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Naoki Urasawa's Monster #11
Naoki Urasawa's Monster, Volume 11: Blind Spot
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.
More pieces of the puzzle to Johan's past are uncovered in Prague! Everyone is after an old tape recording of an interview with Johan as a child, and Tenma learns more about Johan's mother - a beautiful woman taken away by the secret police. And then Johan makes his presence known when a brillant young detective of the Prague Police Department is accused of poisoning three of his superiors...with whiskey bonbons.
More pieces of the puzzle to Johan's past are uncovered in Prague! Everyone is after an old tape recording of an interview with Johan as a child, and Tenma learns more about Johan's mother - a beautiful woman taken away by the secret police. And then Johan makes his presence known when a brillant young detective of the Prague Police Department is accused of poisoning three of his superiors...with whiskey bonbons.
206 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
About the author
Naoki Urasawa
361 books2,884 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 98 reviews
April 14, 2025
Uff el shock inicial que fue descubrir cierta parte.
Me pareció soberbia en su tiempo porque no entiendes nada con ese personaje y luego se revela que era otro. La sonrisa en el espejo me dio pesadillas.
Por otro lado, aquí se desvela la historia de Grimmer y bueno..., una lágrima por este pobre hombre. Lo normal.
Me pareció soberbia en su tiempo porque no entiendes nada con ese personaje y luego se revela que era otro. La sonrisa en el espejo me dio pesadillas.
Por otro lado, aquí se desvela la historia de Grimmer y bueno..., una lágrima por este pobre hombre. Lo normal.
June 23, 2024
- 4 stars
Alright, so things now appear to be quite hopeful. I discover that this chain of events where I lose and then regain internet will go on, but hopefully I'm hanging on and I have to finish this now. The fact that they are now all in the same place makes me glad because I was losing my mind traveling back and forth. In any case, I think the idea and direction this is taking are appealing. Furthermore, I'm terribly sorry about Dr. Tenma.
Alright, so things now appear to be quite hopeful. I discover that this chain of events where I lose and then regain internet will go on, but hopefully I'm hanging on and I have to finish this now. The fact that they are now all in the same place makes me glad because I was losing my mind traveling back and forth. In any case, I think the idea and direction this is taking are appealing. Furthermore, I'm terribly sorry about Dr. Tenma.
October 10, 2019
It is masterful and utterly breathtaking how Urasawa manages to tie so many different fates into the overarching storyline. Not one of the side characters is uninteresting, quite the contrary! The compassion for their stories is supported by the loving graphic attention. Each one is an individual the reader is able to connect with. Beneath the story of gruelty there lies so much hope and friendliness.
So far this is an exceptional masterpiece.
So far this is an exceptional masterpiece.
August 11, 2019
Johan makes himself look as Anna. Things become more complex and dangerous. Dr. Tenma saves Suk and Grimmer has double identity as he himself from Kinderheim 511. Darkness is widespread.
July 3, 2025
lots of plot twists in this one I'm really liking the way everything is now coming together and there aren't 8 different storylines that I have to follow now to say that it was confusing but yeah also I've come to the realisation that the reason why I feel like I want to kms all the time is not because I'm depressed, it's because I have to spend a third of my day in this hellhole of a place called "school" and how it's taking the most peaceful hours of the day from me (6 am to noon) like i had to wake up at 430 today just so that I could read another volume of this and I can't believe soon I'll have to wake up at 3 am just to clear all my backlogs and stuff I seriously cannot wait to get out of this place and istg if I ever find myself "missing" school I'm gonna hit myself so hard that i knock out all of my memories of being there
December 5, 2012
The 11th volume offers the highest peak this 18 volume series has offered so far.
"Monster" tends to be absolutely excellent, but in this installment everything comes together in an exceptionally brilliant way. This far in the saga, all the volumes tend to be very much involved with carrying the story forward and are sometimes difficult to view as individuals. This is basically true of "Blind Spot" as well, but every single element that makes this story so wonderful shines at its brightest; after reading this I felt as if I had read through three books instead of one, so rich in content it is. The plot moves forward at an incredible force and is filled with twists, enigmas and revelations. And in the middle of all this there is tender beauty, magnificent character insights and implications that extend into wisdom. Wow.
