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Naoki Urasawa's Monster #15
Naoki Urasawa's Monster, Volume 15: The Door to Memories
Johan is a cold and calculating killer with a mysterious past, and brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him! Conspiracy and serial murder open the door to a compelling, intricately woven plot in this masterpiece manga thriller.
Dangerous men of influence hoping to exploit Johan's frightening min for their own shadowy purposes are also hot on the "monster's" trail, and they're willing to use Eva, Tenma's ex-fiancée, to identify him. But what will happen to Eva when her assistance is no longer required? Will her only chance for salvation rest on the shoulders of the very man who's been hired to kill her?!
Dangerous men of influence hoping to exploit Johan's frightening min for their own shadowy purposes are also hot on the "monster's" trail, and they're willing to use Eva, Tenma's ex-fiancée, to identify him. But what will happen to Eva when her assistance is no longer required? Will her only chance for salvation rest on the shoulders of the very man who's been hired to kill her?!
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
11 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
About the author
Naoki Urasawa
356 books2,815 followersUrasawa Naoki (浦沢直樹) is a Japanese mangaka. He is perhaps best known for Monster (which drew praise from Junot Díaz, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner) and 20th Century Boys.
Urasawa's work often concentrates on intricate plotting, interweaving narratives, a deep focus on character development and psychological complexity. Urasawa has won the Shogakukan Manga Award, the Japan Media Arts Festival excellence award, the Kodansha Manga Award and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. In 2008 Urasawa accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University.
Series list (not including short stories collections):
- Pineapple ARMY (パイナップルARMY) 1985-1988, written by Kazuya Kudo;
- YAWARA! 1986-1993;
- Master Keaton (MASTERキートン) 1988-1994, written by Hokusei Katsushika;
- Happy! 1993-1999
- MONSTER 1994-2001
- 20th Century Boys (20世紀少年) 1999-2006
- 21st Century Boys (21世紀少年) 2007
- PLUTO 2003-2009, based on Tezuka Osamu's Tetsuwan Atom
- BILLY BAT 2008-2016
- Master Keaton Remaster (MASTERキートン Reマスター) 2012-2014
- Mujirushi (夢印-MUJIRUSHI-) 2017-2018, collaboration with Musée du Louvre
- Asadora! (連続漫画小説 あさドラ!) 2018-ongoing
Urasawa's work often concentrates on intricate plotting, interweaving narratives, a deep focus on character development and psychological complexity. Urasawa has won the Shogakukan Manga Award, the Japan Media Arts Festival excellence award, the Kodansha Manga Award and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. In 2008 Urasawa accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University.
Series list (not including short stories collections):
- Pineapple ARMY (パイナップルARMY) 1985-1988, written by Kazuya Kudo;
- YAWARA! 1986-1993;
- Master Keaton (MASTERキートン) 1988-1994, written by Hokusei Katsushika;
- Happy! 1993-1999
- MONSTER 1994-2001
- 20th Century Boys (20世紀少年) 1999-2006
- 21st Century Boys (21世紀少年) 2007
- PLUTO 2003-2009, based on Tezuka Osamu's Tetsuwan Atom
- BILLY BAT 2008-2016
- Master Keaton Remaster (MASTERキートン Reマスター) 2012-2014
- Mujirushi (夢印-MUJIRUSHI-) 2017-2018, collaboration with Musée du Louvre
- Asadora! (連続漫画小説 あさドラ!) 2018-ongoing
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 23, 2025
Hay personajes que son pasajeros, que su estadía no es duradera pero aún así logran de alguna forma quedarse contigo para siempre. Aunque la historia acabe y aunque ellos solo hayan aparecido unos cuantos capítulos. Sus historias, sus pasados, sus relaciones interpersonales, sus sacrificios, sus aportes, siempre habrá algo importante detrás de ellos.
Aquí lo ha hecho con Martin pero realmente me pasa con absolutamente todos ellos y por eso siempre digo que Naoki Urasawa es un excelente escritor. Un absoluto maestro a la hora de plasmar sus personajes y también la historia que quiere contar sin importar al género que pertenezcan.
Aquí lo ha hecho con Martin pero realmente me pasa con absolutamente todos ellos y por eso siempre digo que Naoki Urasawa es un excelente escritor. Un absoluto maestro a la hora de plasmar sus personajes y también la historia que quiere contar sin importar al género que pertenezcan.
