Cats of the Louvre is a strong series of related, but not particularly plotty, stories. Matsumoto is an immensely talented artist with a distinct stylCats of the Louvre is a strong series of related, but not particularly plotty, stories. Matsumoto is an immensely talented artist with a distinct style, and his art really works to make the story come alive. The story is ultimately satisfying, though there is a surprising amount of sadness along the way, which I think makes the end feel even more hard-earned....more
I love nearly everything about this story. I do wish Nina played more of a role, but I also love Tenma as a main character and his ability to inspire I love nearly everything about this story. I do wish Nina played more of a role, but I also love Tenma as a main character and his ability to inspire and uplift the people around him. What really strikes me about the story, though, is how masterfully Urasawa weaves together the horrifying and the mundane. Monster alternates between the intense thriller-mystery narrative of Tenma's quest for Johan and small slice-of-life narratives about ordinary, usually relatively decent, people. The complexity of the characters, the depth of storytelling, the philosophical force--this is one manga I would feel comfortable recommending to literally anyone....more
The volume starts slow, but by the last section I was absolutely enraptured. I do think the 2-volume repackage was a good choice, not just for marketiThe volume starts slow, but by the last section I was absolutely enraptured. I do think the 2-volume repackage was a good choice, not just for marketing (though the heavier, bigger shape makes these books feel More Serious) but narratively as well--the story is fast-paced and absorbing, and I think it works better with more content in less packaging....more