▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		NAOKI URASAWA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		184
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		04/15/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		07/28/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		SCOTT CAMPBELL

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.  In volume fourteen there are some strange coincidences beginning to come together. Tenma's long journey for justice, Johan and Nina's search for identity -- all roads converge on the mysterious Red Rose Mansion. Is Nina prepared to confront the dark memories this cursed house will awaken in her subconscious? If Tenma gets there in time, will he find a clue that will help him save the life of his ex-fiancée Eva? Or will Johan, as always, remain several steps ahead of everyone and get there first?

The art style of this series is very clean and mature – it never skips a beat when it comes to overall quality and attention to detail. It certainly comes off as something that most adults would be able to pick up and agree that it looked interesting – it could be a good stepping-stone into the manga interest for many curious adult readers – this series has that kind of potential to bring people in. That being said, of course the flow of the story is easy to follow through the visuals, as the visuals flow just as well themselves. The story is actually quite riveting in its way – it manages to keep you guessing, but never strays from making sense and revealing just enough of what we need to know to stay whlly, and completely interested in the outcome of each volume. The motivations of the characters are intriguing, and the pacing of the story is tuned in a way that really doesn’t allow you to put the book down until it is finished. It’s crime drama, but also so much more than that – it centers around a lot of human struggle, and the real fears of losing what can’t be replaced in relation to people, and loved ones. All in all, it’s an intelligent piece worthy of all the attention it gets here, and over seas – so read it, and find out why.

A little bit about the Author for you: Naoki Urasawa has been a highly recognized and successful manga artist for more than twenty years. Creator of popular series such as 20TH CENTURY BOYS and YAWARA, Urasawa has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the first Japanese Media Art Festival Manga Award of Excellence, the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award in 1999, and the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award. Naoki Urasawa's Monster has thrilled and entertained well over 25 million readers in Japan.

IN SUMMARY:
Monster is a masterpiece when it comes to the merging of fantastic art and even better story telling. If suspense is your thing, Monster is your manga.