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Monster (manga)
Encyclopedia
is a seinen
manga
written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa
, published by Shogakukan
in Big Comic Original
between 1994 and 2001, and reprinted in 18 tankōbon
volumes. It was adapted by Madhouse
as a 74-episode anime
TV
series, which aired on NTV
from April 7, 2004 to September 28, 2005. It was directed by Masayuki Kojima
, written by Tatsuhiko Urahata and featured character designs by Kitarō Kōsaka
. The manga
and anime
have both been licensed by Viz Media
for an English
release. Urasawa later wrote and illustrated the novel Another Monster, a supplement story detailing the events of the manga
from an investigative reporter's point of view, published by Shogakukan
in 2002.
doctor working at the Eisler Memorial Hospital in Düsseldorf
during the 1980s. A highly accomplished brain surgeon
, he appears to have everything on his plate: a promotion in the offering; the favor of the hospital's director Heinemann; and Heinemann's daughter Eva as his fiancee. 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 the mayor of Düsseldorf who arrived afterwards. Johan is saved, but Mayor Roedecker dies. Tenma loses all his social standing and Eva as a consequence. However, Director Heinemann and the 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 they have no evidence, and so can do no more than question him.
Nine years later. Tenma is now the Chief of Surgery at Eisler Memorial Hospital. After saving a known criminal named Adolf Junkers after being hit by a car, he hears him muttering about a "monster". Tenma extends kindness to Junkers, and he thus reciprocates by beginning to open up to the doctor. Then one evening, when Dr. Tenma comes back with a clock as a gift for Junkers, he finds the guard in front of Junkers's room dead, and Junkers himself gone. Following the trail to the construction site of a half-finished building near the hospital, Tenma finds Junkers being held at gunpoint. The man, who has developed a sort of doctor-patient relationship
with Dr. Tenma, warns him against coming closer, and pleads with him to run away. Tenma refuses, however, and the man holding the gun is revealed to be the boy whose life Tenma had saved nine years ago, Johan Liebert. 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, and 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 Lunge, and he tries to find more information about this "Johan". He soon discovers that the boy's sister, now named Nina, is happily living the life of an adopted daughter to two caring parents, the only traces of her terrible past being a few dreams she has had. Tenma discovers her on her birthday and manages to prevent her from meeting her brother, but comes too late to stop Johan from murdering her foster parents. As the story progresses, Tenma learns of the origins of this monster, from the former East Germany's attempt to use a secret orphanage
called 511 Kinderheim (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 vows to fix the mistake he made when he saved Johan's life.
, which aired between April 2004 and September 2005 on Nippon TV. Directed by Masayuki Kojima
, written by Tatsuhiko Urahata, it features original character designs by long-time Studio Ghibli
animator Kitarō Kōsaka
, which were subsequently adapted into the anime by Shigeru Fujita.
The anime includes an instrumental theme by the Chilean folk music group Quilapayún
called "Transiente", originally featured in their 1984 album Tralalí Tralalá. David Sylvian
was commissioned to write the ending theme, "For the Love of Life", a track he collaborated on with Haishima Kuniaki. 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."
An English dub of Monster is being produced by Salami Studios for Viz Media
who has the North American license to this anime. The first and only boxset of the series, covering episodes 1-15, was released December 8, 2009. Viz has also recently come to an agreement with Funimation to run Monster (as well as other Viz titles) on FUNimation's Funimation Channel
Monster began airing on the FUNimation Channel
April 3, 2010 on weekends at 12:30 am. Monster was the last of the Viz titles to air on the FUNimation Channel
. The show airs on Syfy
's Ani-Mondays with two episodes back-to-back each Monday night at 11:00 p.m. EST, which began October 12, 2009.
Viz currently has no plans to release any future box sets. No official cancellation announcement has been made, but it is speculated that due to low sales of the first box set, no further volumes will be released. The entire series is still available digitally via sites like iTunes and Amazon.
acquired rights to create an English language
live action
film adaptation of the series. Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Josh Olson
, who is noted for his work on the 2005 American
/German
crime
-thriller film A History of Violence
was given the task of writing the screenplay for the project, which the studio expected to be released in 2009, but it's unknown when (or if) this movie will be released.
and the Shogakukan Manga Award
in 2001. It placed on YALSA's "2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens" list. THEM Anime Reviews called the anime adaptation "complex" and "beautiful", going on to state that it features "sophisticated storytelling and complex plot weaving, memorable characters, godly production values and excellent pacing." A review at Anime-Planet described the series as a "breathtaking tour de force of amazing suspense and surprising intelligence." Another review from the same site called the series "a true gem and a rare anime masterpiece", despite a "daunting length".
Pulitzer Prize
winning author Junot Diaz
called the series "his favorite guilty pleasure" in a profile for Time Magazine. Animation critic Charles Solomon was among the minority of critics to dislike the anime, claiming that it "plays like a prolonged soap opera" and finding that "its suggestions of child abuse and neo-Nazi imagery reflect a regrettable lack of taste". He also specifically criticized the work of anime director Masayuki Kojima, alleging that "[his] leaden pacing robs the story of the suspense it should generate" and that "more skillful filmmakers could present the same material in half as many episodes and make it compelling".
Seinen
is a subset of manga that is generally targeted at a 20–30 year old male audience, but the audience can be older with some manga aimed at businessmen well into their 40s. In Japanese, the word Seinen means "young man" or "young men" and is not suggestive of sexual matters...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa
Naoki Urasawa
is a Japanese manga artist.-Early life:He graduated from Meisei University with a degree in economics. In 2008, Urasawa had a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he taught classes on manga.-Manga career:...
, published by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
in Big Comic Original
Big Comic Original
is a Japanese seinen manga magazine published by Shogakukan, aimed at an older adult and mostly male audience. It is a sister magazine to Big Comic, the biggest difference being that it goes on sale twice a month in the weeks Big Comic doesn't. Cover artwork usually features a dog or cat, and a haiku...
between 1994 and 2001, and reprinted in 18 tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volumes. It was adapted by Madhouse
Madhouse (company)
is a Japanese animation studio, founded in 1972 by ex–Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. It has created and helped to produce many well known shows, starting with TV anime series Ace o Nerae! in 1973, and including western favourites Ninja...
as a 74-episode anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series, which aired on NTV
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
from April 7, 2004 to September 28, 2005. It was directed by Masayuki Kojima
Masayuki Kojima
is a Japanese animator, director, and member of the renowned animation studio Madhouse. He was born on March 11, 1961 in Yamanashi, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, and is a twenty year plus veteran of the anime industry.-Personal history:...
, written by Tatsuhiko Urahata and featured character designs by Kitarō Kōsaka
Kitaro Kosaka
is a Japanese animator and film director.-Profile:He began his career in 1979 with the studio Oh! Production. He left the studio in 1986 to become a freelance, and soon went on to work on numerous projects as a key and supervising animation director for the noted animation studio Studio Ghibli, and...
. The manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
have both been licensed by Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...
for an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
release. Urasawa later wrote and illustrated the novel Another Monster, a supplement story detailing the events of the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
from an investigative reporter's point of view, published by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
in 2002.
Plot
Dr. Kenzō Tenma is a young JapaneseJapanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
doctor working at the Eisler Memorial Hospital in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
during the 1980s. A highly accomplished brain surgeon
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
, he appears to have everything on his plate: a promotion in the offering; the favor of the hospital's director Heinemann; and Heinemann's daughter Eva as his fiancee. 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 the mayor of Düsseldorf who arrived afterwards. Johan is saved, but Mayor Roedecker dies. Tenma loses all his social standing and Eva as a consequence. However, Director Heinemann and the 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 they have no evidence, and so can do no more than question him.