March 8, 2023
Once again the story is dominated by another new character, Martin, working with the underground secret organization, ordered to follow and protect Eva. He's an interesting character with a compelling backstory, but it was disappointing once for Johann to be virtually absent from the story.
We get some more intrigue and a few bits of background from Nina's story, but it was more of a tease than anything else. I'm still flipping through the pages but getting a bit more antsy for the plot to become a bit more focused and to have more of a payout since we're getting so close to the end.
We get some more intrigue and a few bits of background from Nina's story, but it was more of a tease than anything else. I'm still flipping through the pages but getting a bit more antsy for the plot to become a bit more focused and to have more of a payout since we're getting so close to the end.
September 5, 2018
Manga marathon.
August 13, 2019
We are going towards the final showdown. One monster, 3 people on hunt : Tenma, Eva and Anna. Let's see what happens.
October 19, 2020
I need more than just three more volumes.
September 12, 2023
Seems like we're moving quickly towards the final confrontation now!
July 5, 2022
"And I will keep on doing what I am doing to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 12-14
"He never sleeps. He says that he will never die. He dances in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps, the judge. He is dancing, dancing. He says that he will never die.” - Blood Meridian
I tend to be a sucker for strong concepts. Give me a good hook for a story and I'll read it, even if it doesn't entirely grab me in the end. Much of the time, I'm disappointed when a concept is misused or the author/artist doesn't explore the concept's full potential, merely touching upon it to get the readers hooked and then going on about their own interests or in the worst-case scenario, destroying the momentum that's been built. But Monster is different, as it's the rare series that delivers on its concept, while also being a very fast paced, entertaining story.
I've tried to expand my horizons in the world of comics and read foreign comics, and manga has been on that list of foreign comics to read. I've read several manga such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Akira, Bastard, and Death Note which I've enjoyed to various degrees, but the name Naoki Urasawa has come up with almost religious reverence in the circles that I've come across in the manga fandom. I'm happy to say that Urasawa is a writer-artist combination who proves to be as skilled of a storyteller as he is a draughtsman.
Urasawa shows himself to be a master of pacing, a master of suspense, and a master storyteller. While Monster starts off slowly, Urasawa keeps the audience invested with deft plotting and intricate attention to character, before taking the audience on a wild ride from beginning to end. Much of his skill also comes from his sense of the mystique, giving us little niblets of a much grander mystery that keeps his audience coming back for more. It is this ability that kept me coming back for more. I was impressed with the psychological progression of the characters, how their beliefs change throughout the story, and how they grow from the experiences that they go through during the events of the story.
Urasawa's art is likewise skilled, it is cartoon-like, while also being filled with character and personality. All his characters have distinct designs, and a character rarely looks similar to the other. An issue I often find with manga art is that all the characters look like children, and at their oldest late teens to early 30s. I wouldn't be surprised if Urasawa was influenced by the artwork of Katsuhiro Otomo, as he shares his eye for detail and distinct characteristics of his characters. Though Urasawa's art often runs toward the gothic. My friend Dave put it nicely when he said that this series has such an ominous and otherworldly feel that it sometimes feels fantastic.
Proof of this idea is with the main antagonist Johan, the titular monster, someone who is so detached from the rest of humanity that it seems that he is something otherworldly. Like Anton Chigurh or The Joker, Johan's evil is something that is so incomprehensible to the human psyche, that even when his motives are clear we are still unable to penetrate why he does what he does. What makes him so frightening isn't that he's particularly malicious or sadistic, it's that he is completely indifferent towards the lives around him, including his own. Urasawa plays his cards beautifully by never showing Johan too much or stooping to cliches where he taunts the heroes, he proves to be more of a force of nature than a cartoon bad guy.
Much of the series explores the relationship of protagonist Dr. Tenma and Johan and how both effect the world around them. They're not merely enemies, but existential opposites who are forced to collide. As Robert McGee pointed out, a protagonist's journey is only as good as the forces that antagonize him. Tenma's journey is ripe with struggle as he uncovers the mystery of who Johan is and all the forces that seek him for good or ill. Yet what allows Tenma to win is the fact that he chooses to hang on to being good, despite being in a world that is so transparently corrupt, becoming just as incomprehensible to the people who want to exploit or use him for their own ends.
I was also very surprised with the depth of the side characters that Urasawa introduced and how many stories he weaved into the story without losing the threads of the main plot. While they might seem frivolous at first glance, Urasawa always manages to find a way to weave them back into the main story somehow, where no detail is lost in the abyss. Much of the emotion that I felt through the series came from the side characters often, and Urasawa proves to be as gifted with characterization as Stephen King, creating characters with depth and nuance that gives the story its heart despite all the horrors that happen in it.
