Best Manga Tournament Round 1 Bracket 4

WHO WINS EACH FIGHT?

  • Total voters
    24
  • Poll closed .
Light D Lamperouge

Light D Lamperouge

𝕴𝖓 π•Ώπ–π–Žπ–˜ 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 π•Ίπ–“π–‘π–ž 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 π•Άπ–Žπ–“π–Œ
β€Ž
#1
#1
IMPORTANT: You must vote for each entry not just one, you may self vote. If I see some suspicious vote brigading or anything of the sort the entry will be disqualified.

This round features 12 manga so 6 fights. May the best ones win :optimistic:


FIRST FIGHT


Kagurabachi
As a young boy, Chihiro trains every day under his father to become a swordsmith. Although different in temperament, the two spend peaceful days laughing and working together. But one day, tragedy strikes. Now Chihiro burns with hatred and sets out to exact revenge. Following clues left behind by a ruthless yakuza organization, Chihiro confronts the Hishaku, a deadly group of sorcerers that may be behind his father’s murder!



VS




Bleach
Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits and, along with Rukiaβ€” who is slowly regaining her powersβ€” it's Ichigo's job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace.



SECOND FIGHT

Bungo Stray Dogs
Having been kicked out of the orphanage, a despairing young man by the name of Atsushi Nakajima rescues a strange man from a suicide attempt--Osamu Dazai. Turns out that Dazai is part of an armed-detective agency staffed by individuals whose supernatural powers take on a literary bent!


VS



Attack on Titan
In this post-apocalyptic sci-fi story, humanity has been devastated by the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans. Little is known about where they came from or why they are bent on consuming mankind. Seemingly unintelligent, they have roamed the world for years, killing everyone they see. For the past century, what’s left of man has hidden in a giant, three-walled city. People believe their 100-meter high walls will protect them from the Titans, but the sudden appearance of an immense Titan is about to change everything.



THIRD FIGHT

Goodnight Punpun
Meet Punpun Punyama. He’s an average kid in an average town. He wants to win a Nobel Prize and save the world. He wants the girl he has a crush on to like him back. He wants to find some porn. That’s what he wants, but what does he get?


VS



Dandadan
Ken Takakura, a boy who is an occult fanatic who doesn't believe in ghosts, and Momo Ayase, a girl who doesn't believe in aliens, encounter overwhelming strangeness that transcends their mutual understanding...! An occult coming-of-age story!



FOURTH FIGHT


Nana
Nana "Hachi" Komatsu hopes that moving to Tokyo will help her make a clean start and leave her capricious love life behind her. Nana Osaki, who arrives in the city at the same time, has plans to score big in the world of rock 'n' roll. Although these two young women come from different backgrounds, they quickly become best friends in a whirlwind world of sex, music, fashion, gossip, and all-night parties!



VS



Monster
Everyone faces uncertainty at some point in their lives. Even a brilliant surgeon like Kenzo Tenma is no exception. But there’s no way he could have known that his decision to stop chasing professional success and instead concentrate on his oath to save peoples’ lives would result in the birth of an abomination. The questions of good and evil now take on a terrifyingly real dimension. Years later, in Germany during the tumultuous post-reunification period, middle-aged childless couples are being killed one after another. The serial killer’s identity is known. The reasons why he kills are not. Dr. Tenma sets out on a journey to find the killer’s twin sister, who may hold some clues to solving the enigma of the β€œMonster.



FIFTH FIGHT

Code Geass
In the year 2010, the Holy Empire of Britannia is establishing itself as a dominant military nation, starting with the conquest of Japan. Renamed to Area 11 after its swift defeat, Japan has seen significant resistance against these tyrants in an attempt to regain independence.

Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian student, unfortunately finds himself caught in a crossfire between the Britannian and the Area 11 rebel armed forces. He is able to escape, however, thanks to the timely appearance of a mysterious girl named C.C., who bestows upon him Geass, the "Power of Kings." Realizing the vast potential of his newfound "power of absolute obedience," Lelouch embarks upon a perilous journey as the masked vigilante known as Zero, leading a merciless onslaught against Britannia in order to get revenge once and for all.





