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In the little mountain town of Ruhenheim, life is simple and peaceful. Neighbors greet each other on the street, and the biggest case the local authorities have to worry about is a lost dog. But this bucolic splendor is about to change. Will Tenma, Grimmer and Inspector Lunge be able to prevent the massacre Johan is planning for this sleepy village and its unknowing inhabitants? Or will the cobbled streets of Ruhenheim soon run red with innocent blood?

MONSTER first appeared in the pages of Shogakukan's Big Comic Original manga anthology and weaves the riveting story of brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a famous surgeon with a promising career at a leading hospital. Tenma risks his reputation and promising career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy. Unbeknownst to him, this child is destined for a terrible fate. A string of strange and mysterious murders begin to occur soon afterward, ones that professionally benefit Dr. Tenma, and he emerges as the primary suspect. Conspiracies, serial murders, and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics are all masterfully woven together in this compelling manga thriller.

Average Customer Rating:

The Penultimate Chapter in the Monster Series

Customer Rating:

Monster is a fantastic series that is unlike any other manga series I know of. It's refreshing to read something intelligently written that is not based on people with superpowers or the world being at risk. The series is based in the real world and includes many flawed characters who are never quite sure if they are doing the right thing. Volume 17 continues this great series, and I can honestly say I have no idea how it will end. Will Tenma finally track down and kill Johan? Will Johan ever be stopped? What's going to happen to Nina? You will really only be reading this volume if you have read the 16 previous volumes (definitely not new-reader friendly, even with the helpful chart in the beginning). If you have come this far, then you already know what makes this series so strong. This volume really amps up the suspense. There are some great scenes in here that are movie-worthy. This is not a perfect next-to-last chapter, however. For one, there are a lot of new characters being introduced in this volume. Shouldn't it be a little too late to add even more characters in an already overcrowded series? This makes me wonder if everything will be able to be sufficiently wrapped up by the end of the next book. After taking us through 17 volumes, I would be very disappointed if the last volume was a dud. Despite wondering "Where is he going with this?" several times during reading, I am still hopeful the author will pull through and deliver. After all, these last few volumes have just been getting better and better. This could be one of the greatest manga series ever, but I will reserve my judgment until volume 18.