Nine years later. Tenma is now the Chief of Surgery at Eisler Memorial Hospital. After saving a known criminal named Adolf Junkers after being hit by a car, he hears him muttering about a "monster". Tenma extends kindness to Junkers, and he thus reciprocates by beginning to open up to the doctor. Then one evening, when Dr. Tenma comes back with a clock as a gift for Junkers, he finds the guard in front of Junkers's room dead, and Junkers himself gone. Following the trail to the construction site of a half-finished building near the hospital, Tenma finds Junkers being held at gunpoint. The man, who has developed a sort of doctor-patient relationship
Doctor-patient relationship
The doctor-patient relationship is central to the practice of healthcare and is essential for the delivery of high-quality health care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The doctor-patient relationship forms one of the foundations of contemporary medical ethics...
with Dr. Tenma, warns him against coming closer, and pleads with him to run away. Tenma refuses, however, and the man holding the gun is revealed to be the boy whose life Tenma had saved nine years ago, Johan Liebert. 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, and 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 Lunge, and he tries to find more information about this "Johan". He soon discovers that the boy's sister, now named Nina, is happily living the life of an adopted daughter to two caring parents, the only traces of her terrible past being a few dreams she has had. Tenma discovers her on her birthday and manages to prevent her from meeting her brother, but comes too late to stop Johan from murdering her foster parents. As the story progresses, Tenma learns of the origins of this monster, from the former East Germany's attempt to use a secret orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
called 511 Kinderheim (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
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
experiment in Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. He also learns about the scope of the atrocities this "monster" has committed, and vows to fix the mistake he made when he saved Johan's life.
Main characters
- Doctor Kenzō Tenma
-
- The main protagonist of the series. Doctor Kenzō Tenma is a Japanese neurosurgeonNeurosurgeryNeurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
working at the Eisler Memorial Hospital in DüsseldorfDüsseldorfDüsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
. At the beginning of Monster, he is the Head of Neurosurgery who was favored by the department's director, Heinemann, for his prodigious surgicalSurgeonIn medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
skills and was even offered Director Heinemann's daughter Eva for marriage. When it came to a young boy with a bullet wound, Dr. Tenma was about to prepare the operation for him when Chief of Surgery Dr. Oppenheim and a call from Director Heinemann told Tenma to work on Mayor Roedecker (who collapsed at his holiday home). Tenma told Director Heinemann that he is the only one who could operate on a young and asked Director Heinemann to have Dr. Boyer handle the mayor, but Director Heinemann ignored his request and ordered him to operate on the Mayor. After a crisis of conscience, he chooses to save the life of a young boy instead of Mayor Roedecker. He is then scolded afterwards by Dr. Boyer and Dr. Oppenheim for not working on the mayor, who died as a result of the doctors having to scramble to cover for Tenma at the last minute. At a banquet, Dr. Tenma begged for forgiveness from Director Heinemann who partially forgave him while stating comments that blacklisted Dr. Tenma, Eva rescinding her marriage, and Dr. Boyer gaining Tenma's position as Head of Neurosurgery. Some weeks later, Dr. Tenma gets word from the visiting policemen that Director Heinemann, Chief of Surgery Dr. Oppenheim, and Dr. Boyer are mysteriously killed. Because of the three deaths and some transfers of some of the doctors, the Chairman of the Board ended up giving Dr. Tenma the position of Chief of Surgery. It is only after nine years that Dr. Tenma learns the perpetrator of Director Heinemann's murder and the recent death of Adolf Junkers 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 while evading Inspector Heinrich Lunge, who suspects him of the murders committed by Johan. Despite his mission, Dr. Tenma is a humanitarian who genuinely cares about the lives of others. These acts of kindness make him very influential with the people he meets. Not much is known about Tenma's childhood; however, when he was growing up in Japan, he was constantly getting picked on and had a habit of wetting his pants. This earned him the nickname of "Sissy Pants Tenma". As well, Kenzo's father and brother were also doctors, though Tenma was not close to his family, and his family ties have grown weaker as he had not been back in Japan since he left to Germany. It is unknown how much time passed between Tenma becoming a certified doctor to when he started as an attending surgeon at Eisler Memorial Hospital. However, it soon became evident to his superiors that Kenzo was probably the best neurosurgeon on staff, and he would quickly be promoted to Chief of Neurosurgery around the same time he met Eva. Tenma also has some acquaintances from Japan who occasionally visit him while on business, but it is not known how close his friendship with these people is. In his journey to kill Johan, he comes incredibly close on a number of occasions only to have Johan slip away. This ends up leading him to the final confrontation with Johan in Ruhenheim. When Johan wants Tenma to kill him, he tries to threaten Wim when the child's drunk father Herbert ends up mistaking Johan for a monster and shoots him. After Johan had been picked up by the ambulance, Dr. Tenma ended up treating the wound. Eventually, Dr. Tenma was cleared of all charges. He later joins Doctors Without BordersMédecins Sans Frontières' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
and learns from Otto Heckel where the mother of Johan and Anna is located. Tenma later visits a comatose Johan in a police hospital.
- The main protagonist of the series. Doctor Kenzō Tenma is a Japanese neurosurgeon
- Johan Liebert
- Young Johan Liebert
- Adult Johan Liebert
- Johan Liebert is the titular "monster" of the story who serves as the principal antagonist; the mystery of his past is the main focus of the plot. He has been called a monster, the next HitlerAdolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and even the DevilDevilThe Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
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 was his father. He claims to have a deep love for his twin sister and is shown to have some loyalty to her. He has spent portions of his life in different places under different aliases. He possesses an extraordinary level of charisma and intelligence, as well as being cunning, manipulative and deceitful. While he is shown to be kind, compassionate, and loving to children, he can be cold and very cruel. He uses his gifts to cruelly manipulate and corrupt others, often with no apparent end 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, and Johan often acts as both a direct and indirect catalyst for such transformations. He also seems to identify with other killers and finds out about things that they themselves never told anyone. Like Tenma, Johan also has many similarities to a character from a classic manga by Osamu TezukaOsamu Tezukawas a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
, in his case Michio Yuki, the main villain from MWMW (manga)-External links:****...
. These include his childhood involvement in a secret military experiment, his ability to skillfully manipulate powerful people, his ambitions to cause the end of the world, his occasional suicidal tendencies and his infrequent bouts of cross-dressing. In keeping with the theme of the "ApocalypseApocalypseAn Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
", Johan shares many similar traits with the AntichristAntichristThe term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
(being "resurrected" after being pierced through the head, being mistaken for a monster with "seven heads and many horns"). Although it is seen in Nina's memories that Johan and Anna had no real names, he seems to mostly go by the name Johan. After doing acts that ended up causing the demise of Petr Capek, he orchestrates the Ruhenheim Massacre and has his final encounter with Dr. Tenma. When Johan threatens Wim in order to get Tenma to shoot him, Johan ends up shot by the boy's drunken father Herbert and his body was found by the ambulance with the bullet wound treated by Dr. Tenma. His comatose body was later placed in a police hospital when Tenma visits him. The final scene shows his bedroom empty with the window opened, ambiguously suggesting that Johan had either died or had escaped from the hospital.
- Johan Liebert is the titular "monster" of the story who serves as the principal antagonist; the mystery of his past is the main focus of the plot. He has been called a monster, the next Hitler
- Nina Fortner / Anna Liebert
-
- Johan's younger 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. Nina is a sweet, kind-hearted, loving, hard-working and very intelligent young woman. She did seem to have a perfectly happy life, but she finds out there are more parts about her past that even she didn't remember. 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 HeidelbergHeidelberg-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, who were unaware of her previous identity as Anna Liebert. As Nina Fortner, she was a hardworking law student at the University of Heidelberg, as well as an adept practitioner of AikidoAikidois a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
. 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. While Nina does not share her brother's psychotic side, it does appear that they have similarities in terms of fears linked to their past: she becomes almost frozen with shock after reading a children's book which had caused Johan to faint. While Nina is shown to be mostly a pacifist, she's not afraid to threaten or even kill someone if she feels she must or in order to protect others. During a session of hypnosisHypnosisHypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
with Dr. Gillen, her personality suddenly changes and reveals that Nina isn't her name, but when he asks her real name is, she refuses to say and violently attacks him. She also reveals that their father was a government soldier of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, that he had been murdered before they were born, and that their mother was a political activist. She is present at the Ruhenheim Massacre, and forgives her brother, while trying to dissuade Tenma from shooting Johan and thus himself being corrupted. By the end of the series, Nina graduates from college, with plans to move on to law school.