I continually stand in awe with how Urasawa manages to connect all these seemingly loose threads together to create one big story. It's rare that a story delivers on its core concept so adroitly, yet Urasawa does this and then some. He puts many comic creators around the world to shame, and he has fun doing it. His boundless imagination and his sense of set up and pay off will keep readers entertained as the story moves along as it does, culminating to an ending that is as oddly fitting as you could be with this story.
It's rare that a story explores evil with such nuance and creativity, we see all aspects of human evil be laid to bare through this series without reservation, rather it be the casual indifference of Johan, the selfish opportunism of the neo-Nazis, or the banal cruelty of the scientists from Kinderheim 511. One can also see the film Halloween being an influence on this series considering how Johan is much like Michael Myers, especially with the ending which I won't spoil here. Good might have triumphed today, Johan might be stopped, but he'll never truly be gone...
After all, evil never really dies, does it?
"He never sleeps. He says that he will never die. He dances in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps, the judge. He is dancing, dancing. He says that he will never die.” - Blood Meridian
I tend to be a sucker for strong concepts. Give me a good hook for a story and I'll read it, even if it doesn't entirely grab me in the end. Much of the time, I'm disappointed when a concept is misused or the author/artist doesn't explore the concept's full potential, merely touching upon it to get the readers hooked and then going on about their own interests or in the worst-case scenario, destroying the momentum that's been built. But Monster is different, as it's the rare series that delivers on its concept, while also being a very fast paced, entertaining story.
I've tried to expand my horizons in the world of comics and read foreign comics, and manga has been on that list of foreign comics to read. I've read several manga such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Akira, Bastard, and Death Note which I've enjoyed to various degrees, but the name Naoki Urasawa has come up with almost religious reverence in the circles that I've come across in the manga fandom. I'm happy to say that Urasawa is a writer-artist combination who proves to be as skilled of a storyteller as he is a draughtsman.
Urasawa shows himself to be a master of pacing, a master of suspense, and a master storyteller. While Monster starts off slowly, Urasawa keeps the audience invested with deft plotting and intricate attention to character, before taking the audience on a wild ride from beginning to end. Much of his skill also comes from his sense of the mystique, giving us little niblets of a much grander mystery that keeps his audience coming back for more. It is this ability that kept me coming back for more. I was impressed with the psychological progression of the characters, how their beliefs change throughout the story, and how they grow from the experiences that they go through during the events of the story.
Urasawa's art is likewise skilled, it is cartoon-like, while also being filled with character and personality. All his characters have distinct designs, and a character rarely looks similar to the other. An issue I often find with manga art is that all the characters look like children, and at their oldest late teens to early 30s. I wouldn't be surprised if Urasawa was influenced by the artwork of Katsuhiro Otomo, as he shares his eye for detail and distinct characteristics of his characters. Though Urasawa's art often runs toward the gothic. My friend Dave put it nicely when he said that this series has such an ominous and otherworldly feel that it sometimes feels fantastic.
Proof of this idea is with the main antagonist Johan, the titular monster, someone who is so detached from the rest of humanity that it seems that he is something otherworldly. Like Anton Chigurh or The Joker, Johan's evil is something that is so incomprehensible to the human psyche, that even when his motives are clear we are still unable to penetrate why he does what he does. What makes him so frightening isn't that he's particularly malicious or sadistic, it's that he is completely indifferent towards the lives around him, including his own. Urasawa plays his cards beautifully by never showing Johan too much or stooping to cliches where he taunts the heroes, he proves to be more of a force of nature than a cartoon bad guy.
Much of the series explores the relationship of protagonist Dr. Tenma and Johan and how both effect the world around them. They're not merely enemies, but existential opposites who are forced to collide. As Robert McGee pointed out, a protagonist's journey is only as good as the forces that antagonize him. Tenma's journey is ripe with struggle as he uncovers the mystery of who Johan is and all the forces that seek him for good or ill. Yet what allows Tenma to win is the fact that he chooses to hang on to being good, despite being in a world that is so transparently corrupt, becoming just as incomprehensible to the people who want to exploit or use him for their own ends.
I was also very surprised with the depth of the side characters that Urasawa introduced and how many stories he weaved into the story without losing the threads of the main plot. While they might seem frivolous at first glance, Urasawa always manages to find a way to weave them back into the main story somehow, where no detail is lost in the abyss. Much of the emotion that I felt through the series came from the side characters often, and Urasawa proves to be as gifted with characterization as Stephen King, creating characters with depth and nuance that gives the story its heart despite all the horrors that happen in it.
