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{{Short description|Japanese manga series and its adaptations}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header|
{{Distinguish|Monsters (manga){{!}}''Monsters'' (manga)}}
title_name=MONSTER
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
|image=Monster.JPG
{{Infobox animanga/Header
|size=250px
| name = Monster
|caption=Image from the Monster anime
| image = Monster manga volume 1 cover.jpg
|ja_name=
| caption = First {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volume cover, featuring Kenzo Tenma
|ja_name_trans=
| genre = {{ubl|[[Crime fiction|Crime]]<ref name="VizPE">{{cite web|title=Naoki Urasawa's Monster Manga Series Returns to Print in New Perfect Edition Release from Viz Media|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2014-06-25/naoki-urasawa-monster-manga-series-returns-to-print-in-new-perfect-edition-release-from-viz-media/.75936|website=[[Viz Media]] via [[Anime News Network]]|access-date=10 June 2019|date=25 June 2014|quote=MONSTER: THE PERFECT EDITION is the ultimate version of the acclaimed psychological crime thriller.|archive-date=7 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607200744/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2014-06-25/naoki-urasawa-monster-manga-series-returns-to-print-in-new-perfect-edition-release-from-viz-media/.75936|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/monster|title=The Official Website for Monster|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=27 October 2017|archive-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093611/https://www.viz.com/monster|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Psychological thriller]]<ref name="VizPE"/>}}<!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
|genre=[[Seinen]], [[Drama]], [[Horror fiction|Horror]], [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]], [[Detective fiction]], [[Psychological]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Manga|Print
| type = manga
title=
| author = [[Naoki Urasawa]]
| publisher=[[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|25px|Japan]] = [[Shogakukan]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher
|publisher_other=[[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|25px|Canada]] [[Image: Flag of the United States.svg|25px|United States]] [[VIZ Media]]<br>[[Image:Flag of France.svg|25px|France]] [[Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg|25px|The Netherlands]] Kana<br>[[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px|Germany]] EMA<br>[[Image:Flag of Brazil.svg|25px|Brazil]] [[Conrad Editora]]<br>[[Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg|25px|Taiwan]] [[Tongli]] <br> [[Image: Flag of Mexico.svg|25px|Mexico]] [[Grupo Editorial Vid]]<br>
| NA = [[Viz Media]]
[[Image:Flag of Thailand.svg|25px|Thailand]] [[Nation Edutainment]] <br>{{flagicon|Spain}}[[Planeta DeAgostini]]<br>
|serialized=[[Big Comic Original]]
|first_run=December, 1994
|last_run=December, 2001
|num_volumes=18
}}
| magazine = [[Big Comic Original]]
{{Infobox animanga/Anime|
| imprint = Big Comics
title=
| first = December 1994
|director=Masayuki Kojima
| last = December 2001
|studio=[[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]]
| volumes = 18
|network={{flagicon|France}} [[Canal +]] / [[Europe 2 TV]]<br /> {{flagicon|Japan}} [[NTV]]
| volume_list = List of Monster chapters
|first_aired=[[April 6]], [[2004]]
|last_aired=[[September 27]], [[2005]]
|num_episodes=74
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}Print
| type = novel
| title = Another Monster
| author = Naoki Urasawa
| publisher = Shogakukan
| publisher_en =
| imprint =
| published = 21 June 2002
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = tv series
| director = [[Masayuki Kojima]]
| producer = {{Unbulleted list|Hiroshi Yamashita (1–10)|Toshio Nakatani (11–74)|Manabu Tamura|Takuya Yui|[[Masao Maruyama (film producer)|Masao Maruyama]]}}
| writer = Tatsuhiko Urahata
| music = [[Kuniaki Haishima]]
| studio = [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]]
| licensee = {{English anime licensee
| AUS = [[Siren Visual]]
| NA = {{ubl|Viz Media (former)|[[Discotek Media]] (current)}}
| SEA = [[Odex]]
}}
| network = [[Nippon TV]]
| network_en = {{English anime networks
| CA = [[Super Channel (Canada)|Super Channel]]
| US = [[Syfy]], [[Chiller (TV channel)|Chiller]], [[Funimation Channel]]
}}
| first = 7 April 2004
| last = 28 September 2005
| episodes = 74
| episode_list = List of Monster episodes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}
 
'''''Monster''''' (stylized in [[all caps]]) is a Japanese [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Naoki Urasawa]]. It was published by [[Shogakukan]] in its [[Seinen manga|{{Transliteration|ja|seinen}} manga]] magazine ''[[Big Comic Original]]'' between December 1994 and December 2001, with its chapters collected in 18 {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes. The story follows [[Kenzo Tenma]], a Japanese neurosurgeon in [[Düsseldorf]], whose life unravels after encountering [[Johan Liebert]], a former patient. Johan, a [[Psychopathy|sociopathic]] [[serial killer]] driven by [[Nihilism|nihilism]], eliminates anyone who sees his face—enforcing absolute anonymity to prove his philosophy.
'''''Monster''''' is a [[seinen]] [[anime]] and [[manga]] by [[Naoki Urasawa]], serialized in [[Big Comic Original]], published by [[Shogakukan]], between 1994 and 2001, and reprinted in 18 [[tankōbon]]. [[Naoki Urasawa]] would later release '''''Another Monster''''', a supplement book detailing the events from the [[manga]] as from an investigative reporter's point of view, published by [[Shogakukan]] in [[2002]]. A 74 episode [[anime]] [[television|TV]] adaptation by [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]] aired on [[Nippon Television|NTV]] from [[April 07]], [[2004]] to [[September 28]], [[2005]].
 
Urasawa later wrote and illustrated the novel ''Another Monster'', a story detailing the events of the manga from an investigative reporter's point of view, which was published in 2002. The manga was adapted by [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]] into a 74-episode [[anime]] television series, which aired on [[Nippon Television]] from April 2004 to September 2005. The manga and anime were both licensed by [[Viz Media]] for English releases in North America, and the anime was broadcast on several television channels. In 2013, [[Siren Visual]] licensed the anime for Australia.
The [[manga]] is licensed in [[English language|English]] by [[Viz Communications]]. [[New Line Cinema]] has also recently acquired rights to create an [[English language]] film version. [[Josh Olson]], whose best-known work has been adapting ''[[A History of Violence]]'' in 2005, has agreed to write a screenplay adaptation for the movie, and also script a second ''Monster'' movie for the studio.[http://www.movieweb.com/news/63/8463.php]
 
''Monster'' was Urasawa's first work to receive international acclaim and success; the manga has had over 20 million copies in circulation, making it one of the [[List of best-selling manga|best-selling manga series of all time]]. It has won several awards, including the 46th [[Shogakukan Manga Award]] and at the [[Japan Media Arts Festival]].
==Story==
The series follows Dr. [[Kenzo Tenma]] (天馬 賢三 ''Tenma Kenzo'') as he pursues a young [[psychopath]]/[[sociopath]] named Johan, whose life Tenma once saved. The story rapidly progresses through a number of locations: it starts in [[Düsseldorf]], [[Germany]], passes through [[Berlin]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Munich]], [[Wiesbaden]], cities in the [[Czech Republic]] such as [[Prague]], and other cities and villages.
 