- Johan's younger 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. Nina is a sweet, kind-hearted, loving, hard-working and very intelligent young woman. She did seem to have a perfectly happy life, but she finds out there are more parts about her past that even she didn't remember. 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
- Inspector Heinrich Runge
-
- Inspector Runge (referred to as Lunge in EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) is a BKAFederal Criminal Police Office (Germany)The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany is a national investigative police agency in Germany and falls directly under the Federal Ministry of the Interior...
detective assigned to the murder case of the hospital, and holds Doctor Kenzo Tenma as a main suspect. He first believes that Dr. Tenma invented Johan. Later, he becomes convinced that Johan is, in fact, an alternate personality of Tenma. Perhaps inspired by the character of JavertJavertJavert is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. He is a prison guard, and later policeman, who devotes his life to the law. He is always referred to just simply as "Javert" or "Inspector Javert" by the narrator and other characters throughout the novel; his first name...
in Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
's Les MiserablesLes MisérablesLes Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
, Inspector Runge is utterly obsessed with Tenma. His devotion to his work comes at the expense of neglecting his personal life, and during the course of the series, his wife and pregnant daughter leave him. While the truth is, what he loves his doing his job, to the point that he would ignore his own family, an example is when he passed a chance to meet his grandson for the first time to see Tenma's companions from Japan. It is possible that during his "vacation" he's learn the meaning of regret, an example would be during his fight with Roberto, he appeared to be very angry hearing Roberto say how his wife was happy with another man and that his grandson saw that man as his grandfather. 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. Also, somewhat like Grimmer (see below), he has an expression that barely changes. After the inferno at the University of Munich, Runge learns for the first time that the existence of Johan is indeed true. He then decides to take a "holiday" to Prague to track down Franz Bonaparta, the author of a book he happened to come across that may be the source of Johan's origin. Ultimately, he ends up in Ruhenheim and meets up with Grimmer and Tenma, apologizing to the latter for his mistakes, before heading off to a showdown against Roberto. Both of them ended up wounded in a shoot out where Runge survived while Roberto succumbed to his wounds. In the final episode, he visits Grimmer's grave alongside Jan Suk and Fritz Vardemann. He tells them that he is now working as a professor at the police academy and has rekindled his relationship with his daughter. First seen in Chapter 5.
- Inspector Runge (referred to as Lunge in English
- Dieter
-
- Dieter is a young boy that Tenma encounters in his search for Johan. When Tenma first meets him, he is under the care of a man named Hartmann. Tenma later discovers that Dieter is physically abused by Hartmann. Hartmann plans to transform Dieter into another Johan by applying the same forms of conditioning as was used in the Kinderheim 511 orphanage. Dieter later becomes more optimistic after being saved by Doctor Tenma from Hartmann's physical and mental abuse. He follows Dr. 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 help her find out more about her past and give her moral support whenever her traumatic memories resurface (as he was also subjected to similar abuse). Dieter seems to have taken in some of Tenma's beliefs and optimism about life. In episode 33, "A Child's View" when he meets a young boy who is being influenced by Johan to be more like him. The young boy recites what he heard Johan say about life and death, fear. And tries to tempt Dieter into trying a daredevil stunt of walking on the edge of the building and jump. However Dieter refuses, exclaiming he wanted to live, to live and experience new things, see the faces of the people he cared about. After which, reciting what he heard Tenma say "Tomorrow will be better". He later accompanies Nina into helping her find out more about her past. By the end of the series, he reunites with Otto Heckel, who tells Dieter where the mother of the Liebert Twins is. Dieter is first seen in Chapter 12.
- Eva Heinemann
-
- Eva Heinemann is Doctor Tenma's fiancée and the daughter of Director Heinemann. She's independent, shallow, very bossy, loud, often demanding, and extremely manipulative. In addition, in the beginning it is shown that she can be cruel, taunting, demeaning, and that she hates not having her way. She's not often seen without either wanting to be spoiled or having a drink. Kenzō's relationship with Eva initially appears to have some issues, as Tenma has the tendency to ignore Eva while he is conducting research or would insist on partaking in activities that Eva would not even want to do. Although at times she claimed to love him and friendly around him, she had a cruel streak even to him. However, it is assumed that they do at one point fall in love to the point that Tenma asks for Eva's hand in marriage, much to the approval to her father. She leaves Doctor Tenma after he is demoted by her father for disobeying his orders. Director Heinemann's murder takes a heavy toll on her. She subsequently tries to reconcile with Tenma but he quietly rejects her. A few years and three failed marriages later, she has a brief meeting with Inspector Runge after which she begins to reminisce on her time with Tenma. Feeling nostalgic, she visits Tenma at his hospital and attempts to start over with him but ends up being rejected again, prompting her to release her anger out on him. She becomes an embittered alcoholicAlcoholismAlcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
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. Her relationship with Tenma can be characterized as obsessive. During the series, she becomes a main target of Roberto during her near encounter with Johan Liebert the night when Adolf Junkers was murdered by him. Through the show, it becomes clear that Eva is also empty and a self-miserable person due to her own anger and lashing out at others to appease herself. At the same time her experiences allow certain personality changes to occur, and she soon becomes a different person. Petr Capek and The Baby later hired Martin to bring her to Frankfurt where she tries to model him into a replica of Dr. Tenma. When Martin was shot and later died following a shootout, Eva was devastated when told of this by Tenma. Though Eva was told by Tenma to take the train to Munich to meet up with Dr. Reichwein and inform the police on what she knows about Johan, she eventually abandons the train and plans revenge on those responsible for Martin's death. She does encounter Christof Sievernich who is partially responsible for Martin's death and tries to kill him only for Christof to get the drop on her. Luckily, she was saved by Dr. Tenma who ends up wounding Christof Sievernich. Eva is later seen with Dieter where she mentions that the police didn't believe her story about Johan Liebert being the culprit. By the end of the series, Eva Heinemann now working as an interior decorator and has released her anger of Tenma and her grief of Martin when she visits Dr. Reichwein.
- Eva Heinemann is Doctor Tenma's fiancée and the daughter of Director Heinemann. She's independent, shallow, very bossy, loud, often demanding, and extremely manipulative. In addition, in the beginning it is shown that she can be cruel, taunting, demeaning, and that she hates not having her way. She's not often seen without either wanting to be spoiled or having a drink. Kenzō's relationship with Eva initially appears to have some issues, as Tenma has the tendency to ignore Eva while he is conducting research or would insist on partaking in activities that Eva would not even want to do. Although at times she claimed to love him and friendly around him, she had a cruel streak even to him. However, it is assumed that they do at one point fall in love to the point that Tenma asks for Eva's hand in marriage, much to the approval to her father. She leaves Doctor Tenma after he is demoted by her father for disobeying his orders. Director Heinemann's murder takes a heavy toll on her. She subsequently tries to reconcile with Tenma but he quietly rejects her. A few years and three failed marriages later, she has a brief meeting with Inspector Runge after which she begins to reminisce on her time with Tenma. Feeling nostalgic, she visits Tenma at his hospital and attempts to start over with him but ends up being rejected again, prompting her to release her anger out on him. She becomes an embittered alcoholic
Other characters
- Director Heinemann
-
- The director of Eisler Memorial Hospital. He was the strict boss of Kenzo Tenma and the other doctors and surgeons that worked there. With Tenma's talents impressing him, he offered to have his daughter Eva be wed to him. Tenma was starting to get dissatisfied at the hospital politics when Director Heinemann ordered him to save the life of a famous opera singer named F. Rosenbach instead of a Turkish construction worker who came in first. Tenma did save F. Rosenbach, but the Turkish construction worker died as a result of Dr. Becker taking too long on treating him. When the Liebert Twins were brought in with Johan having a bullet wound in his head, Tenma ended up working on him when Chief of Surgery Dr. Oppenheim and a call on Dr. Oppenheim's cell phone from Director Heinemann told Tenma to handle a cerebral clot on Mayor Roedecker (who came in after them). When Tenma told Director Heinemann that he is the only one who can successfully operate on Johan and to have Dr. Boyer handle the mayor for him, Director Heinemann ignored Tenma's statement and told him to operate on Mayor Roedecker as the next review of medical facilities would have Mayor Roedecker promising an increase of funds to Eisler Memorial Hospital. Tenma's decision to operate on Johan caused the other doctors to scramble to cover for him at the last minute resulting in Mayor Roedecker's death. Director Heinemann later received a report from Dr. Oppenheim about what happened to Mayor Roedecker. The next day, Director Heinemann later gave a press conference stating that Mayor Roedecker died from a cerebral infarction and that they tried their best to save him. When Tenma begged for forgiveness from Director Heinemann at a hospital banquet after what happened to Mayor Roedecker, Director Heinemann tells him not to worry about that and that he just followed his heart. However, he does inform Tenma about Dr. Boyer is getting Tenma's Head of Neurosurgery position and also states that he will not be getting any review papers from him by the next Health Summit and won't recommend him in the event that Tenma plans a transfer. Angered at what Director Heinemann said, Tenma is shown sitting beside an unconscious Johan Liebert ranting about Director Heinemann's beliefs and that he'd be better off dead. When it came to the twins, Director Heinemann ordered Dr. Oppenheim to have Dr. Boyer watch over them after hearing that Tenma was currently watching over them. Director Heinemann is later found dead when he, Dr. Oppenheim, and Dr. Boyer were mysteriously poisoned by candy left by a young Johan Liebert.
