Jul 24, 2016
Monster X Monster invites us into a fantastical world filled with awe-inspiring sights, dazzling magic, and gorgeous artwork. In such a setting full of adventure, what does our story focus on? On a shut-in that would much rather stay at home and play visual novels on his magical game-system.
The first thing that Monster X Monster has going for it is its art. To summarize the quality of the artwork, it is refined yet could use more inspiration. What I mean by that is that the art can be enjoyed for how polished it is - every time a monster shows up there is a ... staggering amount of detail and hard work put into the page - yet it lacks such things as symbolism, ambiance, and creative angles that would add to the visual story-telling.
The next thing that will strike you is just how unrelentingly pathetic our main character is. His actual name is Neet, a name that resounds with the subtlety of a jackhammer. We know right away that the manga doesn't want to be taken too seriously. Despite this, I would argue that Neet's character is the heart and soul that makes Monster X Monster an entertaining read. Perhaps it is ironic that people would still yearn for escapism when they live in a fantasy world, but Neet is exactly that, and completely oblivious to his own immaturity.
What makes you continue to follow him is all the dark humor surrounding him, but more importantly, the question of whether or not his character will ever develop. He most certainly comes close to becoming a better person on several occasions, only to stick his finger up his nose and chicken out in the last second. In many ways, this is played up for laughs, but it also fits the character. A shut-in does not want to develop, for it would just threaten their ability to live contently in their safe little corner. When the development finally does come however, the fact that it took effort to attain it is exactly what makes it more meaningful. The climax to Neet's personal journey is a masterful moment that lets all the pieces fall into place at once.
The sad part is that the story does not end there, nor does it continue all that well. Our main character has been given all the spot-light, and with only a handful of chapters left there is still several loose plot-threads to tie up. Princesses need to be rescued, hunting-exams need to be taken, parties need to be formed, monsters need to be tamed, and one-dimensional bad guys need a good ass-kicking. It is all far too fast-paced and lacks the craftsmanship that the first two thirds of the manga had.
Overall, Monster x Monster is a great satirical character-piece, with far too rushed of an ending. For those who think the journey is more important than the end, I can still recommend it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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