I continually stand in awe with how Urasawa manages to connect all these seemingly loose threads together to create one big story. It's rare that a story delivers on its core concept so adroitly, yet Urasawa does this and then some. He puts many comic creators around the world to shame, and he has fun doing it. His boundless imagination and his sense of set up and pay off will keep readers entertained as the story moves along as it does, culminating to an ending that is as oddly fitting as you could be with this story.
It's rare that a story explores evil with such nuance and creativity, we see all aspects of human evil be laid to bare through this series without reservation, rather it be the casual indifference of Johan, the selfish opportunism of the neo-Nazis, or the banal cruelty of the scientists from Kinderheim 511. One can also see the film Halloween being an influence on this series considering how Johan is much like Michael Myers, especially with the ending which I won't spoil here. Good might have triumphed today, Johan might be stopped, but he'll never truly be gone...
After all, evil never really dies, does it?
July 6, 2023
3.5 Stars
August 13, 2025
Uno de los mejores de la serie, la historia de Eva y Martín es una maravilla. Las expresiones de Eva están muy conseguidas y hay escenas memorables en la estación de Frankfurt y en el bar del amigo de Martín.
August 9, 2021
Misteri demi misteri terkuak dengan twist yang luar biasa.
Semakin mendebarkan.
Semakin mendebarkan.
November 30, 2024
What a great character, I didn’t want him to die . But he was amazing , even tho kinda naive . Nevertheless, the story continues
July 11, 2025
urasawa checklist while coming up with new volume:
-introduce new character
-tell his backstory and how it relates to the main plot
-kill him off/make him disappear
-introduce new character
-tell his backstory and how it relates to the main plot
-kill him off/make him disappear
September 17, 2021
The Party is Over (ch 123) had some tropes I enjoy in my romances: bodyguard x client and someone somehow being put in the position wherein they have to kill the one they love.
The Man who Saw a Demon (ch 124) made my heart break for Eva and Martin. Bootleg Johan looked so lame.
The Demon's Friend (ch 125) fucking killed me. Bootleg Johan being annoying aside, the whole "release your loved one/self from the burden of life" hit me a bit too hard. I was reminded of Levi and Erwin, and Zeke.
Nina's Memories (ch 126) was a painstaking journey that ended on a bittersweet note. It is one of those chapters wherein I find myself wondering if Johan and Anna were actually the same person. Anna's memories were unreliable, outsider accounts mentioned only one child, Johan was shown to crossdress, they were never shown together as adults, and multiple (?) personalities is a recurring theme throughout the story. I am wondering if the real Anna Liebert died somewhere along the story.
I love Dieter's role in this story: a ray of sunshine who gave light to other people in spite coming of his dark background.
Memories of the Seminar (ch 127) showed the reader another unexpected yet interesting interaction between two characters: Verdeman and Suk. They clashed yet discovered that they may share the same troubles of being unable to confront the truth.
I do not understand how they knew about the reading seminars and why these two had to interact. What does a German lawyer have to do with an arson case in Prague?
If I were to be completely honest, The Door of Memory (ch 128) felt almost pointless to me. Nina's memory recall was mostly the same as it had been for the past few chapters starring her then the end had her saying she remembered everything, but there were no new significant details or changes prior to that? I loved the foreboding feeling though. I suppose this chapter was only really meant to increase the momentum up to the climax.
The cozy family feelings and support were strong here too. I loved that they were all together in Gillen's office. I am also hopeful that my guess for the ending is accurate: Nina is the only one who can confront Johan, and she will save Tenma and preserve his humanity in the process.
I missed chapters like A Fun Meal (ch 129) so much! Warm, cozy, and just makes me miss being surrounded by friends and family. I would love to try oyakodon out.
The ending was awfully funny to me. I want to say that Tenma was lucky, as inappropriate as it is given everyone's circumstances.
I am afraid the platform I'm using may have skipped over some chapters because there was nothing yet about what happened with Eva and Martin. Hopefully, there would be an incoming chapter about that when Eva finally arrives at Reichwein's place.
The Man who Saw a Demon (ch 124) made my heart break for Eva and Martin. Bootleg Johan looked so lame.
The Demon's Friend (ch 125) fucking killed me. Bootleg Johan being annoying aside, the whole "release your loved one/self from the burden of life" hit me a bit too hard. I was reminded of Levi and Erwin, and Zeke.
Nina's Memories (ch 126) was a painstaking journey that ended on a bittersweet note. It is one of those chapters wherein I find myself wondering if Johan and Anna were actually the same person. Anna's memories were unreliable, outsider accounts mentioned only one child, Johan was shown to crossdress, they were never shown together as adults, and multiple (?) personalities is a recurring theme throughout the story. I am wondering if the real Anna Liebert died somewhere along the story.
I love Dieter's role in this story: a ray of sunshine who gave light to other people in spite coming of his dark background.
Memories of the Seminar (ch 127) showed the reader another unexpected yet interesting interaction between two characters: Verdeman and Suk. They clashed yet discovered that they may share the same troubles of being unable to confront the truth.
I do not understand how they knew about the reading seminars and why these two had to interact. What does a German lawyer have to do with an arson case in Prague?
If I were to be completely honest, The Door of Memory (ch 128) felt almost pointless to me. Nina's memory recall was mostly the same as it had been for the past few chapters starring her then the end had her saying she remembered everything, but there were no new significant details or changes prior to that? I loved the foreboding feeling though. I suppose this chapter was only really meant to increase the momentum up to the climax.
The cozy family feelings and support were strong here too. I loved that they were all together in Gillen's office. I am also hopeful that my guess for the ending is accurate: Nina is the only one who can confront Johan, and she will save Tenma and preserve his humanity in the process.
I missed chapters like A Fun Meal (ch 129) so much! Warm, cozy, and just makes me miss being surrounded by friends and family. I would love to try oyakodon out.
The ending was awfully funny to me. I want to say that Tenma was lucky, as inappropriate as it is given everyone's circumstances.
I am afraid the platform I'm using may have skipped over some chapters because there was nothing yet about what happened with Eva and Martin. Hopefully, there would be an incoming chapter about that when Eva finally arrives at Reichwein's place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2015
Each new character is so well drawn, both literally and figuratively, that it brings tears to my eyes. The depth of each is really fantastic, and because of that, I'm starting to find just a smidge of respect for Eva. Better late than never, right? I feel that things are finally coming to a head. The tension is great.
October 31, 2019
The way Urasawa inserts Eva relentlessly into the story reminds me of how JR Ward absolutely loved Layla and wrote her into every book the moment she appeared because she thought she was so fucking awesome and everybody loved her despite being almost universally despised.
Eva is not a complex female character with ambiguity and a fresh take on women representation in manga. She is however a horrible person that adds nothing to the story, not story-wise or theme-wise, and represents one of the worst fictional women tropes: spoiled, privileged narcissist turned alcoholic who blames her own inadequacy on a former lover. She's the spurned lover hellbent on revenge. That's it. That's her whole plot and motivation: to take revenge on the guy that jilted her even though he didn't, she broke up with him. So on top of that she's a liar and psychopath unjustly blaming Tenma for her own decisions.
Eva is the Crazy Ex-GF only with no irony and full earnest psychotic episodes.
She's not a person, she's a trope wearing a skin suit.
But somehow Urasawa thought he created a complex and ambiguous but also interesting character, yet wrote the laziest, most tropeyiest portrayal of a woman.
I know it's hard to hear but authors, you need to learn that just because YOU like a character, doesn't mean WE like them. Unless you show us WHY you think they're so fucking awesome, don't expect us to kiss the path they walk on.
A stereotypical character with no depth or redeeming qualities but an astounding amount of arrogance and self-centeredness will not make us want to read about them. Ever.
Ever.
Two stars for this volume because it was 99% about Eva and one bit about Johann's past, however also only hinted at, so again baiting. Otherwise, this volume sucks and doesn't need to exist at all.
Actually, fuck it, one-staring this fucker.
Eva is not a complex female character with ambiguity and a fresh take on women representation in manga. She is however a horrible person that adds nothing to the story, not story-wise or theme-wise, and represents one of the worst fictional women tropes: spoiled, privileged narcissist turned alcoholic who blames her own inadequacy on a former lover. She's the spurned lover hellbent on revenge. That's it. That's her whole plot and motivation: to take revenge on the guy that jilted her even though he didn't, she broke up with him. So on top of that she's a liar and psychopath unjustly blaming Tenma for her own decisions.
Eva is the Crazy Ex-GF only with no irony and full earnest psychotic episodes.
She's not a person, she's a trope wearing a skin suit.