- Dr. Oppenheim
-
- Dr. Oppenheim is the Chief of Surgery at Eisler Memorial Hospital. He is the one who gets his orders from Director Heinemann. When it came to an opera singer named F. Rosenbach, he had Tenma operate on him while Dr. Becker handled the Turkish construction worker that came in first. When the Liebert Twins were brought in with Johan having a bullet wound to the head, he handed Dr. Tenma his phone where Director Heinemann tells him that Mayor Roedecker has suffered a cerebral clot and wants him to operate on him as Tenma objects stating that he's the only one who can save Johan's life. When Mayor Roedecker dies during surgery as a result of Tenma operating on Johan, he berates Tenma for letting Mayor Roedecker die. Dr. Oppenheim tells Tenma that he already informed Director Heinemann about this and tells Tenma that he has himself to blame for Mayor Roedecker's death. When it came to the Liebert Twins, Director Heineman ordered Dr. Oppenheim to put Dr. Boyer in charge of watching over the twins upon hearing that Tenma was currently watching over them. Alongside Director Heinemann and Dr. Boyer, Dr. Oppenheim was later found dead when the three of them were mysteriously poisoned by candy left by Johan Liebert. Dr. Oppenheim's death caused the Board of Directors to give Dr. Oppenheim's position to Dr. Tenma.
- Dr. Boyer
-
- Dr. Boyer is a surgeon at Eisler Memorial Hospital. He and another doctor were to be paired with Dr. Tenma to operate on Mayor Roedecker. Following Tenma operating on a young Johan Liebert, Dr. Boyer was the one who told Tenma that the doctors had to scramble to cover for him on operating on Mayor Roedecker at the last minute resulting in Mayor Roedecker's death. Because of this, Director Heinemann ended up giving Dr. Boyer the position of Head of Neurosurgery. When it came to the Liebert Twins where Tenma catches Anna collapsing near Johan, Dr. Boyer was instructed to photograph the memory jog on her much to the objection of Tenma. Dr. Boyer told Tenma that Director Heinemann put him in charge of the Liebert Twins now and states to Tenma that he can't argue with Director Heinemann. Tenma argued with Dr. Boyer stating that he can't turn this into a media circus when Dr. Boyer has Tenma notice the awakened Johan. Dr. Boyer tells Tenma that he had served his purpose in saving Johan and orders Tenma to return to his post. Besides Director Heinemann and Dr. Oppenheim, Dr. Boyer was later found dead when the three of them were mysteriously poisoned by candy left by Johan Liebert.
- Dr. Becker
-
- Dr. Becker is a surgeon at Eisler Memorial Hospital. While Tenma was working on famous opera singer F. Rosenbach on Dr. Oppenheim's orders, Dr. Becker was working on the Turkish construction worker and took too long treating him resulting in the construction worker's death. When the Liebert Twins were brought in, he helped Dr. Tenma on Johan's operation. After what happened with Mayor Roedecker, Dr. Becker visited Tenma asking if he had heard from Director Heinemann yet. At the time when Director Heinemann, Dr. Oppenheim, and Dr. Boyer were found dead, he, Tenma, and a nurse discovered that the Liebert Twins are gone. Following Director Heinemann's funeral, he and Tenma were approached by Inspector Egon Weisbach and Inspector Lunge about any clues to who could've done this to Director Heinemann. At the time when Tenma was arrested in Prague, Dr. Becker was with some of Eisler Memorial Hospital's patience mentioning about any doubts that a good lawyer would represent Tenma.
- Egon Weisbach
-
- Egon Weisbach is a police inspector who was the first people to investigate the murder of the Lieberts. When at Eisler Memorial Hospital, he helps in trying to get Anna Liebert to remember her name and her brother. Following Director Heinemann's funeral, he and Inspector Lunge approached Dr. Tenma on any clues on who murdered Director Heinemann. Nine years later, Egon is closed to retirement when he was bringing apprehended murderer Rheinhardt Dinger to the police station he worked at. He later met Rudy who was interrogating murderers who have killed people that do not match their modus operandi. When they asked Rheinhardt again, they are led by a clue that leads to Johan Liebert.
- Professor Kronecker
-
- Professor Kronecker is a teacher at the University of Heidelberg. He would always scold Nina for being late to class. By the end of the series, he tells Nina that she has graduated and that for her test to become a lawyer, she'd better not be late for it.
- Otto Heckel
-
- A common thief with buck teeth who runs into Tenma in Chapter 17 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. Otto even becomes friends with Dieter around the time when Dr. Tenma has his encounter with "The Baby." By the end of the series, he resurfaces and tells Dieter that he managed to locate where the mother of the Liebert Twins is. First seen in Chapter 17.
- "The Baby"
-
- First mentioned in Chapter 26, the "Baby" is a short, elderly man, and an infamous Neo-NaziNeo-NazismNeo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
leader. He worships Johan as an ideal AryanAryan raceThe Aryan race is a concept historically influential in Western culture in the period of the late 19th century and early 20th century. It derives from the idea that the original speakers of the Indo-European languages and their descendants up to the present day constitute a distinctive race or...
leader who would be able to become the next HitlerAdolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
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 of the first of four members in the organization. The characteristics of the "Baby" are heavily influenced by a character from Twin PeaksTwin PeaksTwin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
, named "The MidgetMan from another placeThe Man from Another Place is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He is an inhabitant of the Black Lodge, a realm of pure evil. Early on in the series, The Man gives Agent Dale Cooper clues to apprehending The Man's nemesis, BOB...
." His first appearance, in Chapter 26, is also nearly identical, appearing to Nina Fortner from behind a red curtain (akin to the Black LodgeBlack LodgeThe Black Lodge is a fictional setting featured in the television series Twin Peaks. It is an extradimensional place which seems to include, primarily, the "Red Room" first seen by Agent Cooper in a dream early in the series...
's waiting room) while dancing to the tune "Be My BabyBe My Baby"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
". He is ultimately killed by stripper/exotic dancer (as shown at beginning of Chapter 136) who was presumably employed by Johan in a scheme to destroy Capek's organization as well as Capek himself. "The Baby" has a real name, but the scene was cut off before he can reveal it to the stripper. First seen in chapter 26.
- First mentioned in Chapter 26, the "Baby" is a short, elderly man, and an infamous Neo-Nazi
- General Helmut Wolf
-
- A very old soldier who was the first one to find the twins, he is the second of the four individuals (alongside Goedelitz and Petr Capek) 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 Führer. Wolf's family and acquaintances have all been killed by Johan, thus teaching him true loneliness as seen through Johan's eyes. Later on in the series, Tenma encounters Wolfe on his deathbed following the destruction of the Mansion of Red Roses. Before he dies, he begs Dr. Tenma to yell out his name as proof that he existed. (First seen in chapter 29.)
