Monster (manga)

Monster
Promotional image of Monster anime series
モンスター (Monsutā)
Genre	Psychological thriller,[1] Detective fiction, Drama, Horror [2]
Manga
Written by	Naoki Urasawa
Published by	Shogakukan
English publisher	Viz Media
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Big Comic Original
Original run	December 1994 – December 2001
Volumes	18
Novel
Another Monster
Written by	Naoki Urasawa
Published by	Shogakukan
Published	2002
TV anime
Directed by	Masayuki Kojima
Written by	Tatsuhiko Urahata
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed by	Viz Media
Network	NTV
English network	Super Channel Syfy, Chiller, Funimation Channel
Original run	April 6, 2004 – September 27, 2005
Episodes	74 (List of episodes)
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Monster (モンスター, Monsutā^?) 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.

Plot

Dr. Kenzō Tenma is a young Japanese 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.

Characters

Main characters

• Doctor Kenzō Tenma

Voiced by: Hidenobu Kiuchi (Japanese), Liam O'Brien (English)

The main protagonist of the series. Doctor Kenzō Tenma is a Japanese neurosurgeon working at the Eisler Memorial Hospital in Düsseldorf. At the beginning of Monster, he is the Head of Neurosurgery who was favored by the department's director, Heinemann, for his prodigious surgical 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 Borders and learns from Otto Heckel where the mother of Johan and Anna is located. Tenma later visits a comatose Johan in a police hospital.

• Johan Liebert

Young Johan Liebert Voiced by: Yuuto Uemura (Japanese), Julie Ann Taylor (English)

Adult Johan Liebert Voiced by: Nozomu Sasaki (Japanese), Keith Silverstein (English)

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 and even the Devil 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 Tezuka, in his case Michio Yuki, the main villain from MW. 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 "Apocalypse", Johan shares many similar traits with the Antichrist (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.

• Nina Fortner / Anna Liebert

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese), Karen Strassman (English)

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, 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 Aikido. 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 hypnosis 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 Czechoslovakia, 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.

Inspector Runge in the anime

• Inspector Heinrich Runge^[3]

Voiced by: Tsutomu Isobe (Japanese), Richard Epcar (English)

Inspector Runge (referred to as Lunge in English) is a BKA 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 Javert in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, 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.

• Dieter

Voiced by: Junko Takeuchi (Japanese), Laura Bailey (English)

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 in the anime

• Eva Heinemann

Voiced by: Mami Koyama (Japanese), Tara Platt (English)

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 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.

Other characters

• Director Heinemann

Voiced by: Masaru Ikeda (Japanese), Steve Kramer (English)

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

Voiced by: Nobuaki Fukuda (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)

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

Voiced by: Masahiko Tanaka (Japanese), Michael McConnohie (English)

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

Voiced by: Yasuyoshi Hara (Japanese), Chris Kent (English)

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

Voiced by: Ryuji Nakagi (Japanese), David Lodge (English)

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

Voiced by: Taimei Suzuki (Japanese), Michael McConnohie (English)

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

Voiced by: Yoshito Yasuhara (Japanese), Doug Erholtz (English)

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"

Voiced by: Kazuo Kumakura (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)

First mentioned in Chapter 26, the "Baby" is a short, elderly man, and an infamous Neo-Nazi leader. He worships Johan as an ideal Aryan leader who would be able to become the next Hitler 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 Peaks, named "The Midget." His first appearance, in Chapter 26, is also nearly identical, appearing to Nina Fortner from behind a red curtain (akin to the Black Lodge's waiting room) while dancing to the tune "Be My Baby". 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.

• General Helmut Wolf

Voiced by: Kōichi Kitamura (Japanese), Anthony Lander (English)

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

Voiced by: Takayuki Sugo (Japanese), Derek Stephen Prince (English)

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

Voiced by: Nobuyuki Katsube (Japanese), JB Blanc (English)

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 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 Wall into West Germany. 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.

• Hans Georg Schuwald

Voiced by: Michio Hazama (Japanese), Dan Woren (English)

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 Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese), Brigitte Burdine (English)

Fake Margot Langer Voiced by: Kazuko Yanaga (Japanese), Wendee Lee (English)

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

Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki (Japanese), Yuri Lowenthal (English)

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

Voiced by: Kyoko Hikami (Japanese), Julie Ann Taylor (English)

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

Voiced by: Ichirō Nagai (Japanese), Paul St. Peter (English)

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 and Shunsaku Ban from Astroboy. Naoki Urasawa has also used the physical appearance of Brimley in the Pluto manga as well. First seen in chapter 49.