== Plot ==
{{spoiler}}
{{Main|List of Monster characters{{!}}List of ''Monster'' characters}}
The text on the cover of the first volume reads as follows:
Dr. [[Kenzo Tenma]] is a highly skilled Japanese neurosurgeon working at Eisler Memorial Hospital in [[Düsseldorf]], [[West Germany]]. Though professionally accomplished and engaged to [[List of Monster characters|Eva Heinemann]], the hospital director's daughter, he becomes disillusioned with the institution's practice of prioritizing politically influential patients over those in dire need. This ethical dilemma culminates when fraternal twins [[Johan Liebert]] and [[Anna Liebert]] are admitted after a massacre, with Johan requiring emergency surgery for a gunshot wound to the head. When the mayor arrives shortly after, also in critical condition, Tenma disregards orders and operates on Johan. Though the boy survives, the mayor dies, and Tenma faces severe repercussions—his career stalls, his engagement ends, and he is ostracized by his colleagues. Soon after, Director Heinemann and several doctors who opposed Tenma are murdered, and the twins disappear. Though Tenma is suspected, no evidence links him to the crimes, leaving him to confront the consequences of his choice.
 
Years later, Tenma has regained his standing as Chief of Surgery. His life is upended when he treats Adolf Junkers, a criminal who cryptically warns of a "monster". Visiting Junkers later, Tenma finds the guard dead and the patient missing. Tracking him to a construction site, he witnesses Junkers held at gunpoint by Johan Liebert, now a young man. Despite Tenma's pleas, Johan executes Junkers, then coldly assures Tenma he would never harm the man who saved him. Stunned, Tenma realizes his act of mercy has unleashed a remorseless killer.
''"[[Düsseldorf|Dusseldorf]], [[West Germany]] in 1986. One day, Dr. Kenzo Tenma ignored his boss's order and executed humanitarian rescue of a man's child. That's how this horrible story begins!!"''
 
Now a suspect in a string of murders, Tenma draws the attention of [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|BKA]] [[Inspector Lunge]], who doggedly pursues him as the prime culprit. Determined to expose Johan, Tenma seeks out Anna, now living as Nina Fortner with an adoptive family. Though she appears to have moved on, she suffers from recurring nightmares. On her birthday, Tenma warns her of Johan's return, but he fails to prevent Johan from murdering her adoptive parents, re-traumatizing her.
Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a young [[Japan]]ese doctor working at the Eisler Memorial Hospital in [[Düsseldorf]] during the [[1980s|80s]]. A highly accomplished [[neurosurgery|brain surgeon]], he appears to have everything on his plate: a promotion in the offing; the favor of the director of the hospital, Heinemann; and Heinemann's daughter, Eva, as fiancée. However, Tenma grows increasingly dissatisfied with the political bias of the hospital for treating patients, and seizes his chance to change things after a strange massacre brings the twins Johan and Anna Liebert into his hospital. Johan has a gunshot wound to the head and Anna keeps muttering about killing, and Tenma decides to operate on Johan instead of a prominent politician. Johan is saved, but the politician dies. Tenma loses all his social standing and Eva as a consequence. However, Heinemann and other doctors in Tenma's way are mysteriously murdered, and both children disappear from the hospital soon after. The police suspect Tenma, as he benefits greatly from this turn of events, but have no evidence, and so can do no more than question him.
 
Tenma's investigation reveals Johan's origins in a clandestine [[East Germany|East German]] eugenics project at the 511 Kinderheim, an orphanage that brainwashed children using psychological manipulation and twisted literature. The experiments mold Johan into a calculating killer, his crimes part of a larger scheme to spread chaos. As Tenma uncovers more victims—former Kinderheim inmates, investigators, and civilians—he resolves to stop Johan, despite grappling with the moral implications of killing.
At this point, the story advances to nine years later. Tenma is now the Chief of Surgery at Eisler Memorial Hospital. However, he is about to come face to face with a [[Antisocial personality disorder|sociopath]] - a sociopath that he helped save.
 
His pursuit spans Germany and beyond, unraveling a labyrinth of conspiracies while evading authorities and Johan's followers. Each revelation strengthens his conviction to end the cycle of violence, even as the psychological toll mounts. Tenma's journey becomes one of redemption, pitting him against the very evil he once saved, as he strives to atone for his past and halt the devastation Johan has wrought.
A known criminal is found on the street, hit by a car. He comes under the care of Dr. Tenma, who observes him muttering about a "Monster". Then one evening when Dr. Tenma comes back with a clock as a gift for the criminal, he finds the guard in front of the criminal's room dead, and the criminal himself gone.
 
== Production ==
Following his trail to the construction site of a half finished building near the hospital, he finds the man. The man, who has developed a sort of doctor-patient friendship with Dr. Tenma, warns him against coming closer, and pleads with him to run away. Tenma refuses, however, and the identity of the man holding a gun pointed at the criminal in the abandoned parking garage is revealed to be the boy whose life Tenma had saved nine years ago, Johan. Despite Dr. Tenma's attempt to reason with him, Johan shoots the criminal, tells Tenma that he could never kill the man who had saved his life, then walks off into the night while Tenma is still too shocked to stop him. After this incident, Tenma is again suspected by the police, particularly Inspector Runge, and he tries to find more information about this 'Johan'. He soon discovers that the boy's sister, Nina, happily living the life of an adopted daughter to two caring parents, the only trace of her terrible past a few dreams she's had. He discovers her on her birthday, and manages to prevent her from meeting her brother, but comes too late to prevent Johan from murdering her foster parents. As the show progresses, Tenma learns of the origins of this monster, from the former [[East Germany]]'s attempt to use a secret [[orphanage]] called Kinderheim 511 (where Johan came from) in order to create the "perfect soldiers" through "psychological reprogramming", to the author of a children's book which was used in a [[eugenics]] experiment in [[Czech Republic]]. He also learns about the scope of the atrocities this 'Monster' has committed, and he vows to fix the mistake he made when he saved Johan's life.
Urasawa revealed that he pitched the idea of writing a manga about the medical field around 1986, but could tell his editor was not enjoying the idea. So he jokingly proposed a story about women's judo, and that lead to his first solo work ''[[Yawara!]]'' (1986–1993).<ref name="alltheanime"/>
 
The original idea for ''Monster'' came from the 1960s American television series ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]'', which had a strong impact on Urasawa when he saw it at the age of eight. In the story, a doctor is wrongfully convicted of murder, but escapes and searches for the real killer while on the run from the police.<ref name="alltheanime"/> He said that his editor was adamant that the series would not do well, and tried to stop him from creating it.<ref name="alltheanime">{{cite web|last=Osmond|first=Andrew|author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist)|url=https://blog.alltheanime.com/interview-naoki-urasawa/|title=Interview: Naoki Urasawa|publisher=[[Anime Limited|All the Anime]]|access-date=15 February 2023|date=6 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215054558/https://blog.alltheanime.com/interview-naoki-urasawa/|archive-date=15 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
While Tenma is the main character of ''Monster'', the story also focuses heavily on those surrounding his search for Johan, such as Inspector Runge (who is investigating Johan's various murders but pins them all on Tenma) and Nina Fortner (aka Anna Liebert, Johan's twin sister), and a host of other characters, minor and major, whose lives have been shaped by the deeds of the monster named 'Johan'.
 