- Rudy Gillen
-
- A criminologist and one of Tenma's former classmates. He helps Tenma by saving him from arrest after selling him out, and also by acquiring information about Johan from all the criminals that Johan had met. Rudy is able to get 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. Rudy later helps Nina in a hypnotic therapy which revealed most of Nina's past where she almost attacks him. Rudy and Inspector Egon Weisbach later interrogate murderers who have killed people that do not fit their modus operandi. He later accompanies Nina to Ruhenheim where they run into some of the people that Tenma evacuated. He tells one of the adults to have the kids treated at a hospital and to have the authorities get to Ruhenheim as fast as they can. Rudy was later seen with Nina when Johan is shot by Herbert Knaup. In Another Monster, its shown that Rudy has written a very popular book on Johan and his string of murders. He believes that Johan is still in the hospital, but believes its not best if he awakens he not interview him. First seen in Chapter 33.
- Roberto
-
- A big, burly man and one of the many people from the orphanage Kinderheim 511 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. While Roberto knows nothing about his own past, it is hinted that he is the nephew of a former high-level STBSTBSTB is an acronym that can mean:* Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus – Bachelor of Sacred Theology* Set-top box – a television device that converts signals to viewable images* Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP -- a law firm...
officer named Karl Ranke as he bears a strong resemblance to the latter. Ranke relates the story of his sister, who along with her husband was shot trying to cross the Berlin WallBerlin WallThe Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
into West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. Only their son, Adolf Reinhart, survived the attack. As Adolf's legal guardian, Ranke signed papers turning his nephew into the custody of Kinderheim 511. Wolfgang Grimmer may be the only person who remembers him and also considered him as a friend during their time at the orphanage (Grimmer remembers that one of Adolf's favorite drinks was hot cocoa). However its never been stated in Monster or in Another Monster if Roberto really is Adolf Reinhart, only that he could be but at the same time he most likely isn't. He was shot by Tenma in chapter 73 and seemed to fall over a balcony into a sea of flames, but he comes back in chapter 108 as an attorney for Tenma under the name of 'Alfred Baul', still faithful to Johan, although much thinner and his right arm largely useless. However, it should be noted that while he appears loyal to Johan, he doesn't always do what Johan wishes. One example would be when he first meets Nina Fortner, while its clear Johan wishes no harm to his sister. Roberto left her to be killed in the hands of his men, meaning he sees his actions justified to protect Johan. He appears the most out of any of Johan's henchmen in the series and is a recurring enemy. He later becomes one of the major players during the Ruhenheim Massacre where he is mortally wounded by Lunge, but kills Bonaparta before succumbing to his wounds stating that he "still can't see it" to Johan. First seen in Chapter 37.
- A big, burly man and one of the many people from the orphanage Kinderheim 511 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. While Roberto knows nothing about his own past, it is hinted that he is the nephew of a former high-level STB
- Hans Georg Schuwald
-
- Known as the "Bayern Vampire", Schuwald is a reclusive but 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, whom he stated to love then and still now. Its believed he was there when Karl was born, but for some reason unknown, he abandoned both Karl and Margot. 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 including Inspector Lunge believed that Schuwald is the real target and that Dr. Tenma is indeed responsible. While the chaos had ensued, he looked into Johan's eyes, saying he saw Hell in his eyes. Before Dr. Tenma leaves for Prague, he has Karl deliver a message to him about the mother of the Liebert Twins living in Prague. Schuwald later goes through therapy with Dr. Reichwein. In addition, he also hired Fritz Vardemann to defend Tenma when he was captured by police. Following the Ruhenheim Massacre at the end of the series, Schuwald is informed of Tenma's current status and wishes to meet Tenma again one day. Schuwald is first seen in Chapter 47.
- Margot Langer/Halenka Novakova
- Margot Langer
- Fake Margot Langer
- A prostitute who helped Hans Georg Schuwald father Karl Neumann. Before meeting Hans Georg Schuwald, she and a friend of hers planned to leave Prague. Margot was successful, but her friend was caught. She then worked as a high price call girl who eventually became Hans Schuwald's lover, its hinted she returned his feelings of love for her. Years after giving birth to Karl, she sent him away to avoid as she said "being the son of a whore". It is clear that she loved Karl deeply and sent him away for him to a better life. Its hinted that somewhere after her retirement, she came to live with Johan as a friend and told him of her past and his mother. And its hinted that Johan most likely killed Margot after she was out of use for him. The woman Blue Sophie (who later posed as Margot) was later killed by Johan Liebert and Roberto. In a flashback relived by Hans Georg Schuwald, it was revealed that Margot's real name is Halenka Novakova who went missing after leaving for Prague. It is later revealed that her old friend had mothered the Liebert Twins.
- Karl Neumann
-
- A male college student at the University of Munich, who is the son of Schuwald and Langer. She sent him away to give him a better life. Karl spent a good time of his childhood in foster care, until the Neumanns took him in as their son. He's shown to love and care for them both as his own. 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 Schuwald's personal assistant. He later confronts Inspector Lunge and shows him a picture of Johan. Under the orders of his father, he encounters Dr. Tenma at the train station and reveal that the mother of the twins is living in Prague. When Tenma was arrested, Schuwald had Karl hire Fritz Vardemann represent Tenma. He was present when Nina returned to do therapy with Dr. Gillen. At the end of the series, Karl tells his father about Tenma's current status following the Ruhenheim Massacre. Its revealed in Another Monster, he's taken Schuwald's last name and is facing many whom are challenging his paternity as Schuwald's son. He's still living with his father and is enjoying a happy relationship with him. First seen in Chapter 47.
- 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 and unintentionally humilates 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 Schuwald. Lotte and Karl are seen together when Anna briefly returns to visit the others and drop off Dieter with Dr. Reichwein. Its not known if she and Karl are a couple or not, but its believed they've reconciled their friendship at least. First seen in Chapter 47.
- Julius Reichwein
-
- A psychologist who deals in counseling as well as assisting recovering alcoholics. He is caught up in the mystery surrounding the Monster after one of his patients, Richard Braun, supposedly dies in a drunken accident while investigating Johan Liebert. Later on, he becomes guardian to Dieter and aids Tenma in any way he can while defending Tenma's character. He also provides psychological care to Nina, Eva, and others. The character of Dr. Reichwein bears a physical resemblance to the American Actor Wilford BrimleyWilford BrimleyAllen Wilford Brimley is an American actor. He has appeared in such films as The China Syndrome, Cocoon, The Thing and The Firm. He had a recurring role on the 1970s television series The Waltons...
and Shunsaku Ban from Astroboy. Naoki UrasawaNaoki Urasawais a Japanese manga artist.-Early life:He graduated from Meisei University with a degree in economics. In 2008, Urasawa had a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he taught classes on manga.-Manga career:...
has also used the physical appearance of Brimley in the PlutoPluto (manga)is a manga series by Naoki Urasawa published in Shogakukan's Big Comic Original from 2003 to 2009. It has been licensed for release in English by Viz Media, under the name Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka. Takashi Nagasaki is credited as the series' co-author...
manga as well. First seen in chapter 49.
- A psychologist who deals in counseling as well as assisting recovering alcoholics. He is caught up in the mystery surrounding the Monster after one of his patients, Richard Braun, supposedly dies in a drunken accident while investigating Johan Liebert. Later on, he becomes guardian to Dieter and aids Tenma in any way he can while defending Tenma's character. He also provides psychological care to Nina, Eva, and others. The character of Dr. Reichwein bears a physical resemblance to the American Actor Wilford Brimley
- Richard Braun
-
- A private investigator hired by Hans Georg Schubert to investigate the supposed suicide of Edmund Farren. His alcoholism after shooting a criminal resulted in his wife and daughter leaving him. Since then, he was trying everything to piece his life back together and reconcile with his family. When it came to encountering Johan Liebert after finding his tombstone, Johan lured him to the roof of a building about his role of killing a criminal in his last case. Johan manipulates Richard into a state of deep regret after which he offers Richard a bottle of whiskey. It's unknown if he took the bottle or not. Richard is later found dead after falling from the building, presumably an accident. However it is hinted that Johan may have murdered him and made it appear as if he had fallen. One clue to support that Johan murdered him is that he offered and left a broken bottle of whiskey when Dr. Reichwein knew very well that Richard only drank scotch. Both his wife and daughter are seen at his funeral mourning him.
