What do you think?
Rate this book
Beast Complex #4
BEAST COMPLEX IV
“BEASTARS”の原点がここに。
肉食と草食が共存する世界。そこに溢れるさまざまな感情。この世界には、まだまだ語られるべき物語が無数に存在する。
違うからこそ、向き合うことは難しい。難しいからこそ、そこに挑む姿は残酷で美しい。板垣巴留が描き出す珠玉の短編集、第４弾。
肉食と草食が共存する世界。そこに溢れるさまざまな感情。この世界には、まだまだ語られるべき物語が無数に存在する。
違うからこそ、向き合うことは難しい。難しいからこそ、そこに挑む姿は残酷で美しい。板垣巴留が描き出す珠玉の短編集、第４弾。
160 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2024
About the author
Paru Itagaki
91 books678 followersParu Itagaki ( 板垣巴留, Itagaki Paru) is a multi-award-winning Japanese manga artist, known mainly for her work Beastars. She is the daughter of Keisuke Itagaki.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 8, 2024
yay furries
March 2, 2026
Ahhh, I requested this to be added to my library's collection and the moment it was added I got first in line, so the copy I read was so nice and crisp and new...! So satisfying when that happens!
I'm so relieved that Itagaki said in her author's note section that Beast Complex is her life's work and that she never plans to stop with it, because it truly might be one of the most special pieces of art and storytelling out there. She has such a unique voice and amazing style to go along with it that I just want to keep listening to her forever and ever.
The first story in this collection, The Black Panther and the Sea Otter, is so good. I really love it-- it totally tugged on my heartstrings. I think it has a really good message about being able to find the person who understands and accepts "the worst" in you -- the person who won't judge you for the things you're battling with. Automatically Gil and Po are just such a cute and precious pairing, and I'm really glad they have each other. They look so cute holding hands on the back cover!!
The other standout story for me was the story of The Iguana and the Penguin. Every time I see a story about addiction being handled with care and emotion, it makes me feel really touched and emotional too. I felt that it was really accurate that just having one roadblock -- his penguin friend Cole sitting in his fridge where South's beer usually is -- disrupted South from his habit of drinking a lot. Having something to take care of and look after also disrupted his routine and gave him something important to live for. That story really touched my heart.
And of course, every time we revisit Legoshi and Haru, I just feel so happy that they're getting to live the life that they earned together in Beastars. Even though I think their chapters in Beast Complex stand out really well on their own outside from the main story, if you've read Beastars than Legoshi and Haru's ending together feels massively earned and extremely satisfying.
I love them as a couple so, so much. I love how Legoshi is so shy and respectful, and Haru wants him to open up more. They just accept each other and love each other so much. It's so sweet to see, and I really hope Itagaki will keep following them forever and ever. ;-;
I'm happy I was born in the era where I can read Itagaki's works as they come out, that's all I can say.
I'm so relieved that Itagaki said in her author's note section that Beast Complex is her life's work and that she never plans to stop with it, because it truly might be one of the most special pieces of art and storytelling out there. She has such a unique voice and amazing style to go along with it that I just want to keep listening to her forever and ever.
The first story in this collection, The Black Panther and the Sea Otter, is so good. I really love it-- it totally tugged on my heartstrings. I think it has a really good message about being able to find the person who understands and accepts "the worst" in you -- the person who won't judge you for the things you're battling with. Automatically Gil and Po are just such a cute and precious pairing, and I'm really glad they have each other. They look so cute holding hands on the back cover!!
The other standout story for me was the story of The Iguana and the Penguin. Every time I see a story about addiction being handled with care and emotion, it makes me feel really touched and emotional too. I felt that it was really accurate that just having one roadblock -- his penguin friend Cole sitting in his fridge where South's beer usually is -- disrupted South from his habit of drinking a lot. Having something to take care of and look after also disrupted his routine and gave him something important to live for. That story really touched my heart.