The Japanese medical industry was strongly influenced by the professional practices in Germany, thus it seemed natural to the author to set ''Monster'' in Germany. [[Post-war]] Germany was chosen so that the [[neo-Nazi]] movement could be included in the story.<ref name="crunchy">{{cite web|last=Coats|first=Cayla|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2019/02/06-1/interview-all-you-need-is-a-white-piece-of-paper-and-pen-a-conversation-with-monster-and-21st-century-boys-creator-naoki-urasawa|title=INTERVIEW: All You Need is a White Piece of Paper and Pen: A Conversation with Monster and 20th Century Boys Creator Naoki Urasawa|date=6 February 2019|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510234120/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2019/02/06-1/interview-all-you-need-is-a-white-piece-of-paper-and-pen-a-conversation-with-monster-and-21st-century-boys-creator-naoki-urasawa|archive-date=10 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> When he started the semimonthly ''Monster'' at the end of 1994, Urasawa was already writing ''[[Happy! (sports manga)|Happy!]]'' weekly and continued to serialize both at the same time. When ''Happy!'' ended in 1999, he began the weekly ''[[20th Century Boys]]''. Writing both ''Monster'' and ''20th Century Boys'' at the same time caused him to be briefly hospitalized for exhaustion.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schley|first=Matt|title=Monster's Naoki Urasawa Celebrated in Career-Spanning Exhibition|url=http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/monsters-naoki-urasawa-celebrated-in-career-spanning-exhibition/|website=[[Otaku USA]]|date=11 February 2016|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508154039/https://otakuusamagazine.com/monsters-naoki-urasawa-celebrated-in-career-spanning-exhibition/|archive-date=8 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Character List==
===Main characters===
[[Image:Monster_Manga_Avatar_Kenzo_Tenma.jpg|top|left|Kenzo Tenma]]
'''Dr. [[Kenzo Tenma]]''' <small>{{anime voices|Hidenobu Kiuchi|}}</small>
: Doctor Kenzo Tenma is a Japanese [[Neurosurgery|neurosurgeon]] working at the Eisler Memorial Hospital in [[Düsseldorf]]. At the beginning of ''Monster'' he is favored by the department director for his prodigious surgical skill. After a crisis of conscience, he chooses to save the life of a young boy instead of the city's mayor, and is unjustly demoted as a result; he then becomes suspect for murder when the department director and several prominent doctors are killed weeks later. It is only after nine years that Dr. Tenma learns the perpetrator of the hospital murders is none other than the boy he saved years before, Johan Liebert. Plagued by guilt, he resolves to find Johan and end the life of this "monster" he feels responsible for creating. Despite his mission, Dr. Tenma is a humanitarian who genuinely cares about the lives of others.
 
== Media ==
[[Image:Monster_Manga_Avatar_Johan_Liebert.jpg|top|left|Johan Liebert]]
=== Manga ===
'''Johan Liebert''' <small>{{anime voices|Nozomu Sasaki|}}</small>
{{Main|List of Monster chapters{{!}}List of ''Monster'' chapters}}
: Johan Liebert is the namesake "monster" of the story and the mystery of his past is the focus of the plot. He has been called a monster, the next [[Adolf Hitler]] and even the devil himself. Johan Liebert was shot in the head at a young age but saved from death by Dr. Tenma. Because of this, he regards Dr. Tenma almost as though he were a father. He has spent portions of his life in different places under different aliases and possesses an extraordinary level of charisma and intelligence. He uses his gifts to cruelly manipulate and corrupt others, often with no apparent end other than to cause suffering and destruction. His goal, as he stated when he was young, is to be the last one standing at the end of the world. One of the themes of ''Monster'' is how individuals are capable of transforming into monsters; Johan often acts as both a direct and indirect catalyst for this transformation.
Written and illustrated by [[Naoki Urasawa]], ''Monster'' was serialized in [[Shōgakukan]]'s [[Seinen manga|{{Transliteration|ja|seinen}} manga]] magazine ''[[Big Comic Original]]'' from December 1994 to December 2001.<ref>{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|title=Monster to be Animated|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-02-06/monster-to-be-animated|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=4 December 2022|date=6 February 2004|archive-date=4 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204084618/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-02-06/monster-to-be-animated|url-status=live}}</ref> Shōgakukan collected its 162 chapters into 18 {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes released from 30 June 1995 to 28 February 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=MONSTER|url=http://www.s-book.com/plsql/com2_series?tid=2387|website=s-book.com|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|access-date=4 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908001046/http://www.s-book.com/plsql/com2_series?tid=2387|archive-date=8 September 2007|language=ja}}</ref> [[Takashi Nagasaki]] is credited as "co-producer" of the manga's story.<ref name="Nagasaki">{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Monster Anime Premieres on Syfy's Ani-Monday Tonight|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-10-12/monster-anime-premieres-on-syfy-ani-monday-tonight|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=12 October 2009|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=21 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221075037/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-10-12/monster-anime-premieres-on-syfy-ani-monday-tonight|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Monster'' received a nine-volume {{Transliteration|ja|[[kanzenban]]}} re-release between 30 January and 29 August 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MONSTER 完全版 1|language=ja|url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091817907|publisher=[[Shōgakukan]]|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126173322/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091817907|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=MONSTER 完全版 9|language=ja|url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091818096|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119081938/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091818096|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
''Monster'' was licensed in North America by [[Viz Media]], who published all 18 volumes between 21 February 2006 and 16 December 2008.<ref name="Perfect Edition">{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Viz Media to Release Ranma 1/2 Anime on BD/DVD|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-10/viz-media-to-release-ranma-anime-on-bd/dvd|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=10 August 2013|access-date=10 August 2013|archive-date=13 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813102615/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-10/viz-media-to-release-ranma-anime-on-bd/dvd|url-status=live}}</ref> They released the {{Transliteration|ja|kanzenban}} version of the series, titled ''Monster: The Perfect Edition'', between 15 July 2014 and 19 July 2016.<ref name="Perfect Edition"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Monster: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 1|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/monster-vol-1/11174|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-date=4 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304114125/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/monster-vol-1/11174|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Monster: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 9|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/monster-vol-9/11181|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317001628/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/monster-vol-9/11181|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Image:Monster_Manga_Avatar_Anna_Liebert.jpg|top|left|Anna Liebert]]
'''Nina Fortner / Anna Liebert''' <small>{{anime voices|Mamiko Noto|}}</small>
: Johan's twin sister and the only unharmed survivor of the night when both her parents and her brother were shot in what appeared to be a botched burglary. At first she showed signs of amnesia due to the psychological trauma of the incident. After she and her brother disappeared, she was adopted by the Fortner family from [[Heidelberg]], who were unaware of her previous identity as Anna Liebert. As Nina Fortner, she was a hardworking law student at an unnamed university (likely the [[University of Heidelberg]]), as well as an adept practitioner of [[Aikido]]. She lived her life in peace until Johan made contact with her on her twentieth birthday. She comes to pursue Johan, albeit by different methods and for a different reason than Tenma.
 