- Wolfgang Grimmer
-
- A freelance journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who is researching Kinderheim 511, he is also soon drawn into the search for Johan, as he decides to help Tenma. He nearly always has a big smile on his face. He is a seemingly friendly, well polite man and does very well with children. However he seems to have a darkness that he has hidden himself. As a former subject in Kinderheim 511, he had seemingly developed another personality: an aggressive fighter that comes out and protects him whenever he is under dire stress, similar to an Incredible HulkHulk (comics)The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
-type TV character whom he refers to as the Magnificent Steiner. He also received training as a spy after his time in Kinderheim 511. Due to this conditioning, he admits he is not good at expressing emotions, an example could be when he mentions to Tenma that he had been married and had a son. One day his son suddenly stopped breathing, although he tried revive him, there was nothing he could do (it is possible his son died of SIDSSudden infant death syndromeSudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes...
). When he attends his son's funeral, his wife is shocked and mostly angered that he shows no emotion or grief over losing their son. However he is finally able to do so when one of his child friends nearly goes off onto the same road as Johan. Wolfgang ends up in Ruhenheim under the alias of Mr. Neumeyer and has his encounter with Inspector Lunge. When the Ruhenheim Massacre begins, Wolfgang threatens the a supposed-paraplegic man of the couple that was selling the guns. When Wolfgang is mortally wounded, it set off his Magnificent Steiner side that pummels the crooks. At the moment of his death, he confides to Tenma that he simply gave in to his anger allowing for the disturbing possibility that his "alternate ego" was simply the psychological filter he used to justify his violent acts. Wolfgang Grimmer then dies in front of Tenma, Franz Bonaparta, and Wim Knaup. His grave is later visited by Inspector Lunge, Jan Suk, and Fritz Vardemann. (First seen in chapter 78.)
- A freelance journalist
- Jan Suk
-
- A detective with the Prague police, he tries to find the mystery involving the death of his superior Inspector Filip Zeman. Zeman was investigating the death of a former headmaster of Kinderheim 511 with Grimmer as a possible suspect at the time when Suk discovered that Zeman was working with the former Czechoslovakian Secret PoliceSTBSTB is an acronym that can mean:* Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus – Bachelor of Sacred Theology* Set-top box – a television device that converts signals to viewable images* Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP -- a law firm...
. When Commissioner Hamrlik, Chief Detective Batella, and Detective Janacek (whom also had connections with the Czechoslovakian Secret Police) are mysteriously poisoned by rum balls given to one of the detectives by Johan Liebert (who was masquerading as Anna Liebert), he too is cast under suspicion. When police attempt to monitor Jan Suk's movements, Detective Novak and Detective Zanda are killed by Johan. Suk manages to obtain a tape made by the former headmaster of Kinderheim 511, but is badly wounded by those seeking the tape. While all this is happening, he confides to someone who he believes is Anna Liebert (who unknown to him is really Johan masquerading as his sister), a beautiful blond woman he meets at a bar. There are comparisons made between Dr. Tenma and Detective Suk as both are considered as young men with promise in their professions only to be caught in the web of events with each one as a prime suspect. When Tenma is arrested by the Prague Police, Jan Suk tries to leave the hospital he is in to try to help Tenma, but is stopped by Detective Bradec and Detective Stransky who inform him that Grimmer has sent a note to them exonerating Jan Suk from any involvement in the deaths of the police officers. He and Vardemann later team up to find the truth regarding Franz Bonaparta. By the end of the series, Jan Suk was with Inspector Lunge and Fritz Vardemann when visiting Wolfgang Grimmer's grave. (First seen in chapter 84.)
- A detective with the Prague police, he tries to find the mystery involving the death of his superior Inspector Filip Zeman. Zeman was investigating the death of a former headmaster of Kinderheim 511 with Grimmer as a possible suspect at the time when Suk discovered that Zeman was working with the former Czechoslovakian Secret Police
- Commissioner Nepela
-
- A member of the Prague police who previously met Inspector Lunge at a police convention. He became Commissioner after the death of Commissioner Hamrlik alongside Chief Detective Batella and Detective Janacek. Upon the suspicion of Wolfgang Grimmer and Jan Suk being involved in the death of some of the cops, he had his men keep an eye on both of them. Inspector Lunge later approached him to help translate a book called The Monster With No Name.
- Karel Ranke
-
- Karel Ranke was a former member of the Czechoslovakian Secret PoliceSTBSTB is an acronym that can mean:* Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus – Bachelor of Sacred Theology* Set-top box – a television device that converts signals to viewable images* Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP -- a law firm...
under the rank of Captain. He requested the presence of Tenma and Grimmer who requests an agreement to obtain the tape and research materials for an unknown party in Germany in return for Suk's safety. While they do not reach an agreement on this, Ranke does mention the name of Franz Bonaparta who was heavily involved in the care of the Liebert Twins, was also a children's picture book author, and was living in a mansion covered in red roses. Once they confirm Suk's safety, Grimmer and Tenma reach an agreement with Ranke to obtain the tape and research materials and retrieve them from Suk's mother. However, they discover the research materials gone, and the tape has been recorded over by Johan Liebert leaving a message for Tenma. Inspector Lunge later visits Karel Ranke about any info he knows of Franz Bonaparta.
- Karel Ranke was a former member of the Czechoslovakian Secret Police
- Fritz Vardemann
-
- A lawyer hired by residents in DüsseldorfDüsseldorfDüsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
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 the song "Over the RainbowOver the Rainbow"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
" from The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (1939 film)The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. He was visited by Inspector Lunge who was looking for a lead on Franz Bonaparta. Then he was confronted by Dr. Tenma where Fritz Vardemann stated that he had no idea that Alfred Baul was Roberto in disguise and was targeting Eva Heinemann. 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. By the end of the series, he alongside Jan Suk and Inspector Lunge visit Wolfgang Grimmer's grave. Its revealed in Another Monster, that he has some of Grimmer's types and works that he was doing on research on 511 Kinderheim and is oddly enough looking for "The Incredible Magnificent Steiner" episode that Grimmer wanted to see. He's also been revealed to be Günther Milch's lawyer in Another Monster and has made him promise not to escape from prison again in exchange that Fritz gets him out.
- A lawyer hired by residents in Düsseldorf
- Günther Milch
-
- Günther Milch is a convict who had been raised in a cabinet while his parents were at work. When having a life of crime, it was mentioned that he was caught many times and escaped many times. When it came to his recent one, he had his encounter with Tenma who had been arrested by the Prague Police and deported back to Düsseldorf. When Günther mentioned of his next planned escape, Tenma decided to accompany him when Roberto in the guise of Alfred Baul told Tenma that he is going after Eva. When it came to the transportation to the prison that Tenma and Günther were going to, he had secretly had his brother Gustav act as a decoy. However the plan is botched when Gustav is distracted by promising to go clean for his girlfriend Helene and announces his love forgetting his job. He stands in the middle of the road and is hit by the police paddy wagon. Upon grabbing Gustav's gun, Tenma threatened the guards to release him and Günther. After Gustav was dropped off at Eisler Memorial Hospital, Günther and Tenma part ways with Günther planning to head to TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. It's revealed in Another Monster, that Milch was caught yet again and put in prison for escaping. However, Fritz Vardemann has become his lawyer and has promised to get him out. But Milch had to promise not to try and escape again. So far, he's following his promise.