VS



Quintessential Quintuplets
One day, a poor high school second-year named Futaro Uesugi comes across a private tutoring gig with good pay. But his pupils are his classmates!! And they're quintuplets!! A-and they're all gorgeous girls, but they're also troublemakers who hate to study and are on the verge of flunking out! And his first task is simply gaining the sisters' trust?! Every day is a party! The curtain is rising on the Nakano quintuplets' quirky romantic comedy with five times the cute!!




SIXTH FIGHT

Great Teacher Onizuka
Meet Eikichi Onizuka, a 22-year-old ex-biker. He's crude, foul-mouthed, and has a split-second temper. His unlikely goal: to be the Greatest High School Teacher in the World! Of course, the only reason he wants to be a teacher is so he can try to score with the hot students... Before he can become a full instructor, he's got to work as a student teacher to earn his credentials. Onizuka may think he's the toughest guy on campus, but when he meets his class full of bullies, blackmailers, and scheming sadists, he'll have to prove it.


VS



Eyeshield 21
Wimpy Sena Kobayakawa has been running away from bullies all his life. But when the football gear comes on, things change--Sena's speed and uncanny ability to elude big bullies just might give him what it takes to become a great high school football hero! Enjoy all the bone-crushing action and slapstick comedy that this heartwarming coming-of-age story has to offer.



​
 
Light D Lamperouge

Light D Lamperouge

𝕴𝖓 π•Ώπ–π–Žπ–˜ 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 π•Ίπ–“π–‘π–ž 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 π•Άπ–Žπ–“π–Œ
β€Ž
#2
#2
Tags
@Fujishiro @Shiroyru @Jaguark101 @Natalija @Rej @Kizaruber Eats @zCoconut @EkkoLoJinx @Don Diego @Cross_Marian @GeneralP123 @Bullet @Dark-Abel @Poorsalino Cooker @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Yoho @Yo Tan Wa @50L1D @Marimo_420 @Red Night @RayanOO @The White Crane @MangoSenpai @God_Aizen @Alter @park_min young
1. @Kizaruber Eats
2. @Jaguark101
3. @Poorsalino Cooker
4. @Mashiro Blue
5. @Owl Ki
6. @The White Crane
7. @Light D Lamperouge
8. @IceWitch
9. @Udell
10. @Devilbat
11. @Boiroy
12. @GrandmasterChef Zonji
13.
14.
15.
16
17.@Natalija @RayanOO @Marimo_420 @Lindltaylor @Dark Admiral @Jew D. Boy @Oblivion @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Jaguark101 @Luffy is the mc @imacub @mly90 @Koinboin @SHIHI @Kromage911 @hedera__helix @Reborn @Missy @AL sama @I'mTired @Gol D. Roger @Udell @Rivaille @NotTommy @Usopp Haoshoku Haki @Veku @Gari @Bounty @Gari @Doggo @Haoshoku @hime @Nana @Kizaruber Eats @SmokedOut @ConquistadoR ] @Seth @Ekkologix @SDfear @RobertoTheOharaSurvivor @Zara @Vonal [ @Peroroncino @Photon @SmokedOut @h_zorothegoat @Adam 🍎 @Sasparan @Black_Leg_Wanji @Inzziuma @Dr_Professor83 @Worst @Liquidhate @matt245 @Zoro CUCKSMOKE @Cross_Marian @MonochromeYoru @park_min young @ZoroMazino @Kagu Nyan @Admiral Maynard @DKI @DarkestKnightofSpoilers @Meeyori @Emmazrine @FloriGlori