=== Anime ===
'''Inspector Heinrich Runge''' <small>{{anime voices|Tsutomu Isobe|}}</small>
{{Main|List of Monster episodes{{!}}List of ''Monster'' episodes}}
: Inspector Runge (often referred to as Inspector Lunge in English manga translations) is a [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|BKA]] detective assigned to the murder case of the hospital, and holds Doctor Kenzo Tenma as a main suspect. He first believes that Doctor Tenma invented Johan; later, he becomes convinced that Johan is, in fact, an alternate personality of Tenma. Inspector Runge is utterly devoted to his work, at the expense of neglecting his personal life, as during the course of the series, his wife and pregnant daughter leave him. He also possesses an excellent memory and has a habit of "entering data" into his memory by making typing gestures with his hands. On the surface, he passes off as a man devoid of emotion and it is this state of mind that allows him to commit himself to every case he works in. His tough style eventually drives one of his murder suspects to suicide, prompting his superiors to remove Runge from every case he is working on, with the exception of the case against Dr. Tenma.
The manga series was adapted into an anime by [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]], which aired between 7 April 2004 and 28 September 2005 on [[Nippon TV]]. Directed by [[Masayuki Kojima]] and written by Tatsuhiko Urahata, it features original character designs by long-time [[Studio Ghibli]] animator [[Kitarō Kōsaka]] which were adapted for the anime by Shigeru Fujita. The music was composed by [[Kuniaki Haishima]], including the opening theme "Grain".
 
[[David Sylvian]] was commissioned to write the first ending theme, "For the Love of Life", on which he collaborated with Haishima. In the cover notes to the official soundtrack he said, "I was attracted to the ''Monster'' material by the moral dilemma faced by its central character. The calm surface of the music giving way to darker undercurrents, signifying the conscience of the lead protagonist and the themes of morality, fate, resignation, and free will."<ref>{{cite web|title=For the Love of Life|url=http://www.davidsylvian.net/releases/tracks-poems/60-tracks-davidsylvian/823-for-the-love-of-life.html|publisher=davidsylvian.net|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311202730/http://www.davidsylvian.net/releases/tracks-poems/60-tracks-davidsylvian/823-for-the-love-of-life.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was used for the first 32 episodes. The second ending theme, "Make It Home" by [[Fujiko Hemming]], was used for the remaining 42 episodes. It is the only song Hemming sung in her career.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:フジコ・ヘミング、究極のオールタイム・ベスト『COLORS』10/20発売　最新ミュージック・ビデオが公開|url=https://spice.eplus.jp/articles/294142|publisher=Spice|access-date=1 May 2024|language=ja|date=20 October 2021|archive-date=2 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502020511/https://spice.eplus.jp/articles/294142|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Dieter''' <small>{{anime voices|Junko Takeuchi|}}</small>
: Dieter is a young boy when found by Tenma to be under the care of a man named Hartmann. Upon meeting Dieter, Tenma notices that the young boy is covered in bruises. It turns out that Hartmann was trying to make Dieter into another Johan, a kind of leader that had not been produced from 511 Kinderheim before. Dieter later becomes more optimistic after being saved by Doctor Tenma from Hartmann's physical and mental abuse. He follows Doctor Tenma in his search for Johan, partially to prevent Tenma from becoming a murderer, but also because he is fond of Tenma. He later teams up with Nina, to give her moral support whenever her traumatic memories resurface as he was also subjected to similar abuse.
 
The credit sequence features illustrations from the book ''Obluda, Která Nemá Své Jméno'' (The Monster Who Didn't Have A Name) by Emil Scherbe which was published by Shogakukan on 30 September 2008.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:MONSTER完全版 別巻 なまえのないかいぶつ|url=https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09179027|publisher=[[Shōgakukan]]|access-date=24 August 2020|language=ja|archive-date=24 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824021054/https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09179027|url-status=live}}</ref>
''' Eva Heinemann ''' <small>{{anime voices|Mami Koyama|}}</small>
: Eva Heinemann is Doctor Tenma's fiancée and the daughter of the Director of Eisler Memorial Hospital. She leaves Doctor Tenma after he is demoted by the Director for disobeying his orders. After Director Heinemann is murdered by Johan, she tries to return to Tenma, then recently promoted Chief of Surgery due to holes created in the staff by the murder. After being rejected by Doctor Tenma, she later becomes an extremely embittered alcoholic, a three time divorcee who uses the money from divorce settlements to finance her lavish lifestyle. After burning her house down in a drunken rage, she wanders throughout Germany and is also caught up in the investigation of the Monster. Although she does not personally suspect Dr. Tenma as having caused her father's death, one of the things she lives for is to see him suffer in prison in retribution for his rejection of her, as she had previously turned over evidence incriminating Dr. Tenma to Inspector Runge. Her relationship with Tenma can be characterized as obsessive.
 