"Monster" tends to be absolutely excellent, but in this installment everything comes together in an exceptionally brilliant way. This far in the saga, all the volumes tend to be very much involved with carrying the story forward and are sometimes difficult to view as individuals. This is basically true of "Blind Spot" as well, but every single element that makes this story so wonderful shines at its brightest; after reading this I felt as if I had read through three books instead of one, so rich in content it is. The plot moves forward at an incredible force and is filled with twists, enigmas and revelations. And in the middle of all this there is tender beauty, magnificent character insights and implications that extend into wisdom. Wow.
April 3, 2015
Secret police and sleeper agents, a secret cassette, and a fantastic reveal that made me shiver with fright. It follows so smoothly, and afterwards I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it myself. I love being surprised. This is so creepy.
February 22, 2023
The absolute creepiest start to a mana volume I have ever read. I still have chills thinking about it! And the intrigue was off the charts by the end. I was riveted to the page the entire time!
By far my favorite volume in the series so far. I have a hard time thinking anything else could top this one!
By far my favorite volume in the series so far. I have a hard time thinking anything else could top this one!
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?
March 25, 2021
Rating: 4.5/5– not perfect, but very very good!
I'll have to think about it a bit more, but that was by far the best volume in the series so far. I was hooked from start to finish, and it might even merit 5 stars!
I'll have to think about it a bit more, but that was by far the best volume in the series so far. I was hooked from start to finish, and it might even merit 5 stars!
March 2, 2016
The suspense continues. More characters are added. Just when you think you have it figured out, you find out that there are more questions than answers.
September 5, 2018
Manga marathon.
December 6, 2021
The main plot twist was sort of predictable imo, but still great in execution. Also, everything else, God. This manga is so good.
April 19, 2024
i'm so confused???
September 8, 2023
This volume surprised me in a lot of ways, and I can't wait to see what happens next. There's still a lot of mystery, and for every question answered at least two more appeared. I think I'm going to read a volume a day foe the next week because I'm dying to know the end!
July 27, 2021
Two Darknesses (ch 87) initially felt slow to the point of dragging because of all the dialogue, some of which were overwhelming and confusing. The connection between Kinderheim 511, the Czechoslovakia Secret Police, and communism was finally established here. Or at least, I was only able to finally make it out here. Admittedly, I do not know too much about world history and politics, so I do not know what to make of all the stuff on communism, socialism, and democracy. I am also legitimately worried for the naive Agent Suk, who honestly needed to be disappointed a few more times.
I was wondering why Nina finally decided to introduce herself as Anna...
The poisoned candy and decisive shooting suddenly make sense now. After Tenma's conversation with the man at three frogs, I am suddenly doubting Anna's existence.
The Monster's Afterimage (ch 88) further established Nuk as some sort of parallel to Tenma, I think. An idealistic young man who knew a bit too much, but not enough to realize the danger he was in. Someone who was at the wrong place at the wrong time even though his heart was just in the right place.
The chapter also added some even more intrigue to the seemingly nonchalant former spy Grimmer. Not so much that he had nothing to lose as he was simply unafraid and prepared for death and torture, I suppose. He was not on this path due to reasons related to Johan. Well, it seemed that way anyway. I wonder what happened to his son that he was investigating Kinderheim 511.
The facial expressions here were especially good! They really helped with the storytelling.
Playback (ch 89) was an exhilirating chapter. I really did not expect Suk and Grimmer to be an intetesting duo, yet here they were! The latter commenting that the former was not reliable was hilarious.
The final panel reminded me of catatonic Anna with the shot Johan at her feet from the beginning.
Tangent (ch 90) was quite chilling. Everything was happening all over again.
The Dead Angle (ch 91) was fucking exhilirating!! I was wondering why Grimmer reacted the way he did to the story about the nameless monster. Everything- his pursuit of Petrov, his knowledge on his experiments, his attitude towards the children, The Magnificent Steiner- about him just clicked just before he was about to unleash the monster itself.
I will cry if he actually accidentally killed his kid.
Memories of the Magnificent Steiner (ch 92) was calmer than the chapter before it, yet exhilirating nonetheless. Things were picking up again, and Nina and Dieter were back!!
Memories of Cocoa (ch 93) was surprisingly bittersweet. Only appropriately so.
I hope we eventually learn Grimmer's real name. "Remember all about me" made my heart ache.
Door to a Nightmare (ch 94) presented even more mysteries to unravel. I did not think that the author of The Nameless Monster would be relevant. I am also intrigued by Nina's memory. Had Johan been crossdressing since his childhood?