• Richard Braun

Voiced by: Hiroshi Arikawa (Japanese), Cam Clarke (English)

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

Voiced by: Hideyuki Tanaka (Japanese), Patrick Seitz (English)

A freelance journalist 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 Hulk-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 SIDS). 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.)

• Jan Suk

Voiced by: Hisayoshi Suganuma (Japanese), Michael Sinterniklaas (English)

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. 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.)

• Commissioner Nepela

Voiced by: Katsunosuke Hori (Japanese), Bill Kessler (English)

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

Voiced by: Yoshisada Sakaguchi (Japanese), Peter Lurie (English)

Karel Ranke was a former member of the Czechoslovakian Secret Police 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.

• Fritz Vardemann

Voiced by: Ryusuke Oobayashi (Japanese), Kyle Hebert (English)

A lawyer hired by residents in Düsseldorf 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 Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz. 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.

• Günther Milch

Voiced by: Shigeru Chiba (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)

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. 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.

• Jaromír Lipsky

Voiced by: Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese), Troy Baker (English)

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

Voiced by: Shuuichi Ikeda (Japanese), Roger Craig Smith (English)

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

Voiced by: Yuzuru Fujimoto (Japanese), Peter Lurie (English)

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

Voiced by: Nobuo Tanaka (Japanese), Dave Mallow (English)

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

Voiced by: Masashi Hironaka (Japanese), Travis Willingham (English)

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

Voiced by: Nachi Nozawa (Japanese), Michael McConnohie (English)

Franz Bonaparta is considered to be the one responsible for the eugenics 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.

• Wim Knaup

Voiced by: Akiko Yajima (Japanese), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (English)

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

Voiced by: Eiji Hanawa (Japanese), Doug Erholtz (English)

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.