An English dub of ''Monster'' was produced by Salami Studios for [[Viz Media]], which had the North American license to the anime. The show aired on [[Syfy]]'s Ani-Mondays with two episodes back-to-back each Monday night at 11:00 pm EST, beginning 12 October 2009, as well as on its sister network [[Chiller (TV channel)|Chiller]].<ref name="Nagasaki"/> A DVD box set of the series, containing the first 15 episodes was released 8 December 2009. However, due to low sales of the first box set, Viz decided not to continue releasing the remaining episodes on DVD and later dropped the license.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bertschy|first=Zac|title=ANNCast – Risky Viz-ness|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2013-07-17|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=17 July 2013|access-date=30 July 2013|archive-date=25 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725052807/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2013-07-17|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Monster'' began airing on Canada's [[Super Channel (Canada)|Super Channel]] on 15 March 2010,<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Monster to Run in Canada, Deltora Quest in Australia, NZ|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-27/monster-to-air-in-canada-deltora-quest-to-air-in-australia-new-zealand|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=27 February 2010|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226000620/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-27/monster-to-air-in-canada-deltora-quest-to-air-in-australia-new-zealand|url-status=live}}</ref> and on the [[Funimation Channel]] on 3 April 2010 on weekends at 12:30 am.<ref>{{cite web|title=VIZ on FUN Channel – Yes, you heard right.|work=[[Funimation]]|url=http://blog.funimation.com/2009/04/viz-on-fun-channel-yes-you-heard-right/|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222153134/http://blog.funimation.com/2009/04/viz-on-fun-channel-yes-you-heard-right/|archive-date=22 February 2012}}</ref> The series was also available digitally from several internet retailers. [[Siren Visual]] licensed the series for Australia in 2013, and released it in five DVD volumes beginning in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hayward|first=Jon|title=Siren Visual Acquires Monster|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-17/siren-visual-acquires-monster|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=17 May 2013|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=16 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716050049/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-17/siren-visual-acquires-monster|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Other Characters===
{|border=0 cellspacing=5 cellpadding=0
|-
|
|'''Wolfgang Grimmer''' <small>{{anime voices|Hideyuki Tanaka|}}</small>
: A freelance journalist who is researching Kinderheim 511, he is also soon drawn into the search for Johan, as he decides to help Tenma. As a former subject in 511 Kinderheim, he had developed another personality: an aggressive fighter that comes out and protects him whenever he is under dire stress, inspired by his childhood adoration for an [[Hulk (comics)|Incredible Hulk]]-type TV character whom he refers to as the [[Magnificent Steiner]]. He also received training as a spy after his time in 511 Kinderheim.
|-
|
|''' Roberto '''
: A big, burly man and one of the many people from the orphanage 511 Kinderheim that Johan controls. He admires Johan very much, and often acts as Johan's bodyguard and henchman. He is also a professional hitman with substantial proficiency. His true name, already forgotten by himself, is Adolf Reinhart. Wolfgang Grimmer is the only person who remembered him and also considered him as a friend in the their childhood at the orphanage.
|-
|
|''' "Baby" '''
: The "Baby" is a short, elderly man, and an infamous [[Neo-Nazism|Neo-Nazi]] leader. He worships Johan as an ideal [[Aryan race|Aryan]] leader who would be able to become the next [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] to lead Germany into prominence. He also works for the four individuals who would gladly welcome Johan as a political leader. To this end, he hoped to use Nina as bait to coerce Johan, but also as a precautionary measure to protect him (and the other group members) from Johan. This fails as Johan kills one the first of four members in the organization. In the end, however, he is isolated and killed by Johan - a common ''modus operandi'' for the blond man. The characteristics of the "Baby" is heavily influenced by a character from ''[[Twin Peaks]]'', named "[[Man from Another Place|The Midget]]." His first appearance is also nearly identical, appearing to Nina Fortner from behind a red curtain (akin to the [[Black Lodge]]'s waiting room) while dancing to the tune "[[Be My Baby]]".
|-
|
|''' General Helmut Wolfe '''
: A very old soldier who was the first one to find the twins, he is the second of the four individuals behind the organization. He gave Johan his name, the name from the boy in the picture book called "The Monster without a Name". General Wolf is actually the only one of four individuals that did not want to make Johan a new Fuhrer. Wolf's family and acquaintances have all been killed by Johan, thus teaching him true loneliness as seen through Johan's eyes.
|-
|
|''' Christoph Sievernich '''
: Johan's disciple and another survivor of 511 Kinderheim. He and Johan decided to meet each other again in 10 years after they escaped the orphanage, and in the end they meet a a party with the guidance of Eva Heinemann, who was hired to point Johan out. His deceased stepfather was one of the four individuals of Neo-Nazi, and he was likely to succeed the post. He possesses qualities similar to Johan's and intimidated Martin, Eva Heinemann's bodyguard, by reminding him of what happened to his mother and wife. Nothing else is known about Christoph, other than that either Johan or the organization of the four individuals tried to change him into the second monster.
|-
|
|'''Franz Bonaparta'''
: Franz Bonaparta is considered to be the one responsible for the [[eugenics]] experiment that led to the birth of the Liebert twins and is also attributed as the author of the storybooks used to indoctrinate the children of Rose Mansion. Most notable of them was ''The Nameless Monster'', from which Johan took both is name and his mode of operation. Other famous books of his included ''The Big Eyed Man and the Big Mouthed Man'', ''The God of Peace'', and ''The Quiet Village''. His storybooks deal very heavily in metaphor and symbolism, often with monsters as important characters in them. Most also deal with the idea that human nature contains the ability to become good or evil, though his works tend to denounce humanity rather than uplift it. While his real name is Klaus Poppe, other names that he has used include Emil Scherbe and Jakov Vyrobek.
|-
|
|''' Peter Čapek '''
: The last individual of the organization is the mysterious man with glasses who is responsible for a large amount of incidents during Monster. He is the highest in the organization, and tried to control the devil by letting him meet with Christoph Sievernich. In his youth Peter was actually Franz Bonaparta's apprentice who took part in the experiment on the Liebert twins. Peter thinks that everything is going the right way according to his plan, but Johan tells him clearly later that everything is going the right way according to his own plan.
|-
|
|'''Dr. Reichwein''' <small>{{anime voices|Ichiro Nagai|}}</small>
: A psychologist who deals in counselling as well as assisting recovering alcoholics. He is caught up in the mystery surrounding the Monster after one of his patients, Richard Braun, commits suicide while investigating Johan Liebert. Later on, he becomes guardian to Nina and Dieter and aids Tenma in any way he can.
|-
|
|'''Rudy Gillen'''
: A criminologist, and one of Tenma's former classmates; he helped Tenma by saving him from arrest and also acquiring information about Johan from all the criminals that Johan had met. He also helped Nina to recall her past, to the point of endangering his life. Rudy is able to get into some insight about Johan and how he works but despite all that he knows, he is still baffled by Johan's actions. Dr. Gillen is also a former student of Dr. Reichwein.
|-
|
|'''Jan Suk'''
: A detective with the Prague police, he tries to find the mystery involving the death of his superior, Filip Zeman. Zeman was investigating the death of a former headmaster of 511 Kinderheim with Grimmer as a possible suspect, when Suk discovered that Zeman was working with the former [[STB (Czechoslovak State Security)|Czechoslovakian secret police]]. When three more officers are murdered, he too is cast under suspicion, and when police attempt to monitor Suk's movements, two more are killed. Suk manages to obtain a tape made by the former headmaster of 511 Kinderheim, but is badly wounded by those seeking the tape. While all this is happening, he confides to someone who he believes is Anna Liebert, a beautiful blonde woman he meets at a bar.
|-
|
|'''Fritz Vardemann'''
: A lawyer hired by residents in [[Dusseldorf]] after Tenma was arrested in Prague at one point. Vardemann has made a name for himself proving the innocence of his clients, including his father, who died in prison before being exonerated. He is married and during the series his wife gives birth to a daughter. He enjoys listening to [[Over the Rainbow]] from [[The Wizard of Oz]]. However, it is revealed later on that Vardemann found notes written by his father which may indicate that he was guilty in the first place. He then teams up with Suk in order to find out the truth regarding an author named Franz Bonaparta in the hopes of discovering the truth about his father's past as well.
|-
|
|'''Hans Georg Schwald'''
: Known as the "Bayern Vampire", Schwald is a recluse. He is also a successful businessman, and his success allows him to donate his book collection to the [[University of Munich]]. He also has several students from the university in his employ, reading him Latin. However, he does have a past, namely, he fathered a son with a prostitute named Margot Langer. Incidentally, Margot Langer had a friend in Prague who mothered twins. While his book dedication ceremony was targeted by Johan in a scheme to unleash terror and pandemonium, authorities believe that Schwald is the real target and that Dr. Tenma is indeed responsible.
|-
|
|'''Karl Neumann'''
: A male college student at the [[University of Munich]], who is the son of Schwald and Langer. He is trying to get close to his father without actually letting him know that he is his son. At the same time, he is also caught up in the mystery of a dead student, and the disappearance of Johan Liebert after his father's book collection is burned in a massive inferno during a ceremony at the University Library. After he reconciles with his father, he stays on as Schwald's personal assistant.
|-
|
|'''Lotte Frank'''
: A female college student also at the [[University of Munich]] who is trying to go after Karl Neumann's heart and thus aids his investigation into his father and late mother. When Karl rejects her by getting a proxy to go on a date with her, she is immensely crushed and is comforted by Nina. Given that moment, Nina and Lotte become fast friends. She too wants to know about the mysteries behind Johan Liebert as well as the death of the student who worked with them for Schwald.
|-
|
|'''Otto Heckel'''
: A common thief who runs into Tenma when he breaks into a murder victim's house where Tenma is investigating. Heckel is not interested in solving the mystery surrounding the monster, he is more preoccupied in making quick cash by any means necessary. Nonetheless, both Tenma and Heckel must rely on each other in order to survive.
 