And of course, every time we revisit Legoshi and Haru, I just feel so happy that they're getting to live the life that they earned together in Beastars. Even though I think their chapters in Beast Complex stand out really well on their own outside from the main story, if you've read Beastars than Legoshi and Haru's ending together feels massively earned and extremely satisfying.
I love them as a couple so, so much. I love how Legoshi is so shy and respectful, and Haru wants him to open up more. They just accept each other and love each other so much. It's so sweet to see, and I really hope Itagaki will keep following them forever and ever. ;-;
I'm happy I was born in the era where I can read Itagaki's works as they come out, that's all I can say.
December 31, 2025
By far my favourite volume of Beast Complex from Paru Itagaki. The majority of vignettes held such important and sincere messaging. My favourite chapter was the black panther and the sea otter— I love the open ending and tenderness of it all. 🥰
October 27, 2025
Oh i enjoyed the stories a lot in this issue! My favourite was the Penguin one!
January 1, 2026
The stories went by really quick. They were good but it fell flat sometimes.
April 25, 2025
短篇内部的掌控力比长篇好。
August 31, 2025
5/5 ~ loveeeeeee Legoshi & Haru <3333333333333333333
February 8, 2026
5 stars— i’ve missed my beast world
April 23, 2026
I love these queer little animals
March 17, 2026
Love being back to the universe of 'Beastars'!
Granted, when we are talking about anthology series like this, normally not all the stories are at the same level. But the collection in volume 4 felt really satisfying, with the right measure of old and new (who doesn't love knowing what Haru and Legoshi are doing?), enough fun and light moments, and plenty of emotional ones.
I also really enjoyed the extras at the end, including Paru Itagaki's thoughts on how her movie taste has changed over time. I kind of related to that!
Granted, when we are talking about anthology series like this, normally not all the stories are at the same level. But the collection in volume 4 felt really satisfying, with the right measure of old and new (who doesn't love knowing what Haru and Legoshi are doing?), enough fun and light moments, and plenty of emotional ones.
I also really enjoyed the extras at the end, including Paru Itagaki's thoughts on how her movie taste has changed over time. I kind of related to that!
January 3, 2026
Six more oneshot shorts from the universe of BEASTARS. These stories don't really have a major connection to the original series (though the last one is something of an epilogue?) so you don't have to read the whole story, but it's recommended.
We've got the story of a panther struggling with his natural instincts and a sea otter who sees absolutely nothing wrong with that. In the second, a zebra and a white tiger connect on a primal (and potentially dangerous) level. In the third, a snake nurse gets a little too cozy with an elderly mouse patient. The fourth is about a stalker German Shepherd who follows his nose straight into danger. In the fifth, a young iguana struggles with alcohol addiction while taking care of a baby penguin. And lastly, Haru tries to get the ever cautious Legoshi... excited.
We've got the story of a panther struggling with his natural instincts and a sea otter who sees absolutely nothing wrong with that. In the second, a zebra and a white tiger connect on a primal (and potentially dangerous) level. In the third, a snake nurse gets a little too cozy with an elderly mouse patient. The fourth is about a stalker German Shepherd who follows his nose straight into danger. In the fifth, a young iguana struggles with alcohol addiction while taking care of a baby penguin. And lastly, Haru tries to get the ever cautious Legoshi... excited.
January 7, 2026
Being a fan of Beastars and having read the other three volumes of Beast Complex, I was happy to find there was a new one just before Christmas.
There was an interesting variety of stories to this one, and I was happy to see another look into the life of Legoshi and Haru along with an appearance from another character from Beastars.
I definitely look forward to more, and if you're a fan of the story from Beastars and especially if you enjoy the formatting of Beast Complex, there's much of what you'd expect in this along with the interesting twists you may not realize are coming that happen in these stories.
There was an interesting variety of stories to this one, and I was happy to see another look into the life of Legoshi and Haru along with an appearance from another character from Beastars.
I definitely look forward to more, and if you're a fan of the story from Beastars and especially if you enjoy the formatting of Beast Complex, there's much of what you'd expect in this along with the interesting twists you may not realize are coming that happen in these stories.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews