In reading a manga series for the first time in more than a decade, I'm reminded why I don't like manga. It's not a format that agrees with my temperament. I can never get a hang of the pacing; naturally I'll burn through an entire "book" cover-to-cover in an hour without retaining anything, or I can force myself to slow down through it so I can experience the bored, pained feeling of scratching my chin and pretending to appreciate the details of a painting in an art museum— and that's only if I can truly figure out which order to read the damn panels in in the first place.
That said, Durarara (the Manga!) benefits from being Durarara. It's a joy to read as it is to watch. If this is a series thats primary strength is characterization (yes), then undoubtedly the main character is the city itself. This is a series that sets itself apart with an incredible sense of place. I know Tokyo, and particularly Ikebukuro, as well as anyone can know a place they've never been to, and the joy of seeing a spectacular setting conveyed so spectacularly is unbridled. It's certainly not the best fictional recreation of a place that's been made, but it's definitely the best fictional recreation of Ikebukuro, and for me, that's unparalleled.