@Dark Admiral @Dark Hound @U c 4 up da idly @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Kvothe Kingkiller @Fisher Tiger @Light D Lamperouge @zorojurou @SHIHI @mugiwalaw @Robin swan @Owl Ki @style @Cinera @Luffy is the mc @Krusher1357 @Jaguark101 @Croci @Sslayer @ConquistadoR @Bepo @Shadowlord123 @Luslec @RayanOO @Liquidhate @TheAncientCenturion @Zoro CUCKSMOKE @kom5 @Fujishiro @Kucing Pencuri @Don DaSlayer @Yoru ] @Oblivion @Shisui @MonochromeYoru @Wuuuke @Utsuro @Missy @notAfanboy @Astolfo @NikaInParis @Mr.9000 @Courier @Kromage911 @Jorden625 @Akai2 @MUUGEN @Juliet @FreezyBreeze @Devilbat @PerfectHie @IceWitch @Power @NAMELESS @ZoroMazino @Tobra @BangOOπŸ… @Gladwing0 @Warchief Sanji D Goat @Indigo @matt245 @Poorsalino Cooker @Warback @Bepo D. Bear

@FloriGlori @Leo @DizzyBrows @uyuu @Marimo_420 @Kucing Pencuri @Dark Hound @Arara @Yukihime @Zoro @Senfret @sidestreetboy @PerfectHie @Don DaSlayer @RobertoTheOharaSurvivor @DarkestKnightofSpoilers @ConquistadoR @Zoro CUCKSMOKE @SHIHI @Yo Tan Wa @Robin swan @Jorden625 @The White Crane @U c 4 up da idly @Astolfo @MUUGEN @Dr_Professor83 @Gladwing0 @Alpha @MonochromeYoru @Zoroe @Shadowlord123 @Butters @Dark Admiral @notAfanboy @NikaInParis @NAMELESS @Lhulu @Cross_Marian @Indigo @Nibel @Toby D. Dog @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Devilbat @The White Crane @Longleg Larry @ZenZu @Nibel @Mashiro Blue
 
RayanOO

RayanOO

Lazy is the way
β€Ž
#3
#3
Light D Lamperouge said:
Tags
@Fujishiro @Shiroyru @Jaguark101 @Natalija @Rej @Kizaruber Eats @zCoconut @EkkoLoJinx @Don Diego @Cross_Marian @GeneralP123 @Bullet @Dark-Abel @Poorsalino Cooker @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Yoho @Yo Tan Wa @50L1D @Marimo_420 @Red Night @RayanOO @The White Crane @MangoSenpai @God_Aizen @Alter @park_min young
1. @Kizaruber Eats
2. @Jaguark101
3. @Poorsalino Cooker
4. @Mashiro Blue
5. @Owl Ki
6. @The White Crane
7. @Light D Lamperouge
8. @IceWitch
9. @Udell
10. @Devilbat
11. @Boiroy
12. @GrandmasterChef Zonji
13.
14.
15.
16
17.@Natalija @RayanOO @Marimo_420 @Lindltaylor @Dark Admiral @Jew D. Boy @Oblivion @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Jaguark101 @Luffy is the mc @imacub @mly90 @Koinboin @SHIHI @Kromage911 @hedera__helix @Reborn @Missy @AL sama @I'mTired @Gol D. Roger @Udell @Rivaille @NotTommy @Usopp Haoshoku Haki @Veku @Gari @Bounty @Gari @Doggo @Haoshoku @hime @Nana @Kizaruber Eats @SmokedOut @ConquistadoR ] @Seth @Ekkologix @SDfear @RobertoTheOharaSurvivor @Zara @Vonal [ @Peroroncino @Photon @SmokedOut @h_zorothegoat @Adam 🍎 @Sasparan @Black_Leg_Wanji @Inzziuma @Dr_Professor83 @Worst @Liquidhate @matt245 @Zoro CUCKSMOKE @Cross_Marian @MonochromeYoru @park_min young @ZoroMazino @Kagu Nyan @Admiral Maynard @DKI @DarkestKnightofSpoilers @Meeyori @Emmazrine @FloriGlori

