Mmm. Not sure what I think of Monster yet. I really want to think highly of it, and there's strong design, layout & composition reasons for loving that manga's visual style & presentation. It's also an adult story about adults doing adult, normal, non-risque things without much in the way of fantasy or science-fiction elements, which is a nice change of pace. The author has a reputation for excellence for things like 20th Century Boys, Mr. Keaton & Yawara. All well & to the good.

But the writer goes & throws out his whole plot-arc & theme in one sharp-edged, undigested, vomitious mass at the end of the first volume, blowing any credit he'd earned for subtlety or lightness of touch in the preceding chapters. Lame, lame, lame. Even if it was laid out in a fine, stylized, handsome fashion. Like using a Stradivarius as a club, really.

Do better, mangaka. That's an order.