[[Netflix]] began streaming the series internationally on 1 January 2023, premiering the first 30 episodes;<ref>{{cite web|last=Russell|first=Bradley|title=Netflix has added two classic anime shows – but several episodes are missing|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/netflix-episodes-missing-hajime-no-ippo-monster/|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|access-date=5 January 2023|date=3 January 2023|archive-date=4 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104080037/https://www.gamesradar.com/netflix-episodes-missing-hajime-no-ippo-monster/|url-status=live}}</ref> the entire 74 episodes were made available for the following month.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Netflix Streams Monster Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-02-01/netflix-streams-monster-anime/.194414|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=9 February 2023|date=1 February 2023|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209214813/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-02-01/netflix-streams-monster-anime/.194414|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2025, [[Discotek Media]] announced that it had licensed the series and will release it on Blu-ray in 2026.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Discotek Reveals Monster, Shin Aim for the Ace, Zegapain, 6 More Licenses|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-08-09/discotek-reveals-monster-shin-aim-for-the-ace-zegapain-6-more-licenses/.227363|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=9 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250809213350/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-08-09/discotek-reveals-monster-shin-aim-for-the-ace-zegapain-6-more-licenses/.227363|archive-date=9 August 2025|date=9 August 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
 
=== Live-action adaptations ===
==Anime Version==
In 2005, it was announced that [[New Line Cinema]] acquired the rights for an American [[live-action]] film adaptation of ''Monster''. [[Academy Award]]-nominated screenwriter [[Josh Olson]] (''[[A History of Violence (film)|A History of Violence]]'') was hired to write the screenplay.<ref>{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|title=Live Action Monster Movie Screenwriter|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-07-08/live-action-monster-movie-screenwriter|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=12 June 2021|date=8 July 2005|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612113719/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-07-08/live-action-monster-movie-screenwriter|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Josh Olson to Adapt Manga Comic Book Monster|work=[[MovieWeb]]|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/63/8463.php|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511191704/http://www.movieweb.com/news/63/8463.php|archive-date=11 May 2008}}</ref> No new information on the film was released since.<ref>{{cite web|last=Manry|first=Gia|title=Universal, Illumination Get Film Rights for Urasawa's Pluto Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-20/universal-illumination-get-film-rights-for-urasawa-pluto-manga|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=12 June 2021|date=20 October 2010|quote=New Line Cinema acquired the film rights to ''Urasawa''{{'}}s manga Monster in 2005, and a writer was attached to the project, but no new information on the film has been released since.|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031143537/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-20/universal-illumination-get-film-rights-for-urasawa-pluto-manga|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 2013, it was revealed that [[Guillermo del Toro]] and American [[Pay Television|premium television]] network [[HBO]] were collaborating on a pilot for a live-action TV series based on ''Monster''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike|title=Guillermo Del Toro Is Hatching A 'Monster' Of A Series at HBO|url=https://deadline.com/2013/04/guillermo-del-toro-is-hatching-a-monster-of-a-series-at-hbo-482065/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=24 April 2013|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=7 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807005254/http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/guillermo-del-toro-is-hatching-a-monster-of-a-series-at-hbo/|url-status=live}}</ref> Co-executive producer [[Stephen Thompson (writer)|Stephen Thompson]] (''[[Doctor Who]]'' and ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]'') was writing the pilot, while del Toro was to direct it and be an executive producer alongside [[Don Murphy]] and [[Susan Montford]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Guillermo del Toro Develops Monster Manga as Possible HBO Show|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-04-24/guillermo-del-toro-develops-monster-manga-as-possible-hbo-show|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=24 April 2013|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=16 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716122854/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-04-24/guillermo-del-toro-develops-monster-manga-as-possible-hbo-show|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, del Toro told Latino-Review that HBO had passed on the project and that they were in the process of pitching to other studios.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chavez|first=Kellvin|title=Exclusive: Talking 'Crimson Peak' With Guillermo del Toro|url=http://lrmonline.com/news/exclusive-talking-crimson-peak-with-guillermo-del-toro|website=Latino Review Media|access-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110123208/http://lrmonline.com/news/exclusive-talking-crimson-peak-with-guillermo-del-toro|archive-date=10 November 2016|date=16 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Saabedra|first=Humberto|title=Guillermo Del Toro Offers Update on Status of "Monster" Adaptation|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/10/16/guillermo-del-toro-offers-update-on-status-of-monster-adaptation|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|access-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119014450/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/10/16/guillermo-del-toro-offers-update-on-status-of-monster-adaptation|archive-date=19 November 2020|date=16 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Guillermo del Toro: Live-Action Monster is 'Out of HBO'|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-10-24/guillermo-del-toro-live-action-monster-is-out-of-hbo/.94409|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=12 June 2021|date=24 October 2015|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612114504/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-10-24/guillermo-del-toro-live-action-monster-is-out-of-hbo/.94409|url-status=live}}</ref>
The 74 episode anime version of ''Monster'' is a faithful adaptation of the entire story. It is mostly recreated shot for shot and scene for scene compared to the original manga. The few subtle differences include short snippets of additional dialogue and slight re-ordering of scenes in places.
 