But somehow Urasawa thought he created a complex and ambiguous but also interesting character, yet wrote the laziest, most tropeyiest portrayal of a woman.
I know it's hard to hear but authors, you need to learn that just because YOU like a character, doesn't mean WE like them. Unless you show us WHY you think they're so fucking awesome, don't expect us to kiss the path they walk on.
A stereotypical character with no depth or redeeming qualities but an astounding amount of arrogance and self-centeredness will not make us want to read about them. Ever.
Ever.
Two stars for this volume because it was 99% about Eva and one bit about Johann's past, however also only hinted at, so again baiting. Otherwise, this volume sucks and doesn't need to exist at all.
Actually, fuck it, one-staring this fucker.
April 3, 2021
TLDR: More Eva development in this one, but not too bad. The story is good. Solid 3.5/5, maybe even a 4/5.
Longer Review: This story does a great job at building up the character at the end of the previous volume, Martin. It gives him a very flushed out story. There is also some great development of other characters in this volume as well. I feel like this volume gets a bit of a harsh judgement because we are building up for the end and so there is this anticipation for what is about to happen and everything that feels like a delay (even if valuable set up for a climactic ending battle) does feel like a delay. It is a good volume though I think.
Spoiler Review:
Longer Review: This story does a great job at building up the character at the end of the previous volume, Martin. It gives him a very flushed out story. There is also some great development of other characters in this volume as well. I feel like this volume gets a bit of a harsh judgement because we are building up for the end and so there is this anticipation for what is about to happen and everything that feels like a delay (even if valuable set up for a climactic ending battle) does feel like a delay. It is a good volume though I think.
Spoiler Review:
July 28, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.
Synopsis: Dr. Tenma brings a boy named Johan back to life, unknowingly resurrecting a monster from the brink of death who ends up throwing the world he knows into a cesspit of despair and chaos.
Review: One of the most horrifying yet humanistic crime thrillers ever told, managing to capture the absolute worst of humanity while showing how we can also be the most kind, compassionate and heroic creatures that have ever lived. The complexity of human nature, the small deeds that change the world around us little by little, the hero and the monster that lives inside all of us, how our actions shape the next generation, the controversy of nature vs. nurture, Monster brilliantly portrays it all in a stunningly engrossing and emotional manner.
Interweaving dark conspiracies, hospital politics, serial murders and controversial indictment, the dark tale of Tenma, Johan and all of the unfortunate souls caught in between their battle of morality is an unforgettable experience.
Synopsis: Dr. Tenma brings a boy named Johan back to life, unknowingly resurrecting a monster from the brink of death who ends up throwing the world he knows into a cesspit of despair and chaos.
Review: One of the most horrifying yet humanistic crime thrillers ever told, managing to capture the absolute worst of humanity while showing how we can also be the most kind, compassionate and heroic creatures that have ever lived. The complexity of human nature, the small deeds that change the world around us little by little, the hero and the monster that lives inside all of us, how our actions shape the next generation, the controversy of nature vs. nurture, Monster brilliantly portrays it all in a stunningly engrossing and emotional manner.
Interweaving dark conspiracies, hospital politics, serial murders and controversial indictment, the dark tale of Tenma, Johan and all of the unfortunate souls caught in between their battle of morality is an unforgettable experience.
January 1, 2026
Sigh. At this point after learning Urasawa’s signature, I’m almost averse to meeting new characters, not because they’re horrible but precisely because I’d grow fond of them and I’d hate it if Urasawa would pull a Game of Thrones where no one is safe. In this volume, we learn more of the adventures of Martin. I’ve grown fond of his character, and I knew how he’d act even before finishing this volume. I’m not a fan of Eva, Tenma’s ex, but I’ve come to appreciate Urasawa’s portrayal of a woman who seemed to have lost everything, including her reason to live.
In another town, Johan’s twin, Anna was desperate to learn of her past which her brain had forced her to bury inside her innermost layer of subconscious. Despite her efforts to try to help, I feel like her character’s the most..worthless? She means well and tries her best, but in the end, she never really helps when they need it most. I feel kind of annoyed seeing her lack of progress. It’s almost as if we learn layer upon layer of Johan’s personality and capabilities, and not much from his twin sister. However this volume was still fast-paced and I’m glad to see the maturity in some of the characters. Looking forward to the remaining few volumes!