- Günther Milch is a convict who had been raised in a cabinet while his parents were at work. When having a life of crime, it was mentioned that he was caught many times and escaped many times. When it came to his recent one, he had his encounter with Tenma who had been arrested by the Prague Police and deported back to Düsseldorf. When Günther mentioned of his next planned escape, Tenma decided to accompany him when Roberto in the guise of Alfred Baul told Tenma that he is going after Eva. When it came to the transportation to the prison that Tenma and Günther were going to, he had secretly had his brother Gustav act as a decoy. However the plan is botched when Gustav is distracted by promising to go clean for his girlfriend Helene and announces his love forgetting his job. He stands in the middle of the road and is hit by the police paddy wagon. Upon grabbing Gustav's gun, Tenma threatened the guards to release him and Günther. After Gustav was dropped off at Eisler Memorial Hospital, Günther and Tenma part ways with Günther planning to head to Tunisia
- Jaromír Lipsky
-
- Introduced as a down-and-out puppet master in Prague, Lipsky became acquainted with Nina as she passes through the city in pursuit of Johan. Inspired by her, Lipsky begins work on a new show, and prepares a new puppet, made in Nina's image. However, Lunge soon exposes him (to the reader/viewer) as the son of Klaus Poppe. Lipsky plainly reveals that his father had barred him from the book reading sessions at the Mansion of Red Roses due to his "lack of talent". As time passes, and Poppe began to have second thoughts about his work, he warmed slightly towards his son. A postcard that Poppe had sent to him helps Lunge to locate Ruhenheim. It is possible that he may have developed feelings or a closeness to Nina as he made a puppet in her image. And when Inspector Lunge knocks on his door, he rushed to it believing it was Nina coming back to him. Tenma later visits him and gets a lead on Franz Bonaparta that leads Tenma to Ruhenheim. Its revealed in Another Monster, a little of his past was revealed. He tells that his mother was an actress that was doing underground plays. He's shown to be living much more happily and his puppet shows are getting more attention. He's also developed a relationship with a woman whom likes his shows, he gives credit to Nina whom showed him he could be happy.
- Martin
-
- Martin was a man who was in prison for shooting his girlfriend Edda and the man she was having an affair with until his gun ran out of bullets. He ended up in jail for eight years and then ended under the service of The Baby. Martin also hates to drink mainly due to his childhood with his alcoholic mother. While she never beat him, she gave the child Martin a lot of exhaustation constantly trying to pull her away from the bar. One night when she refused to come home with him, Martin (tired of her constant drunkness) left her on the streets alone. It was later revealed she died of hypothermia due to her drunkness that she slept outside in the snow. Petr Čapek recruited him to bring Eva Heinemann to Frankfurt and act as her bodyguard. Eva went along with him to evade being killed by Roberto. While in the bar, both of them exchanged stories of their previous love lifes. After seeing Petr, Eva ends up molding him into an exact image of Kenzō Tenma. At some point, he had an encounter with Kenzō Tenma at a diner and ended up beating him telling him to forget about Eva. Kenzō later confronted Martin at the same diner later that night and ended up describing Petr Capek on who hired him to bring Eva to him and a brief encounter with Johan at one of Petr's parties. Martin is later told by Petr to kill Eva. When Eva becomes aware of this while in an alcoholic stupor, Martin ends up not killing her. Martin later has his encounter with Christof Sievernich who found out that Edda had begged him to kill her and how he had to carry his mother when she suddenly died from freezing to death one winter night. Its also revealed that his girlfriend Edda was a drug addict and that Martin worked desperately to get her clean. But just as it seemed he did, he later returned home to find her with her ex-boyfriend. The boyfriend was known to get her hooked back on drugs, and that as Martin looked at her, he knew she was back on drugs. Although she begged Martin to shoot her, he just turned and left. But as he did he heard a gunshot and came back to find that she killed herself. Angered over her death, he killed the boyfriend. Martin never told the police that she really shot herself. After leaving, he ends up passing Johan without making eye contact with him. Martin later warned Eva about an attempt on her life and has her dress as a maid to evade detection. Martin ends up shot in the stomach during a gunfight at the Reagan Hotel when protecting Eva from a team sent by Petr Capek to kill her though he managed to shoot five of them. Robbie drives Martin to see Tenma. Martin ended up briefing Tenma about what happened with his encounter with Petr Capek, his continuing experiments, and his encounters with his encounter with Christof before succumbing to his wounds. Eva was devastated when she heard from Tenma about what happened to Martin.
- Robbie
-
- Robbie is the owner of the diner that Martin goes to. He told Martin not to cause damages when beating up Kenzou Tenma. When Martin was wounded, Robbie ended up driving him to Kenzou Tenma.
- Petr Čapek
-
- The last individual of the organization (alongside General Helmut Wolfe and Goedelitz) is the white-haired 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 Christof 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. He was revealed to be an old friend of a dentist named Milan Kolasch who now blames Petr for causing the riots that cost the lives of the loved ones living with him. Milan tried to assassinate Petr at a convention only for Milan to be shot by the police. Petr was shocked that Milan would do something like that. After the death of "The Baby," he tries to maintain that everything is under control and going to plan when he clearly knows things are going seriously wrong. In his paranoia when being driven to his villa, he kills his bodyguard when he reaches for his lighter thinking the guard was trying to kill him. Petr later had Nina brought to where Johan was waiting for them. After Tenma prevented Nina's suicide, Petr Capek then makes himself known to Tenma telling him that he is going after Franz Bonaparta. When the other members of Petr Čapek's bodyguards found out his paranoia caused him to shoot the bodyguard Pendington, Petr Čapek is later executed by two of them when wondering what he and Franz were planning. First seen in Chapter 121.
- Christof Sievernich
-
- Johan's disciple and another survivor of Kinderheim 511. He would later be adopted by Sievernich family by children smugglers who bought him. He's been the son of a politician and obviously greatly spoiled. He and Johan decided to meet each other again in 10 years after they escaped the orphanage, and in the end they meet at 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 a Neo-Nazi organization, and he was likely to succeed the post. He possesses qualities similar to Johan's and intimidated Eva Heinemann's bodyguard Martin by reminding him of what happened to his mother and wife. Like Johan, Christof seems to have a calm and almost happy demeanor in front of everyone. But he's known for his creepy smile especially when he talks of things related to death and the truth. He also seems to have a talent for finding out things that others never told him. And that he can read a person very well. Nothing else is known about Christof, other than that either Johan or the organization of the four individuals tried to change him into a second monster. While like Johan, he appears charismatic and friendly, his attitude can quickly change when someone threatens his plans. One example could be when Eva encounters him, she gives him a warning shot in the ear. He later quickly becomes homocidely and mostly angered that she ruined his face. He begins ranting that he'll rule the world because of Johan and that he won't put up with Eva trying to ruin his plans. He ends up shot in the leg by Kenzō Tenma. He is then dropped off at the nearest hospital after Tenma got the info on Johan's whereabouts in exchanged for Tenma going alone to that location. While its never said directly, it is possible that Christof fathered a child with Frida Schelling, a victim that Johan had killed for him. Most likely to cover up his connections to them. So Christof is the first and so far only "monster" to have a living child. First seen in chapter 124.
- Franz Bonaparta/Klaus Poppe
-
- Franz Bonaparta is considered to be the one responsible for the eugenicsEugenicsEugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
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 his 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. He is revealed to be the father of Jaromir Lipsky whom received a postcard from his directing Inspector Lunge to Ruhenheim where he worked as a bartender in the Hotel Versteck. He's most likely responsible for the death of the twins' father, while its not been proven, Johan and Nina's mother strongly believes he is. He was shown in flashbacks to have spent a great time drawing her, even though she was always angered to see him. One day she vowed that she'd never forgive him for any of his deeds and that even if she died her children would carry on her revenge. While their mother begged for them to have names, he simply said they had no need for them. Lunge and Grimmer learn the identity of Franz Bonaparta after Grimmer threatens a supposed paraplegic male of a couple that sold them the guns. He repents for all his actions after witnessing the death of Grimmer. During his time with Tenma, he reveals that he had fallen in love with the twins' mother at first sight (despite it was made very clear by her that she despised him and those that he was working with). He also confesses that he killed anyone that was associated or even knew of the existence of her and the twins. He then soon stops and admits his guilt for making Johan. He later confronts Johan with the intention of killing him but he is in turn killed by Roberto (who succumbs to his wounds afterwards) in front of Tenma and Wim before he can go through with it. While his real name is Klaus Poppe, other names that he has used include Emil Scherbe, Helmuth Voss and Jakob Vyrobek. Its revealed only between Lunge, Tenma that Bonaparta revealed the names of the twins' mother, which was Anna. However in Another Monster, its considered that almost all traces of her were erased. Most likely even after the mass murder of the Red Rose Mansion, its hinted Bonaparta had a hand in erasing all of her past. If anything it shows, that he had not completely changed. His son, Jaromir Lipsky, commented that he wasn't surprised. He hints that Franz may have done it to isolate their mother and thus make himself the only one that even knew of her existence.