@Dark Admiral @Dark Hound @U c 4 up da idly @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Kvothe Kingkiller @Fisher Tiger @Light D Lamperouge @zorojurou @SHIHI @mugiwalaw @Robin swan @Owl Ki @style @Cinera @Luffy is the mc @Krusher1357 @Jaguark101 @Croci @Sslayer @ConquistadoR @Bepo @Shadowlord123 @Luslec @RayanOO @Liquidhate @TheAncientCenturion @Zoro CUCKSMOKE @kom5 @Fujishiro @Kucing Pencuri @Don DaSlayer @Yoru ] @Oblivion @Shisui @MonochromeYoru @Wuuuke @Utsuro @Missy @notAfanboy @Astolfo @NikaInParis @Mr.9000 @Courier @Kromage911 @Jorden625 @Akai2 @MUUGEN @Juliet @FreezyBreeze @Devilbat @PerfectHie @IceWitch @Power @NAMELESS @ZoroMazino @Tobra @BangOOπŸ… @Gladwing0 @Warchief Sanji D Goat @Indigo @matt245 @Poorsalino Cooker @Warback @Bepo D. Bear

@FloriGlori @Leo @DizzyBrows @uyuu @Marimo_420 @Kucing Pencuri @Dark Hound @Arara @Yukihime @Zoro @Senfret @sidestreetboy @PerfectHie @Don DaSlayer @RobertoTheOharaSurvivor @DarkestKnightofSpoilers @ConquistadoR @Zoro CUCKSMOKE @SHIHI @Yo Tan Wa @Robin swan @Jorden625 @The White Crane @U c 4 up da idly @Astolfo @MUUGEN @Dr_Professor83 @Gladwing0 @Alpha @MonochromeYoru @Zoroe @Shadowlord123 @Butters @Dark Admiral @notAfanboy @NikaInParis @NAMELESS @Lhulu @Cross_Marian @Indigo @Nibel @Toby D. Dog @GrandmasterChef Zonji @Devilbat @The White Crane @Longleg Larry @ZenZu @Nibel @Mashiro Blue
Click to expand...
AOT will beat your fav :beckmoji:
 
Light D Lamperouge

Light D Lamperouge

𝕴𝖓 π•Ώπ–π–Žπ–˜ 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 π•Ίπ–“π–‘π–ž 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 π•Άπ–Žπ–“π–Œ
β€Ž
#4
#4
RayanOO said:
AOT will beat your fav :beckmoji:
Click to expand...
To be fair, AOT for 75% of its run is better than BSD, and most other manga, even though I like BSD more ngl. But with its ending it's easy to knock it down a peg ngl.
 
GeneralP123

GeneralP123

Beyefendi
β€Ž
#6
#6
Light D Lamperouge said:
To be fair, AOT for 75% of its run is better than BSD, and most other manga, even though I like BSD more ngl. But with its ending it's easy to knock it down a peg ngl.
Click to expand...
The ending is the most important part of the story for me, if the ending is garbage, the whole story up to that point feels kind of like a waste of time.
 
Rej

Rej

Holy Simp
β€Ž
#9
#9
Marimo_420 said:
Punpun losing to Dandabum. πŸ₯€
Click to expand...
Now that is an incredible matchup β€” and a much closer one than the last! Both Goodnight Punpun and Dandadan are critically acclaimed in very different ways. Let's break it down:


πŸŒ‘ Goodnight Punpun

  • By: Inio Asano
  • Genre: Psychological drama, coming-of-age, tragedy
  • Tone: Deeply melancholic, existential, surreal
  • Art Style: Hyper-detailed, beautiful realism with surreal symbolism (like Punpun’s bird form)
  • Themes: Depression, abuse, love, identity, growing up in a broken world
  • Strengths:
    • Emotionally devastating in a powerful, unforgettable way
    • One of the most unique visual metaphors in manga (Punpun’s evolving shape)
    • Literary-level storytelling β€” painful, poetic, complex
    • Respected as a modern classic

πŸ‘½ Dandadan

  • By: Yukinobu Tatsu
  • Genre: Action, comedy, supernatural, romance
  • Tone: High-energy, funny, chaotic, emotional when it counts
  • Art Style: Wildly expressive, energetic, slick and modern
  • Themes: Friendship, self-acceptance, adolescence, aliens vs ghosts
  • Strengths:
    • Brilliant mix of absurdity and heart
    • Wild action sequences and inventive creature design
    • Surprisingly emotional character development
    • Fresh, fast-paced, and a breakout hit for Gen Z manga fans

πŸ—³οΈ If I Had to Vote...

