After shining a light on the best new manga of 2008, it's time to give some love to the 12 best continuing manga series that kept me coming back for more all year long.
Besides picking the best shonen, shojo, seinen, josei and all-ages manga series, I also chose two "under-appreciated gems" that deserve more love, gave props to the year's best manga magazine and the best book about manga. But that's not all -- I also picked the year's "Worst Excuse for Manga" and started a new category, the "Dear God, Make It Stop" manga that has overstayed its welcome.
So which manga took the overall award for 2008's Best Continuing Manga Series? There were lots of excellent manga to choose from this year, but I ended up giving the top spot to Naoki Urasawa's Monster. After winning rave reviews from critics and comics connoisseurs, and getting several Eisner Award nods, the 18th and final volume of this seinen suspense series hit the shelves this month.
Haven't read Monster yet? Here's the basic premise in a nutshell: A gifted neurosurgeon saves a young boy from certain death from a gunshot wound to the head. But years later, Dr. Kenzo Tenma discovers that he saved the life of Johan, a handsome, charismatic and twisted 'monster' of a man. Tormented by unforseen consequences of his actions, Dr. Tenma tries to find Johan and bring him to justice. From this beginning, Urasawa weaves a complex web of murders, betrayals, psychoses that is a gripping, engrossing read for grown-ups.
If you haven't picked up Monster yet, now's a good a time as any, because you'll have the opportunity to read the entire series in one crack. I spent a weekend doing that, and found that reading the entire saga makes its complex connections and plot twists just a little easier to digest. Volume 18 in particular ties things up nicely, and still manages to toss in a few surprises along the way.
Check out my Best Continuing Manga of 2008 list and see the manga that ended up on the "keeper" side of my bookshelf. Got your own faves to share? Sound off in the forums, add your nominations in the comments below, or hang around for the 2008 Readers Polls, which will be open for your votes in the coming week.
Image credit: © Naoki URASAWA/Studio Nuts. With the cooperation of Takashi NAGASAKI
Comments
plz help! y square and love at last sight are my favourite but i never get the chance to find some volumes! plz tell me what happens plz!