- Franz Bonaparta is considered to be the one responsible for the eugenics
- Wim Knaup
-
- Wim is a boy who lives in Ruhenheim. He works at the hotel that Franz Bonaparta owns. Wim is often abused by his drunk father Herbert and bullied by three kids for his old bike calling Wim "trash." When the three bullies steal Wim's bike, they tell him that it is in the "vampire's house" on the hill. When Wim enters the house, he has an encounter with Inspector Heinrich Lunge and Wolfgang Grimmer (the latter who told Wim that his bike was hidden at the foot of the hill behind a bush). Wim was later beaten by the bullies who steal the money for his father's alcohol. After they left, he is approached by an elderly couple who asks if he would like to have his revenge on them and offers Wim a gun. Following another bullying, Wim is tempted to use the gun he got as the Ruhenheim Massacre began. When Grimmer finds Wim, he discovers the bullies dead, that Wim never used his gun, and he doesn't know who actually killed the bullies. When this was brought up with Franz Bonaparta, he told Wim that he did the right thing not to use the gun on those bullies. When Nina and Dr. Gillen arrives, he recognizes Nina from the drawings of her and Johan that the drawings that are in the "vampire's house" on the hill. Wim ends up informing Franz about Nina's appearance when Johan arrives. Wim witnesses a wounded Roberto shoot Franz before he can take Johan to the grave with him. Johan later threatens to have Tenma shoot him by threatening Wim only for Johan to be shot by Wim's father. When Herbert is taken away by the authorities to be interrogated, Wim states that his father was only protecting him and is then comforted by Nina and Dr. Gillen.
- Herbert Knaup
-
- Herbert Knaup is the father of Wim Knaup who is the town drunk which one of his drunk actions caused his wife to leave him and Wim. He would often force Wim to do his errands. He is approached by an elderly couple who gives him a gun as Wim has already taken one. During the Ruhenheim Massacre, Herbert planned to get revenge on people at the local pub who made fun of him and his drunkenness by shooting them only to find everyone inside already dead. As the massacre goes on, Herbert is shown trying to look for his son. Herbert's drunkness causes him to mistake Johan for a monster when he threatenes Wim, causing Herbert to shoot Johan. Herbert was later taken away by the authorities to be interrogated.
Volume list
Another MonsterAnime
The series was adapted into an anime by MadhouseMadhouse (company)
is a Japanese animation studio, founded in 1972 by ex–Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. It has created and helped to produce many well known shows, starting with TV anime series Ace o Nerae! in 1973, and including western favourites Ninja...
, which aired between April 2004 and September 2005 on Nippon TV. Directed by Masayuki Kojima
Masayuki Kojima
is a Japanese animator, director, and member of the renowned animation studio Madhouse. He was born on March 11, 1961 in Yamanashi, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, and is a twenty year plus veteran of the anime industry.-Personal history:...
, written by Tatsuhiko Urahata, it features original character designs by long-time Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
animator Kitarō Kōsaka
Kitaro Kosaka
is a Japanese animator and film director.-Profile:He began his career in 1979 with the studio Oh! Production. He left the studio in 1986 to become a freelance, and soon went on to work on numerous projects as a key and supervising animation director for the noted animation studio Studio Ghibli, and...
, which were subsequently adapted into the anime by Shigeru Fujita.
The anime includes an instrumental theme by the Chilean folk music group Quilapayún
Quilapayún
Quilapayún are an instrumental and vocal folk music group from Chile and among the longest lasting and most influential exponents of the Nueva Canción Chilena movement. Formed in Chile during the mid-1960s, the group became inseparable with the revolution that occurred in the popular music of the...
called "Transiente", originally featured in their 1984 album Tralalí Tralalá. David Sylvian
David Sylvian
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan...
was commissioned to write the ending theme, "For the Love of Life", a track he collaborated on with Haishima Kuniaki. 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."
An English dub of Monster is being produced by Salami Studios for Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...
who has the North American license to this anime. The first and only boxset of the series, covering episodes 1-15, was released December 8, 2009. Viz has also recently come to an agreement with Funimation to run Monster (as well as other Viz titles) on FUNimation's Funimation Channel
FUNimation Channel
The FUNimation Channel is a 24-hour cable network which broadcasts anime series in the United States. OlympuSAT was chosen as the exclusive distributor of the network....
Monster began airing on the FUNimation Channel
FUNimation Channel
The FUNimation Channel is a 24-hour cable network which broadcasts anime series in the United States. OlympuSAT was chosen as the exclusive distributor of the network....
April 3, 2010 on weekends at 12:30 am. Monster was the last of the Viz titles to air on the FUNimation Channel
FUNimation Channel
The FUNimation Channel is a 24-hour cable network which broadcasts anime series in the United States. OlympuSAT was chosen as the exclusive distributor of the network....
. The show airs on Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
's Ani-Mondays with two episodes back-to-back each Monday night at 11:00 p.m. EST, which began October 12, 2009.
Viz currently has no plans to release any future box sets. No official cancellation announcement has been made, but it is speculated that due to low sales of the first box set, no further volumes will be released. The entire series is still available digitally via sites like iTunes and Amazon.
Live action film
Major Hollywood film studio New Line CinemaNew Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
acquired rights to create an English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
live action
Live action
In filmmaking, video production, and other media, the term live action refers to cinematography, videography not produced using animation...
film adaptation of the series. Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Josh Olson
Josh Olson
Josh Olson is an American screenwriter and director. Olson began his career working as a production assistant in the art department on the 1987 film Masters of the Universe...
, who is noted for his work on the 2005 American
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
/German
Cinema of Germany
Cinema in Germany can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema has made major technical and artistic contributions to film.Unlike any other national cinemas, which developed in the context of relatively continuous and stable political systems, Germany witnesses major changes to its...
crime
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
-thriller film A History of Violence
A History of Violence (film)
A History of Violence is a 2005 American crime thriller film directed by David Cronenberg and written by Josh Olson. It is an adaptation of the 1997 graphic novel of the same name by John Wagner and Vince Locke...
was given the task of writing the screenplay for the project, which the studio expected to be released in 2009, but it's unknown when (or if) this movie will be released.
Reception
The series won an Excellence Prize at the 1997 Japan Media Arts FestivalJapan Media Arts Festival
The Japan Media Arts Festival is an annual festival held by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs since 1997. The festival for a nominal year was usually held during February or March next year, rather than at the end of the nominal year. For instance, the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival, where...
and the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
in 2001. It placed on YALSA's "2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens" list. THEM Anime Reviews called the anime adaptation "complex" and "beautiful", going on to state that it features "sophisticated storytelling and complex plot weaving, memorable characters, godly production values and excellent pacing." A review at Anime-Planet described the series as a "breathtaking tour de force of amazing suspense and surprising intelligence." Another review from the same site called the series "a true gem and a rare anime masterpiece", despite a "daunting length".
Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning author Junot Diaz
Junot Díaz
Junot Díaz is a Dominican-American writer and creative writing professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Central to Díaz's work is the immigrant experience...
called the series "his favorite guilty pleasure" in a profile for Time Magazine. Animation critic Charles Solomon was among the minority of critics to dislike the anime, claiming that it "plays like a prolonged soap opera" and finding that "its suggestions of child abuse and neo-Nazi imagery reflect a regrettable lack of taste". He also specifically criticized the work of anime director Masayuki Kojima, alleging that "[his] leaden pacing robs the story of the suspense it should generate" and that "more skillful filmmakers could present the same material in half as many episodes and make it compelling".
External links
Official anime site- Monster Graph - A Graph that shows relationships between characters
- http://www.theanimereview.com/index.html?reviews/monster.html