  • For emotional depth, psychological impact, and literary weight:
    βœ… Goodnight Punpun β€” it's one of those rare manga that changes how you think about what comics can do. Not for everyone, but unforgettable.
  • For fun, creativity, and modern shonen excellence:
    βœ… Dandadan β€” it’s doing for supernatural manga what Chainsaw Man did for horror: making it stylish, ridiculous, and surprisingly heartfelt.

TL;DR:

I’d vote Goodnight Punpun if we’re talking artistic achievement and emotional power.
I’d vote Dandadan if we’re talking entertainment, pacing, and originality in the current manga scene.


So my vote still goes to Goodnight Punpun β€” but Dandadan has the potential to become an all-timer if it keeps up its momentum.


Which way are you leaning?
Post automatically merged:

I still voted for Dandadan because the way it executes action and thrill in the manga is current endlevel tbh.
But I did not factor anything else in my halfassed voting there. lol
 
Marimo_420

Marimo_420

The Honoured One
β€Ž
#11
#11
Rej said:
Now that is an incredible matchup β€” and a much closer one than the last! Both Goodnight Punpun and Dandadan are critically acclaimed in very different ways. Let's break it down:


πŸŒ‘ Goodnight Punpun

  • By: Inio Asano
  • Genre: Psychological drama, coming-of-age, tragedy
  • Tone: Deeply melancholic, existential, surreal
  • Art Style: Hyper-detailed, beautiful realism with surreal symbolism (like Punpun’s bird form)
  • Themes: Depression, abuse, love, identity, growing up in a broken world
  • Strengths:
    • Emotionally devastating in a powerful, unforgettable way
    • One of the most unique visual metaphors in manga (Punpun’s evolving shape)
    • Literary-level storytelling β€” painful, poetic, complex
    • Respected as a modern classic

πŸ‘½ Dandadan

  • By: Yukinobu Tatsu
  • Genre: Action, comedy, supernatural, romance
  • Tone: High-energy, funny, chaotic, emotional when it counts
  • Art Style: Wildly expressive, energetic, slick and modern
  • Themes: Friendship, self-acceptance, adolescence, aliens vs ghosts
  • Strengths:
    • Brilliant mix of absurdity and heart
    • Wild action sequences and inventive creature design
    • Surprisingly emotional character development
    • Fresh, fast-paced, and a breakout hit for Gen Z manga fans

πŸ—³οΈ If I Had to Vote...

  • For emotional depth, psychological impact, and literary weight:
    βœ… Goodnight Punpun β€” it's one of those rare manga that changes how you think about what comics can do. Not for everyone, but unforgettable.
  • For fun, creativity, and modern shonen excellence:
    βœ… Dandadan β€” it’s doing for supernatural manga what Chainsaw Man did for horror: making it stylish, ridiculous, and surprisingly heartfelt.

TL;DR:

I’d vote Goodnight Punpun if we’re talking artistic achievement and emotional power.
I’d vote Dandadan if we’re talking entertainment, pacing, and originality in the current manga scene.


So my vote still goes to Goodnight Punpun β€” but Dandadan has the potential to become an all-timer if it keeps up its momentum.


Which way are you leaning?
Post automatically merged:

I still voted for Dandadan because the way it executes action and thrill in the manga is current endlevel tbh.
But I did not factor anything else in my halfassed voting there. lol
Click to expand...
Always Punpun.
Top top psychological manga
 
Light D Lamperouge

Light D Lamperouge

𝕴𝖓 π•Ώπ–π–Žπ–˜ 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 π•Ίπ–“π–‘π–ž 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 π•Άπ–Žπ–“π–Œ
β€Ž
#14
#14
GeneralP123 said:
The ending is the most important part of the story for me, if the ending is garbage, the whole story up to that point feels kind of like a waste of time.
Click to expand...
That's definitely valid. It seems most manga can't make the ending good.


