thrilling read that sucks you into its cold, dark world and never lets go - it is quite difficult to find in high street shops though, so you might need to go online to buy yourself a copy.
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[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
01 Apr 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Monster]
Always on the lookout for something a bit unusual, I was pleased to have been recommended the 74-episode animated adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s manga Monster. Admittedly it goes on for a lot longer than most other anime shows (I have never watched anything else that’s longer than 26 episodes) but taking the time to sit through this series is well worth it and quite frankly you’ll wonder where the time went. There are no filler episodes to speak of since every one of them adds a little to the meticulously written story: every cast member we see during its course has a tale to tell and something to contribute to the bigger picture.
The core of the story is that of a moral question: does anyone really deserve to die? Don’t expect any futuristic gunplay, giant robots or girls in skimpy outfits here though: Monster is a dark, intelligent and chillingly realistic piece of work. It begins with a Japanese doctor by the name of Kenzou Tenma who is working at a presitigious hospital in Germany. Tenma has it all: superb skills as a neurosurgeon, a promising career and is even engaged to the Director’s daughter. One night, a boy is brought into the hospital with gunshot wounds; shortly afterwards the town’s mayor is admitted. Both require surgery that only Tenma is qualified to carry out but he decides to operate on the boy first. The mayor dies, Tenma is shunned by his colleagues and his career is in tatters.
When the boy in question disappears and those who criticised Tenma die in mysterious circumstances, he is reinstated at the hospital but naturally becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation that ensues. What follows is Tenma’s fight to clear his name and find the ‘monster’ that is responsible for the deaths: he soons realises that there is more to his former patient than meets the eye…
There are no supernatural or sci-fi elements in Monster: it is a very true-to-life psychological thriller that explores numerous moral issues and portrays the darkest side of human nature, but is nevertheless very creepy in places! As the series progresses, Tenma learns more about the origins of this serial-killing ‘monster’ and vows to destroy the life that he saved to prevent any more murders. It is interesting to see a character who is so at war with himself: Tenma has devoted himself to saving lives but believes that he has to end a life to undo the mistake that he made.
In terms of animation and suchlike, the fact that Studio Madhouse is responsible for the production should be enough to tell you that Monster looks fantastic. It’s vaguely reminiscent of their earlier efforts Paranoia Agent and Perfect Blue in terms of visuals and themes, and the music is superb (one of the ending themes, For the Love of Life, was written by David Sylvian specially for the show). There have been rumours of a live-action adaptation being in production, and I can easily see this taking place with minimal changes to the story. Yep, it’s that realistic!
So, if you are after something that is consistently compelling, gritty and tells a great story you can’t do much better than Monster. Here’s hoping it gets a UK licence and DVD release sometime soon.
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