I adored A Greater Monster (ch 69). Naoki Urakawa's Monster detailed a food chain of sorts: Schuwald had empires in his name, while Johan built and destroyed them. Will Tenma be able to grow and devour Johan? As a sucker for the "sacrificing one's own humanity for the sake of humanity" trope, I have grown to love this series and Tenma even more. I loved the incorporation of Johannes's Apocalypse and Tenma's flashbacks into the build up.
I never really liked when other characters would refer to Johan as a demon because that implied sinister intent. But it seemed that he was completely devoid of such sentiments- he really just wanted to play.
My heart was about to burst by A Monster of Chaos (ch 70). Was Schuwald prepared to embrace death?? Was it his last will and testament inside the envelope in his study?? Or was it the information collated by Gillen, Brown, and Reichwein?? Was Lunge counting on the fact that Tenma was preying on Johan?? So he could catch him in the act and he would be correct?? Gosh. This man was the true antagonist. Was the storybook used for reformation or re-education of sorts?? Honestly, I want Johan to meet his end at Nina's hands, but I also wanna see Tenma become a monster too...
Oh my fucking god. I have no words for how much I loved A Nameless Monster (ch 71)! It was amazing, and it really suited my taste! It was perfedt timing too because I felt like I was about to go crazy not seeing the illustrations in the storybook. I am already so scared for Tenma. Although I have to admit that there was something quite satisfying about the way things played out in the final panels.
Feast of the Ants (ch 72) was a car crash. A beautiful wreckage. I cannot look away or stop backreading.
The final scene reminded me of that from Attack on Titan wherein Squad Levi was being chased by the Anti-Personnel Squad yet again.
The world went up in flames in The Demon in My Eye (ch 73). When Tenma was investigating Johan's past, one teacher mentioned that the faculty room burnt down. The Turkish ghettos were supposed to be burnt down by neo-Nazis to summon Johan. The same thing happened with the municipal hall (?) Richard visited; the fire destroyed all of that respective town's records. And now the prophecy about how the Thursday boy will bring about the apocalypse is being fulfilled.
Tenma also finally took a life. There was just something about a renowned neurosurgeon having trembling hands. And the fact that they steady again after he finished the deed.
Letter from Mother (ch 74) revealed information about Johan and Nina that I did not expect to be relevant at all in any way whatsoever, and I feel foolish. Tenma grows more badass with each chapter I swear to god.
I was stupid for expecting a warm family reunion of sorts in Traces of Heart (ch 75)...
Lunge was as crazy and stubborn as ever. My favorite part was when he tried getting into Johan's headspace, but then decided that he was a demon and therefore does not exist. All while holding his photograph. The lack of tapping fingers was such a creative and incredible way of showing how he disregarded evidences that would not support his theories. Especially compared to when he took that random cuff link from the rubble saying that there is always traces of evidence in crime scenes. Gillen really was right about how his fingers were subjective.
I am quite surprised by how the dust had settled by The Hell in His Eyes (ch 76). As much as I prefer Nina being the one to end Johan, Reichwein and Tenma were right about her having so much ahead of her. I enjoy seeing her and Dieter together, and a part of me hopes that they would be living with Tenma by the end of the story.
I like Karl, but him choosing Schuwald over his last foster parents really left a bitter taste in my mouth. I wonder if he would ever come home to Schuwald...
I thought that Frogs in a Fairy Tale Land (ch 77) would give some more insight about Kinderheim 511, and that Schuwald was actually one of the four pears who saw Johan's potential. I am only realizing now how nonsensical that is given how he was too involved with the economy and they have never met before this. Anyway, I really did not expect that the Liebert twins' biological parents would be relevant much less present.
The adults throwing shade at Lunge was hilarious. I need that man to die by Johan's hands. Or maybe not because it might be funny for him to still be so adamant on his theories by the end of his arc.
Mauler and Lotte remind me of Dimo Reeves from Attack on Titan and Shezka from Fullmetal Alchemist respectively. Schuwald's development from this cold "vampire of Bayern" to this frail old man who trembled at Johan's name was one of the things I appreciated about this arc. I love the bonds shared and formed in this story especially when they're celebrated over meal times. I love how the people touched by Tenma were working so hard to prove and preserve his innocence.