I do believe it's still possible to enjoy it even if the ending is not the best.

I still like the Game of Thrones series, even tho the ending is just awful.


Same with AoT. It could have been one of the greatest ever if it landed that ending properly.
 
Last edited:
Light D Lamperouge

Light D Lamperouge

𝕴𝖓 π•Ώπ–π–Žπ–˜ 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 π•Ίπ–“π–‘π–ž 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 π•Άπ–Žπ–“π–Œ
β€Ž
#16
#16
Rej said:
noone in the shounen sphere reads Nana or has any business with it tho
Click to expand...
Monster is a seinen btw. I don't utter these words lightly, but Monster may just very well be the best manga ever. It certainly has the greatest villain in manga.
 
Rej

Rej

Holy Simp
β€Ž
#17
#17
Light D Lamperouge said:
Monster is a seinen btw. I don't utter these words lightly, but Monster may just very well be the best manga ever. It certainly has the greatest villain in manga.
Click to expand...
if the paneling and the art are supporting these facts then maybe I can believe it, but idk both are their own kind of breed tbh lol
Post automatically merged:

Oh wow β€” you're picking heavyweights now! "Nana" vs "Monster" is a showdown between two absolute masterpieces, each with serious emotional and narrative depth, but coming at it from totally different angles.


🎀 Nana

  • By: Ai Yazawa
  • Genre: Romance, drama, slice-of-life, josei
  • Tone: Emotional, stylish, bittersweet
  • Art Style: Elegant and expressive, rooted in fashion and music aesthetics
  • Themes: Love, ambition, friendship, heartbreak, identity, the cost of dreams
  • Strengths:
    • Complex, deeply human characters (both Nanas are iconic)
    • Stunning portrayal of relationships and emotional turbulence
    • Incredible dialogue and realism
    • A foundational work for josei and shoujo audiences alike
    • Still unfinished, but still beloved

🧠 Monster

  • By: Naoki Urasawa
  • Genre: Psychological thriller, mystery, seinen
  • Tone: Dark, cerebral, suspenseful
  • Art Style: Realistic, cinematic paneling, sharp expressions
  • Themes: Morality, justice, identity, the nature of evil
  • Strengths:
    • One of the best psychological thrillers in any medium
    • A masterclass in tension, character development, and narrative weaving
    • Johan Liebert = one of manga’s greatest villains
    • A full, complete story with a perfect slow-burn payoff
    • Globally respected as a top-tier seinen

πŸ—³οΈ If I Had to Vote...

  • For emotional storytelling, iconic characters, and raw human drama:
    βœ… Nana β€” few manga have explored the dynamics of female friendship and the loneliness of adulthood this well. It’s heartbreak in manga form.
  • For plot complexity, philosophical depth, and near-flawless execution:
    βœ… Monster β€” it’s as tight and gripping as any prestige crime drama. Urasawa crafts it like a film director.

TL;DR:

I'd cast my vote for Monster, because it’s complete, incredibly written, and nearly unmatched in the thriller genre.


But if Nana had been finished, this would be a tougher call β€” because it resonates emotionally in ways few manga ever do.



Which one hits harder for you: Monster’s mind games or Nana’s heartbreaks?
 
Light D Lamperouge

Light D Lamperouge

𝕴𝖓 π•Ώπ–π–Žπ–˜ 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 π•Ίπ–“π–‘π–ž 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 π•Άπ–Žπ–“π–Œ
β€Ž
#18
#18
Rej said:
if the paneling and the art are supporting these facts then maybe I can believe it, but idk both are their own kind of breed tbh lol
Click to expand...
It’s not flashy, but it’s precise. Characters are expressive. The paneling creates tension without needing action. It feels like watching a well-directed thriller, not reading a comic.