Most Frightening Thing (ch 95) was very much similar to Memories of Cocoa (ch 93). I am reminded of all the memory loss fics I've read, and it always seemed so much harder for the one forgotten. Forgetting almost seemed like a relief. Knowing you will forget, are slowly forgetting, have forgotten, turns out, is painful too.
I was wondering why Nina finally decided to introduce herself as Anna...
The poisoned candy and decisive shooting suddenly make sense now. After Tenma's conversation with the man at three frogs, I am suddenly doubting Anna's existence.
The Monster's Afterimage (ch 88) further established Nuk as some sort of parallel to Tenma, I think. An idealistic young man who knew a bit too much, but not enough to realize the danger he was in. Someone who was at the wrong place at the wrong time even though his heart was just in the right place.
The chapter also added some even more intrigue to the seemingly nonchalant former spy Grimmer. Not so much that he had nothing to lose as he was simply unafraid and prepared for death and torture, I suppose. He was not on this path due to reasons related to Johan. Well, it seemed that way anyway. I wonder what happened to his son that he was investigating Kinderheim 511.
The facial expressions here were especially good! They really helped with the storytelling.
Playback (ch 89) was an exhilirating chapter. I really did not expect Suk and Grimmer to be an intetesting duo, yet here they were! The latter commenting that the former was not reliable was hilarious.
The final panel reminded me of catatonic Anna with the shot Johan at her feet from the beginning.
Tangent (ch 90) was quite chilling. Everything was happening all over again.
The Dead Angle (ch 91) was fucking exhilirating!! I was wondering why Grimmer reacted the way he did to the story about the nameless monster. Everything- his pursuit of Petrov, his knowledge on his experiments, his attitude towards the children, The Magnificent Steiner- about him just clicked just before he was about to unleash the monster itself.
I will cry if he actually accidentally killed his kid.
Memories of the Magnificent Steiner (ch 92) was calmer than the chapter before it, yet exhilirating nonetheless. Things were picking up again, and Nina and Dieter were back!!
Memories of Cocoa (ch 93) was surprisingly bittersweet. Only appropriately so.
I hope we eventually learn Grimmer's real name. "Remember all about me" made my heart ache.
Door to a Nightmare (ch 94) presented even more mysteries to unravel. I did not think that the author of The Nameless Monster would be relevant. I am also intrigued by Nina's memory. Had Johan been crossdressing since his childhood?
Most Frightening Thing (ch 95) was very much similar to Memories of Cocoa (ch 93). I am reminded of all the memory loss fics I've read, and it always seemed so much harder for the one forgotten. Forgetting almost seemed like a relief. Knowing you will forget, are slowly forgetting, have forgotten, turns out, is painful too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2007
The fact that this far into the serious, Urasawa still makes Monster so impossible to put down is a feat of incredible talent and skill. This book not only has an incredible twist in the first chapter that colors how these chapters will be read, but that makes you wonder about all the previous chapters, as well.
July 29, 2011
Ce que j'aime dans Monster c'est cette formidable capacité qu'a l'auteur de nous surprendre, que ce soit au niveau de l'histoire ou des personnages. Dans ce tome on continue avec Grimmer, qui est pour moi le meilleur personnage rencontré en ces pages de Monster : atypique, attachant, mystérieux, ambigu et complètement détonnant.
May 1, 2023
My favorite installment so far.
December 24, 2024
everyone needs to read or watch monster at least once in their life, the creator of this manga is fckin mastermind.
April 2, 2021
TLDR: This is the first great volume since the opening one. I really loved this volume and it really earned its 5 stars.
Longer Review: This is the first volume I noticed the opening chart at the start of the volume. It is very good and it really helps any new readers or readers who have had a delay since they read the last volume. This volume is really good and I think it is the only volume that can compete with the original (Volume 1) as far as quality. The suspense building is amazing, and there are lots of anxious moments. I almost even feel you could start the series with this volume. It may be hard because you wouldn't understand it all, but you would enjoy it enough to pick up the rest of the series. This volume was a very refreshing read to get me excited for the latter half of the series.
Longer Review: This is the first volume I noticed the opening chart at the start of the volume. It is very good and it really helps any new readers or readers who have had a delay since they read the last volume. This volume is really good and I think it is the only volume that can compete with the original (Volume 1) as far as quality. The suspense building is amazing, and there are lots of anxious moments. I almost even feel you could start the series with this volume. It may be hard because you wouldn't understand it all, but you would enjoy it enough to pick up the rest of the series. This volume was a very refreshing read to get me excited for the latter half of the series.