== Reception ==
;Ending Theme (Episode 1-32): "For the Love of Life" by [[David Sylvian]]
=== Manga ===
;Ending Theme (Episode 33-74): "Make it Home" by Fujiko Heming.
''Monster'' has been critically acclaimed. It won an Excellence Prize in the Manga Division at the first [[Japan Media Arts Festival]] in 1997;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/1997/manga/|title=Manga Division 1997 (1st) Japan Media Arts Festival Archive|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|language=ja|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-date=6 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073620/http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/1997/manga/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Grand Prize of the 3rd [[Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|title=Tezuka Award Winner Announced|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-05-10/tezuka-award-winner-announced|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=10 May 2005|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=28 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928023710/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-05-10/tezuka-award-winner-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> It also won the 46th [[Shogakukan Manga Award]] in the General category in 2001;<ref name="ShogakukanAward">{{cite web|url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|script-title=ja:小学館漫画賞: 歴代受賞者|publisher=[[Shōgakukan]]|language=ja|access-date=19 August 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094941/http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> and the Best Manga Series at the [[Lucca Comics Awards]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last = Hodgkins|first = Crystalyn|url = https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-01/naoki-urasawa-asadora-manga-wins-lucca-comics-award-for-best-series/.179085|title = Naoki Urasawa's Asadora! Manga Wins Lucca Comics Award for Best Series|publisher = [[Anime News Network]]|date = 1 November 2021|access-date = 15 February 2023|archive-date = 10 August 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220810180811/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-01/naoki-urasawa-asadora-manga-wins-lucca-comics-award-for-best-series/.179085|url-status = live}}</ref> The [[Young Adult Library Services Association]] placed ''Monster'' on their 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens|publisher=[[American Library Association]]|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/63/8463.php|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117035505/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/annotations/07ggnt.cfm|archive-date=17 January 2011}}</ref> Viz Media's English release was nominated several times for [[Eisner Awards]], twice in the category [[Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia|Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Japan]] (2007 and 2009) and three times in Best Continuing Series (2007, 2008, 2009).<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Japanese, World Manga Nominated for 2007 Eisner Awards|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-04-19/japanese-world-manga-nominated-for-2007-eisner-awards|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=19 April 2007|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=11 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211012746/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-04-19/japanese-world-manga-nominated-for-2007-eisner-awards|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Manga Listed Among Eisner Award Nominees for 2008|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-14/manga-listed-among-eisner-award-nominees-for-2008|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=14 April 2008|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=23 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823123905/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-14/manga-listed-among-eisner-award-nominees-for-2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Manga Nominated for 2009 Eisner Awards|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-07/manga-nominated-for-2009-eisner-awards|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=7 April 2009|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=11 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511090132/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-07/manga-nominated-for-2009-eisner-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, when [[Oricon]] conducted a poll asking which manga series the Japanese people wanted to see adapted into live-action, ''Monster'' came in fifth.<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Survey: Slam Dunk Manga is #1 Choice for Live-Action|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-03/survey/slam-dunk-manga-is-no.1-choice-for-live-action|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=28 May 2009|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=1 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601193818/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-03/survey/slam-dunk-manga-is-no.1-choice-for-live-action|url-status=live}}</ref> At the 2009 Industry Awards held by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, the organizers of [[Anime Expo]], ''Monster'' won the award for Best Drama Manga.<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=SPJA Industry Award Winners Announced at Anime Expo|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-07-03/2009-spja-industry-award-winners-announced|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=3 July 2009|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=3 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203223913/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-07-03/2009-spja-industry-award-winners-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Monster'' manga has over 20 million copies in circulation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.narinari.com/Nd/2005044270.html|script-title=ja:浦沢直樹原作の「MONSTER」がハリウッドで実写映画化。|date=5 April 2005|publisher=NariNari|access-date=28 November 2013|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062908/http://www.narinari.com/Nd/2005044270.html|archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Writing for ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', [[Pulitzer Prize for Fiction]] winner [[Junot Díaz]] praised the manga, proclaiming "Urasawa is a national treasure in Japan, and if you ain't afraid of picture books, you'll see why".<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Junot Díaz|title=The Psychotic Japanese Mastermind|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1820177_1820178_1820114,00.html|date=3 July 2008|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=9 June 2019|archive-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609031626/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1820177_1820178_1820114,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[About.com]]''{{'}}s Deb Aoki called ''Monster'' a multi-layered suspense series and satisfying mystery that stands up to repeat readings, although it is sometimes a "little hard to follow".<ref>{{cite web|last=Aoki|first=Deb|url=http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2008BestManga.htm|title=2008 Best Continuing Manga List|publisher=[[About.com]]|access-date=23 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328183945/http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2008BestManga.htm|archive-date=28 March 2013}}</ref> Reviewing the ''Monster'' manga for ''[[Anime News Network]]'', Carl Kimlinger called Urasawa a master of suspense "effortlessly maintaining the delicate balance of deliberate misinformation and explicit delineation of the dangers facing protagonists that only the finest suspense thrillers ever achieve."<ref name="ANN vol 5">{{cite web|last=Carl|first=Kimlinger|title=Monster GN 5 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-5|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=9 February 2007|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=5 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705164347/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-5|url-status=live}}</ref> He commented that even the stories and characters that had felt unrelated to the greater picture are "eventually drawn together by Johan's grand plan."<ref name="ANN vol 8-9">{{cite web|last=Carl|first=Kimlinger|title=Monster GN 8–9 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-8|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=27 September 2007|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730203218/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-8|url-status=live}}</ref> Kimlinger deemed the art "invisible perfection," never "showy or superfluous," with panels laid out so well that it is easy to forget how much effort is put into each and every page.<ref name="ANN vol 5"/> Though he did not find the characters' physical designs attractive,<ref name="ANN vol 10">{{cite web|last=Carl|first=Kimlinger|title=Monster GN 10 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-10|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=12 October 2007|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729014226/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-10|url-status=live}}</ref> he praised their expressiveness, writing that the characters "wear their personalities on their faces, communicating changes in their outlooks, psychology, inner thoughts and emotions with shifts in expression that range from barely perceptible to masks of rage, hate and fear."<ref name="ANN vol 5"/> ''UK Anime Network'' gave the first volume a perfect score based on the engrossing story, but felt the artwork, while appealing, was not "groundbreaking".<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825111653/http://www.uk-anime.net/manga/Monster_Vol._1.html|url=http://www.uk-anime.net/manga/Monster_Vol._1.html|title=Manga Review: Monster Vol. 1|access-date=29 August 2021|archivedate=25 August 2011}}</ref> On the other hand, ''Active Anime'' felt the art improved across the manga's serialization.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monster vol. 17 (Advanced Review)|url=https://activeanime.com/html/2008/10/20/monster-vol-17-advanced-review/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215850/https://activeanime.com/html/2008/10/20/monster-vol-17-advanced-review/|archivedate=3 March 2016|website=Active Anime|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref>
==Trivia==
* ''Monster'' begins with a passage from [[Book of Revelation|The Revelation of St. John]] the Divine, Chapter 13: Verses 1 & 4
::''And I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads, the names of blasphemy. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"''
:This quote is often interpreted as the coming of the [[Antichrist]]. This quote is used because of the many parallels and comparisons between Johan and two candidates of the Antichrist as predicted by [[Nostradamus]], the two were commonly [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] and [[Adolf Hitler]]. An alcoholic actually describes Johan as a monster with seven heads who was attempting to harm his son.
 