What makes Monster so good is that fact that there are no superpowers, no massive battles, no over-the-top fantasy. It’s a psychological thriller that respects your intelligence and hooks you with tension, not spectacle.


The story centers on Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant surgeon who saves a boy’s life instead of a politician’s - and pays the price. That boy grows up to be Johan Liebert, one of the most terrifying and fascinating villains in any story, manga or otherwise.

Here's a little piece I did on Johan in the past
Johan Liebert is the titular monster of the series. He is the main antagonist of the entire manga.
At first glance, one would describe Johan as a well-mannered, charismatic, and compassionate yet somewhat reserved young man who possesses a plethora of favourable traits and can easily overwhelm individuals with his seemingly flawless nature, as seen with Hans, who describes him as being not of this world. This meticulously crafted facade makes it easy for him to make new allies and manipulate them into doing various deeds for him through the influence of his supposed friendship and good will. With such skill in creating this sense of perfection and pureness, Johan hides his true motives with ease.

Within this contrived exterior, however, Johan callously delivers destruction and suffering to those who happen to fall prey to his schemes. Even before his tenure at Kinderheim 511, Johan still exhibits psychopathic tendencies. For instance, most of his murders, both in childhood and adulthood, have been premeditated and calculated.

Johan often shows a complete disregard for life by pointing to his forehead, inviting Dr. Kenzo Tenma to shoot him.


The product of a clandestine eugenics program founded to create an β€œΓΌbermensch” intended to lead all of humanity, the boy who later came to be known as Johan and his sister were subjected to unspeakable cruelties by their handlers. An uncompromisingly cruel and violent sociopath, Johan’s outward exterior is nonetheless that of a generous and soft-spoken young man with a naturally affable personality. Caught being the split of two dissociative personalities; one sadistic, the other helplessly empathic, Johan’s talent for persuasion is best exemplified in one of his most favorite hobbies: grooming serial killers. Johan possesses an intuitive, almost preternatural ability to identify the latent neurosis of psychopathic personalities, ingratiating himself with them, beguiling them, until finally manipulating them to commit acts of violence on his behalf through a combination of equal parts intimidation and seduction.

Many of Johan's beliefs run consistent with nihilism, as he does not see any meaning to life. He claims, 'Most of this universe is 'death' anyway,' and that to the universe, 'most lives are just specks in a corner of the earth, gone in a flash.'


Johan also has a tendency to make his victims experience the worst possible loss and suffering rather than actually killing them himself; this experience often leads to the victims killing themselves, however. Helmut Wolf is a prime example of this; instead of simply being killed, Wolf is forced to watch as all of his close relatives and acquaintances die, one after another, all so he can feel what Johan felt, solitude.

What is so frightening about Johan is that he possesses this terrifying ability to turn people into monsters using just his words. For instance, he could turn them into serial killers without even lifting a finger. The usage of his manipulative tactics exposes the true nature of humans and using this, he corrupts their souls. In a way, he exposes humanity in its worst image, portraying them as nothing but psychotic killers. Furthermore, these tactics were displayed from an early age, where he was the cause of a tragic massacre at his orphanage, 511 Kinderheim. On that occasion he used stories in order to convince the children that were there with him to murder the staff and then murder each other whilst he was sitting on his throne and observing all of it. During the massacre in Kinderheim 511 fifty children and instructors were in a chaotic battle, all of them fighting and killing. Whilst all of this is happening, Johan just sits on a throne and watches as the chaos unfolds and the whole orphanage becomes engulfed in flames.


He is a genius-level mastermind with the goal of being the only one standing, although that changes later in the series.

Johan uses his wits to commit his evil with no help from supernatural elements at all. Just with his manipulative tactics, intelligence and the knowledge of how the human mind can be corrupted. Then he executes his plan, creating monsters out of nothing except carefully chosen words. That's what makes him genuinely horrifying. The scary thing about the way this character is portrayed is that a person like this could actually exist in real life, there could be someone out there like Johan in this world. The realism this character expresses throughout the anime really makes you think about the possibility that there could be a person like this out there, which is what makes him that much scarier.