In another town, Johan’s twin, Anna was desperate to learn of her past which her brain had forced her to bury inside her innermost layer of subconscious. Despite her efforts to try to help, I feel like her character’s the most..worthless? She means well and tries her best, but in the end, she never really helps when they need it most. I feel kind of annoyed seeing her lack of progress. It’s almost as if we learn layer upon layer of Johan’s personality and capabilities, and not much from his twin sister. However this volume was still fast-paced and I’m glad to see the maturity in some of the characters. Looking forward to the remaining few volumes!
October 2, 2023
September 2023. Over September (and wrapping up on the 30th) I read this complex political conspiracy thriller drenched in guilt, corruption, but with a hope for finding the goodness and kindness in some everyday people across age, background, race, and nationality.
What starts as choosing a surgery for the first in need over the wealthy as a statement about the equality of all people spirals into over a decade long story with an expansive cast of characters, serial killings, and ethical debates that crosses cities and countries in its scope.
Reminded me a bit of Ira Levin’s The Boys From Brazil with the decades after upswell of political radicalism with its roots in WWII conflict (also an excellent book) and the element of conspiracy thriller at its core.
Absolutely looking forward to checking out his other series. Borrowed these through Sacramento Library and the Link+ System that let me borrow volumes from all over California libraries.
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster.
What starts as choosing a surgery for the first in need over the wealthy as a statement about the equality of all people spirals into over a decade long story with an expansive cast of characters, serial killings, and ethical debates that crosses cities and countries in its scope.
Reminded me a bit of Ira Levin’s The Boys From Brazil with the decades after upswell of political radicalism with its roots in WWII conflict (also an excellent book) and the element of conspiracy thriller at its core.
Absolutely looking forward to checking out his other series. Borrowed these through Sacramento Library and the Link+ System that let me borrow volumes from all over California libraries.
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster.
July 23, 2019
Entramos en el clímax de la historia. La trama dejó de estancarse y comenzó a avanzar sin apuros pero sin detenerse innecesariamente, cosa que se agradece. Ya muchos cabos se están enlazando y varias tramas están convergiendo hacia un mismo punto.
En cuanto a las historias súper trágicas que han ido apareciendo en el manga, creo que la más triste de todas es la de Martin, tanto por el principio como por el final, el personaje se quedó conmigo más de lo que esperaba. Me gusta que Eva ya deje de estupideces y tome acción de las cosas, creo que ya es hora de terminar de cerrar a este personaje. Y me encanta (porque me hizo reír mucho) que el tomo terminase presentando a un nuevo personaje que parece que va a ser relevante en la trama (o no), Urasawa sos un genio.
En cuanto a las historias súper trágicas que han ido apareciendo en el manga, creo que la más triste de todas es la de Martin, tanto por el principio como por el final, el personaje se quedó conmigo más de lo que esperaba. Me gusta que Eva ya deje de estupideces y tome acción de las cosas, creo que ya es hora de terminar de cerrar a este personaje. Y me encanta (porque me hizo reír mucho) que el tomo terminase presentando a un nuevo personaje que parece que va a ser relevante en la trama (o no), Urasawa sos un genio.
March 1, 2024
Though I'm still not getting the same satisfaction from these late volumes as I was at the beginning of the series, I enjoyed greatly some parts of this one. Especially the ones with less brute action and some more nuance meaning, such as the return of Dr. Reichwen, or the part where Verdeman questions the Red Rose Mansion pupils.
Glad Nina finally recovered her memories, good touch there with that scary turn, but also a bit frustrated we, readers, are still not getting the answers we wand and need.
I definitely need to get into the three last volumes as soon as I can, and finally get said answers.
Glad Nina finally recovered her memories, good touch there with that scary turn, but also a bit frustrated we, readers, are still not getting the answers we wand and need.
I definitely need to get into the three last volumes as soon as I can, and finally get said answers.
August 25, 2020
Certainly a weaker volume than other "good" volumes in the series, but this volume is nonetheless enjoyable. Martin is a very likable character, and it is very unfortunate that Urasawa chose to take him down his specific path of destruction. The rest of the novel is primarily Nina's struggle to regain her childhood memories, and they aren't that interesting. I want to learn about Johan and uncover the mystery of this tale, but the memory recovery section is just not interesting. The ending was also underwhelming. Not bad. Just underwhelming.