A.E. Sparrow of ''[[IGN]]'' described ''Monster'' as a "[[Alfred Hitchcock|Hitchcock]] film set to manga" and felt its real strength comes from its huge cast of interesting characters, who each have "a unique story and history to relate".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sparrow|first=A.E.|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/10/monster-volume-15-review|title=Monster: Volume 15 Review|website=IGN|date=13 May 2012|accessdate=29 August 2021|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829234706/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/10/monster-volume-15-review|url-status=live}}</ref> Carlo Santos, also for ''Anime News Network'', called ''Monster'' "a one-of-a-kind thriller" and suggests that one of the most overlooked qualities of it is that "amidst all the mystery and horror, there are moments of love and hope and all the good things about humanity."<ref name="ANN vol 14-15">{{cite web|last=Santos|first=Carlo|title=Monster GN 14–15 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-14|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=27 June 2008|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=25 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825043817/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-14|url-status=live}}</ref> Though she praised the manga for its "cinematically precise" art, never confusing the reader, and making each person visually distinct despite the large cast of characters,<ref name="ANN vol 16">{{cite web|last=Brienza|first=Casey|title=Monster GN 16 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-16|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=14 September 2008|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704201842/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-16|url-status=live}}</ref> Casey Brienza from the same website felt that too much time was spent developing minor characters "who are likely to be dead or forgotten just a few dozen pages later," and that the series' ending "went out with a whimper."<ref name="ANN vol 16"/> Brienza noted that "there is nothing satisfactory ever revealed to fully account for [Johan's] supremely scrambled psyche," but concluded that as long as the reader does not look for "deep meanings or think too hard about whether or not it all makes sense in the end" they will enjoy it.<ref name="ANN vol 17-18">{{cite web|last=Brienza|first=Casey|title=Monster GN 17–18 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-17|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=18 December 2008|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=9 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809170753/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/gn-17|url-status=live}}</ref> Leroy Douresseaux of ''Comic Book Bin'', praised ''Monster''{{'}}s finale and wrote that the manga is "worth reading again and again. It's perfection".<ref>{{cite web|last=Douresseaux|first=Leroy|url=http://www.comicbookbin.com/naokiurasawasmonster018.html|title=Naoki Urasawa's Monster: Volume 18|website=Comic Book Bin|access-date=29 August 2021|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829234707/http://www.comicbookbin.com/naokiurasawasmonster018.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''The Quiet Village'' is the only book written by Klaus Poppe which does not contain overtly disturbing nature. However, ''The Quiet Village'' actually represents a place on Germany's map, Nubenheim, whose name according to the manga means "Quiet Village". Nubenheim was however a more ancient name, as the town is now known as [[Mainz-Laubenheim|Laubenheim]], meaning something like "Summer Village/House".
 
=== Anime ===
* Dr. Tenma shares his name with the scientist who created [[Astroboy]] to replace his dead son; while the creator of ''Monster'' has not given any formal statement about the names, presumably it is intended as a tip of the hat to the early, influential manga and draws a parallel between the first Dr. Tenma's creation of the hero Astro Boy and Dr. Kenzo Tenma's creation of the titular monster.
''[[THEM Anime Reviews]]'' called the anime adaptation "complex" and "beautiful", stating that it features "sophisticated storytelling and complex plot weaving, memorable characters, godly production values and excellent pacing".<ref>{{cite web|last=Laeno|first=Dominic|url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=969|title=Monster Review|publisher=[[THEM Anime Reviews]]|access-date=9 January 2009|archive-date=17 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217184829/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=969|url-status=live}}</ref> Darius Washington of ''[[Otaku USA]]'' named ''Monster'' one of the ten best anime of the past decade.<ref>{{cite web|last=Washington|first=Darius|title=Monster: Box Set 1|url=http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/SearchAudience/News1/Monster_Box_Set_1_3218.aspx|publisher=[[Otaku USA]]|date=28 June 2010|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-date=2 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502231427/http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/SearchAudience/News1/Monster_Box_Set_1_3218.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Carl Kimlinger enthused that "It cannot be overstated how brilliantly apart from the anime mainstream this unsettling, fiercely intelligent, and ultimately uncategorizable journey into darkness is."<ref name="eps3145">{{cite web|last=Carl|first=Kimlinger|title=Monster Episodes 31–45 Streaming – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/episodes-31|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=10 July 2011|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=24 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824103925/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/episodes-31|url-status=live}}</ref> He praised Madhouse's animation for not only keeping up the dark "cinematic quality of Urasawa's art" but also improving on it, as well as Kuniaki Haishima's score for adding "immeasurably to the series' hair-raising atmosphere."<ref name="ANN anime">{{cite web|last=Carl|first=Kimlinger|title=Monster DVD Box Set 1 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/dvd-box-set-1|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=4 January 2010|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=22 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722072700/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/dvd-box-set-1|url-status=live}}</ref> Though he noted Viz Media's inability to acquire the original ending theme song due to licensing problems, Kimlinger also called their English dub of the series one of the best in recent memory.<ref name="ANN anime"/>
 
Kimlinger praised the series, for "its fidelity to Naoki Urasawa's original manga", commenting that "there isn't a scene left out, only a handful added in, and as far as I can tell not a line of dialogue changed or omitted. Given its faithfulness, fans of the manga will know that the series won't get any better than this, this is as good as the series gets." As well as for its frequent habit of giving the spotlight to newly introduced characters instead of the main cast.<ref name="eps3145"/><ref name="ANN anime"/> He also described the ending of the series as, "we feel vaguely let down when what we should really be doing is glorying in the somewhat messy, yes, but exhilarating final throes of one of last decade's great series". Nonetheless, he considered such an ending to be expected, since "as ambitious and complicated and just plain huge as ''Monster'' is, no conclusion is going to be entirely satisfactory. Someone is bound to get short-changed, loose ends are bound to be left dangling, and even if they weren't, the simple truth is that no climax could ever live up to the series' build-up".<ref>{{cite web|last=Carl|first=Kimlinger|title=Monster Episodes 61–74 Streaming – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/episodes-61|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=11 October 2011|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=25 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825062603/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/episodes-61|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The wine ordered by the English couple and Dr. Tenma in the 20th episode of the anime series was named Forster Ungeheuer. It was the favorite wine of [[Otto von Bismarck]] and its name actually translates into English as the Forster Monster.
 
== References ==
* On episode 11 "511 Kinderheim" Dr. Tenma sees a ruin in the eastern part of Berlin with a graffiti of the German band [[Einstürzende Neubauten]] on it.
{{Reflist}}
 
== External links ==
* Dr. Reichwein's files on patients (seen when he looks for Richard Braun's file) include files on "supposed" patients named [[Werner Herzog]], [[Wim Wenders]], [[Nastassja Kinski]], [[Wolfgang Becker]] and [[Bruno Ganz]].
* {{Official website|https://www.ntv.co.jp/monster/|Official anime website at Nippon TV}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Official website|https://www.viz.com/monster|Official manga website at Viz Media}}
* {{Anime News Network|manga|1511}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q100944081}}
 
{{Monster}}
==External links==
{{Navboxes|list=
* [http://assassindrake.com/monster.php Monster Graph] - A Graph that shows relationships between characters (contains spoilers)
{{Naoki Urasawa}}
* {{ann anime|id=3750|title=Monster}}
{{Big Comic Original}}
* [http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,1346,gjauhe,monster.html AnimeNfo.Com : Monster] - Information about the anime.
{{Shogakukan Manga Award - General}}
* [http://www.mangascreener.com/stephen/monster/am/amonster.html Translation of the supplemental book ''Another Monster'']
{{Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize}}
* [http://www.ex.org/3.3/27-manga_monster.html Monster: Volume 1]
{{Masayuki Kojima}}
* {{imdb title|id=0434706|title=Monster}}
{{Madhouse}}
}}
 
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[[Category:Anime seriesand manga set in Germany]]
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[[Category:Naoki Urasawa]]
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