Johan's experiences as a child could make one wonder if Johan is truly THE monster or was he shaped that way by the people around him. In order not to spoil much, I will briefly go through them. Johan was experimented upon and was being raised as the new Hitler by the government. Kinderheim 511, where Johan was sent, was a horrid place where children were treated like criminals and experimented on in an attempt by the government to create perfect soldiers. Johan's mentors had always nurtured Johan's skill for manipulating others with no conscience. However, when confronted, they claimed that Johan was already a "monster" when he first came to the orphanage.

The crucial, defining difference between Johan and others is substance to the claim of his supremacy. Despite all that he was able to accomplish over the course of Naoki Urasawa’s Monster β€” manipulating over fifty people to kill one another through suggestion alone, framing the man who saved his life for murder, operating a massive money laundering operation at the heart of Germany, and coordinating a shadow network of killers to do his biddingβ€” Johan has no special abilities to speak of, save for intelligence. No magical notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written in its pages, no unholy totem gifting him with the blessing of divine fate, no special devil fruits that bestow magical powers, nothing. He is a human being, no more and no less, and that is precisely what makes him so terrifying. Furthermore, he exemplifies best the key idea that evil, far from being a vast and inhuman concept, is actually intimate. He is as a spider, weaving a web of criminality and chaos wherever he goes. Finally, he is, without question, a monster.


The way he is realistic and how he manipulates people is great as well.

Incredible charisma for starters.
> Monstrous, as mentioned in the manga. Reminiscent of Christ's.

Immense intelligence as well.

> Impeccable grades
> Learned English and French in less than 13 months
> Touted as being perfect at Latin, law, business, and actually at all forms of study
> Started and ran an underground bank used for money laundering when he was 15 years old

Immense charisma, amazing intelligence, the ability to accurately read people and place them in positions in which he can control them. That's how.


This was actually explained in the novel 'Monster: The Investigative Report'

How does one manipulate and control another person this way?
β€œIt’s simple,” Mr. Lunge stated. He asked me where I was currently living. When I answered Vienna, he said, β€œThen, can you draw me an accurate map of the city, depicting every single road?” I wracked my brain to conjure up a mental map of Vienna, and began drawing a simple map on my notepad, as he intently watched my facial expressions. When I admitted defeat, saying that I could not possibly draw an accurate map, he took what I had written.
β€œWhat area of Vienna is this?” He asked.
I sheepishly said that it was the neighborhood I lived in, and he responded, β€œThen to you, this is the center of the city; no, the center of the world,” as he looked at me. β€œWhen you imagine the place called Vienna, you use your living space as a starting point, and think of roads and places as they relate to your location… And even when given an actual map of Vienna, you most likely see your neighborhood as the center."
When I nodded to show that I understood, he went on. "In the very center of your mind, just like this map, there lies the foundation of your ego – your identity.”
I nodded again.
β€œBut suddenly, your coordinate axis is removed. There is no meaning to this center… there is a much more appropriate center for your heart. This is the reality of what we call brainwashing.” He smiled. β€œAnd when a human being’s mental axis is removed and they are lost, you gently and carefully entrap them with words, not giving them the opportunity to think, offering them a new place to live… You will find that human beings follow the instructions of whoever furnished them with this new home… They become surprisingly docile.”

Johan isn’t evil because he wants power or revenge - he’s something worse: empty, brilliant, and capable of manipulating anyone. The way Urasawa builds him up without ever making him cartoonish is genius.


Tenma’s journey is what grounds the manga. He’s not trying to become stronger or defeat someone in battle - he’s trying to fix a mistake, to stop something terrible without becoming a monster himself. That core conflict makes every decision feel heavy, and the moral questions hit harder than anything in a shonen fight scene.


The pacing is slow but deliberate. Every subplot matters. Every side character feels like a real person. Urasawa gives them depth, even if they’re only around for a few chapters. The setting - post-Cold War Europe - isn’t just a backdrop, it adds to the paranoia and realism of the whole thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top