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.
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.
June 25, 2019
Simplemente: GUAU
Ahora Johan sí que me parece un personaje perturbador, no es que antes no parecía peligroso, pero ahora al verlo en acción cobro otra perspectiva: realmente siempre está un paso adelante de todos, de Tenma, de la policía, y del propio lector.
El protagonismo de Tenma se ve más y más difuminado en cada tomo, pero es en este en el que me doy cuenta, sí que Urasawa logró convertir esta historia de Tenma en una historia de todos.
Si bien Urasawa es poco sutil, con su simpleza consigue sorprenderme y convencerme siempre.
Ahora Johan sí que me parece un personaje perturbador, no es que antes no parecía peligroso, pero ahora al verlo en acción cobro otra perspectiva: realmente siempre está un paso adelante de todos, de Tenma, de la policía, y del propio lector.
El protagonismo de Tenma se ve más y más difuminado en cada tomo, pero es en este en el que me doy cuenta, sí que Urasawa logró convertir esta historia de Tenma en una historia de todos.
Si bien Urasawa es poco sutil, con su simpleza consigue sorprenderme y convencerme siempre.
August 14, 2020
A continuation of the last volume's dependence on exposition, mystery building, and reveals. Still good because all of the characters are not annoying me, and I'm drawn into the pursuit to discover Johan's identity. I'm afraid there is little left to say about this volume. There are some good instances of beautiful hand drawings of flashbacks, but this volume is solely about gathering information and building the momentum for the story's later reveals. Greatly enjoying it and looking forward to seeing what happens next.
December 7, 2023
Sosok gadis berambut pirang yang disukai Jan Suk, yang awalnya saya kira adalah Nina Fortner (atau Anna Liebert), ternyata adalah Johan Liebert. Ia menyamar menjadi kembarannya dan mengaku sebagai Anna Liebert supaya ia bisa mendapatkan rekaman kaset tentang masa lalunya. Akibatnya, Jan Suk si detektif jujur pun terseret kasus pembunuhan yang tidak dilakukannya.
Selain itu, di volume ini saya jadi mengetahui tentang masa lalu Mr. Grimmer yang ternyata adalah mantan penghuni Kinderheim 511 ketika ia masih kecil. Dari pengalamannya di sana, ia jadi kehilangan sebagian besar ingatannya. Ia juga jadi tidak bisa mengekspresikan dirinya dengan baik, sehingga untuk tersenyum saja ia harus melakukannya susah payah.
Selain itu, di volume ini saya jadi mengetahui tentang masa lalu Mr. Grimmer yang ternyata adalah mantan penghuni Kinderheim 511 ketika ia masih kecil. Dari pengalamannya di sana, ia jadi kehilangan sebagian besar ingatannya. Ia juga jadi tidak bisa mengekspresikan dirinya dengan baik, sehingga untuk tersenyum saja ia harus melakukannya susah payah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2018
The best volume since the first. There are some big twists here that had me questioning what actually happened in previous books and the explanations absolutely satisfy. I've never read a manga that's been able to maintain this level of quality for this many volumes before and I'm definitely reading Pluto when I'm done with this.
March 4, 2022
Johan masquerading as Anna was totally unexpected, it was a funny surprise. I was right Grimmer was from Kinderheim 511.
So we read about the roots of Johan and Anna. The Czechoslovakian Secret Police, their guy who wrote these queer stories were interesting additions.
Johan knows where he wants to go, that's mysterious. Maybe he wants to meet his mom.
So we read about the roots of Johan and Anna. The Czechoslovakian Secret Police, their guy who wrote these queer stories were interesting additions.
Johan knows where he wants to go, that's mysterious. Maybe he wants to meet his mom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2023
This book has content warnings for drugging, and child abuse.
This was quite an intriguing volume for this series. We learned a lot of new, and interesting things. This volume was also filled with amazing twists and turns. They were little things but still really well done. It was a bit slow at the start though, but we did have another amazing cliffhanger at the end of this one.
This was quite an intriguing volume for this series. We learned a lot of new, and interesting things. This volume was also filled with amazing twists and turns. They were little things but still really well done. It was a bit slow at the start though, but we did have another amazing cliffhanger at the end of this one.
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