December 18, 2023
Sebelum Martin meninggal akibat ditembak oleh orang yang menyuruhnya untuk membunuh Eva, Martin memberi tahu Tenma bahwa Eva sedang menunggu di stasiun kereta. Tenma pun menemui Eva di sana dan mengabarkan kondisi Martin. Di sisi lain, Nina dan Dieter sudah berada di kediaman Dr. Reichwein. Namun, Nina ingin mengetahui lebih lanjut ingatan-ingatannya yang hilang ketika masih kecil. Lantas, ia pun meminta bantuan kepada salah satu rekan Dr. Reichwein untuk menghipnotisnya menggunakan metoded ilmu kejiwaan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2024
About 10–12 years ago, when I was first getting into ‘different’ kinds of manga, I realised Urasawa’s ‘20th Century Boys’ was a big thing. My relationship with ‘20th Century Boys’ was on and off, only being able to finish it a few years ago. While ‘20th Century Boys’ and ‘Monster’ are unique masterpieces in their own terms, the strikingly similar framework makes me wonder whether ‘Monster’ had set the premise for the rather monumental ‘20th Century Boys’ (keeping in mind the fact that the latter started serialisation during the final arcs of ‘Monster’). Both follow an extremely enigmatic antagonist and a holier-than-thou protagonist who is prepared to go to any extent for the greater good. Set in the post-Cold War era, ‘Monster’ also follows a narrative that is heavily imbued with contemporary global political affairs and history (the same pattern is distinctly evident in ‘Pluto’ as well). However, I believe, like all of Urasawa’s works, the real question lies in defining the innermost essence of humans. What begins with absolute evil vs. absolute good, ends up questioning the dichotomy itself. Johan pointing at himself, in fact, presents us with a mirror image of our own. Who is the real monster? What does this epoch of humanity behold? It is the ambiguity of the substantial answer—the restlessness, the uncertainty, the longing for assurance—or, as in Camus’ words, “the memory of a lost home or the hope of a promised land”—that defines the real meaning of ‘Monster.’
P.S.: It is kind of unbelievable how a single man has delivered so many masterpieces.
P.S.: It is kind of unbelievable how a single man has delivered so many masterpieces.
December 11, 2021
A good ol' twist ending to make up for the weaker last volume + this one got redeemed in quality here. Tenma's about to find out about the truth behind Johan, hopefully.
Only thing I didn't like was the problematic portrayal of DID, it's all over the place. And Eva getting involved in all this shit... fuck, it almost ruined the volume, but it wasn't bad enough for that.
Only thing I didn't like was the problematic portrayal of DID, it's all over the place. And Eva getting involved in all this shit... fuck, it almost ruined the volume, but it wasn't bad enough for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2022
What a turnaround in Eva! It was entirely because of Martin, such a short but impactful character.
Anna has now recollected her lost memories, and I suspect what she meant by as saving Tenma.
Everything now points to Peter Capek who wants to use Johan.
But who was/is Franz Bonaparta? We saw his son the puppeteer from the previous volume.
Anna has now recollected her lost memories, and I suspect what she meant by as saving Tenma.
Everything now points to Peter Capek who wants to use Johan.
But who was/is Franz Bonaparta? We saw his son the puppeteer from the previous volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2022
El desenlace de la subtrama de Martin es todo lo que necesitaba el personaje de Eva para sublimarse. Me gusta la idea de que cualquier persona puede aparecer en cualquier momento en tu vida y revolucionarlo todo. Lo que antes estaba arriba, ahora está abajo. Es un movimiento especialmente efectivo por el momento en el que se produce en la historia, además.
July 25, 2023
This book has a content warning for drugs.
This was another absolutely amazing volume. It again wasn't a five star, just because there's just a little to many questions in this volume, but overall this really took the story forward in a very interesting, and good way. I truly can't wait to see where this is going to end up.
This was another absolutely amazing volume. It again wasn't a five star, just because there's just a little to many questions in this volume, but overall this really took the story forward in a very interesting, and good way. I truly can't wait to see where this is going to end up.
December 4, 2023
Definitely feels like we're ramping up for the finale, though this was actually a slower volume. It feels like they're hinting at something with Nina's past and her revelations, but nothing is stated outright here. I loved the scene with Tenma having a nice dinner with some kind people. It felt like a little bit of the atmosphere of the early volumes had returned.
October 20, 2018
The Man Who Saw The Devil / Martin another good character with amazing back story :(
I really hope that I am wrong about Nina.
A punch of creepy graduate of the Rose Mansion.
A Pleasant Dinner Table a bit of a breather for the final show down I hope.
I really hope that I am wrong about Nina.
A punch of creepy graduate of the Rose Mansion.
A Pleasant Dinner Table a bit of a breather for the final show down I hope.
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