Media

Manga

Volume list

No.	Title	Japanese release	English release
01	Doctor Tenma	June 30, 1995[4] ISBN 4-09-183651-8	February 2006 ISBN 1-59116-641-1
Chapter 001 : "Herr Doctor Tenma" ( ヘルDr.テンマ ?) Chapter 002 : "Kill" ( ころして , "Koroshite" ?) Chapter 003 : "Downfall" ( 転落 , "Tenraku" ?) Chapter 004 : "Brother and Sister" ( 兄･妹 ?) Chapter 005 : "Murder" ( 殺人事件 , "Satsujinjiken" ?) Chapter 006 : "The BKA Man" ( BKAの男 , "BKA no Otoko" ?) Chapter 007 : "Monster" ( 「モンスター」 ?) Chapter 008 : "Night of the Execution" ( 処刑の夜 , "Shokei no Yoru" ?)
02	Surprise Party	September 30, 1995[5] ISBN 4-09-183652-6	April 2006 ISBN 1-42-15-0112-0
Chapter 009 : "The Girl from Heidelberg" ( ハイデルベルクの少女 ?) Chapter 010 : "Prince on a White Horse" ( 白馬の王子様 ?) Chapter 011 : "News Article:Missing Child" ( 失踪記事 ?) Chapter 012 : "A birthday of Terror" ( 戦慄の誕生日 ?) Chapter 013 : "House of Tragedy" ( 惨劇の館 ?) Chapter 014 : "It's Not Your Fault" ( あなたは悪くない ?) Chapter 015 : "Pursued" ( 追われる男 ?) Chapter 016 : "The Girl and the Seasoned Soldier" ( 老兵と少女 ?)
3	Kinderheim 511	April 27, 1989[6] ISBN 4-09-183653-4	June 2006 ISBN 1-4215-0255-0
Chapter 017 : A Past Erased Chapter 018 : Lawyer's Rules Chapter 019 : 511 Kinderheim Chapter 020 : Project Chapter 021 : A Little Experiment Chapter 022 : Petra and Schumann Chapter 023 : Petra and Heinz Chapter 024 : Left Behind
4	Ayse's Friend	—	August 2006 ISBN 1-4215-0385-9
Chapter 025 : The Woman Left Behind Chapter 026 : Be My Baby Chapter 027 : Professor Geidlitz Chapter 028 : Ayse's Friend Chapter 029 : Wolf's Confession Chapter 030 : Main Dish Chapter 031 : Reunion Chapter 032 : Five Sugars
5	After the Carnival	—	October 2006 ISBN 1-4215-0489-7
Chapter 33 : Monster's Abyss Chapter 34 : Jurgen's Basement Chapter 35 : After the Carnival Chapter 36 : Journey to Freiham Chapter 37 : Happy Holidays Chapter 38 : Gun Barrel Vengeance Chapter 39 : A Sunny Tomorrow Chapter 40 : Runge's Hope Chapter 41 : Runge's Trap
6	The Secret Woods	—	December 2006 ISBN 1-4215-0499-5
Chapter 42 : The Confrontation Chapter 43 : Rock Bottom Chapter 44 : Eva's Confession Chapter 45 : Of Men and Dining Chapter 46 : The Unseen Enemy Chapter 47 : Tuesday's Boy Chapter 48 : Thursday's Boy Chapter 49 : The Mystery Remaining Chapter 50 : The Secret Woods
7	Richard	—	February 2007 ISBN 1-4215-0500-2
Chapter 51 : Richard Chapter 52 : Proof Chapter 53 : Brought to Light Chapter 54 : Just One Case Chapter 55 : Johan Chapter 56 : Execution Chapter 57 : Decision Chapter 58 : Reichwein's Days Chapter 59 : In Broad Daylight
8	My Nameless Hero	—	June 2007 ISBN 1-4215-0501-0
Chapter 60 : Can You Prove It? Chapter 61 : After the Party Chapter 62 : Sanctuary Chapter 63 : A Child's View Chapter 64 : Mankind's Legacy Chapter 65 : At the Edge of Darkness Chapter 66 : Shine the Light Chapter 67 : I Am Tenma Chapter 68 : My Nameless Hero
9	A Nameless Monster	—	June 2007 ISBN 1-4215-0968-7
Chapter 69 : A Greater Monster Chapter 70 : The Beast of Chaos Chapter 71 : A Nameless Monster Chapter 72 : Feast of Ants Chapter 73 : The Demon in My Eyes Chapter 74 : A Letter From Mother Chapter 75 : Traces of Heart Chapter 76 : The Hell in His Eyes Chapter 77 : The Frogs of Fairyland
10	Picnic	—	August 2007 ISBN 1-4215-0969-5
Chapter 78 : Grimmer Chapter 79 : Picnic Chapter 80 : The Ghost of 511 Chapter 81 : The New Experiment Chapter 82 : The Key Chapter 83 : The Adventures of Magnificent Steiner Chapter 84 : Detective Suk Chapter 85 : The Secret Investigation Chapter 86 : Something Important
11	The Dead Angle	—	October 2007 ISBN 1-4215-0970-9
Monster Chronicle Chapter 87 : Double Darknes Chapter 88 : The Monster's Afterimage Chapter 89 : Playback Chapter 90 : Contact Chapter 91 : Blind Spot Chapter 92 : Memories of the Magnificent Steiner Chapter 93 : Memories of Hot Cocoa Chapter 94 : The Door to Nightmares Chapter 95 : The Scariest Thing
12	The Rose Mansion	—	December 2007 ISBN 1-4215-0971-7
Monster Chronicle Chapter 96 : A Long Vacation Chapter 97 : Detective Boys Chapter 98 : The Cruelest Thing Chapter 99 : The Border City Chapter 100 : The Rose Mansion Chapter 101 : The Unopened Door Chapter 102 : A Long Farewell Chapter 103 : Find Helenka Chapter 104 : The People Left Behind
13	Escape	—	February 2008 ISBN 1-4215-1532-6
Monster Chronicle Chapter 105 : Monster's Love Letter Chapter 106 : The Prison Escapee Chapter 107 : The Lawyer Chapter 108 : The Witness Chapter 109 : Determination Chapter 110 : The Dirty Sandwiche Chapter 111 : Helene and Gustav Chapter 112 : The Escape Chapter 113 : Room 402
14	That Night	—	April 2008 ISBN 1-4215-1836-8
Monster Chronicle Chapter 114 : Son of a Spy Chapter 115 : The Never-ending Journey Chapter 116 : The Puppet Master Chapter 117 : The Children of the Recital Chapter 118 : That Night Chapter 119 : What Johan Saw Chapter 120 : Good Memories Chapter 121 : I Hate This Job Chapter 122 : The Worst Necktie
15	The Door to Memories	—	June 2008 ISBN 1-4215-1837-6
Monster Chronicle Chapter 123 : The Party Is Over Chapter 124 : The Man Who Saw the Devil Chapter 125 : The Devil's Friend Chapter 126 : The Man Who Knew Too Much Chapter 127 : A Sad Reunion Chapter 128 : Nina's Memory Chapter 129 : Memories of the Recital Chapter 130 : The Door to Memories Chapter 131 : A Pleasant Dinner Table
16	Welcome Home	—	August 2008 ISBN 1-4215-1838-4
Monster Chronicle Chapter 132 : Over the Rooftops Chapter 133 : A Friend's Answer Chapter 134 : Taxi Driver Chapter 135 : Unrelated Murders Chapter 136 : The Baby's Depression Chapter 137 : Footsteps of Terror Chapter 138 : Johan's Footprints Chapter 139 : The Massacre Chapter 140 : Mother and Father Chapter 141 : Welcome Home
17	I'm Home	—	October 2008 ISBN 1-4215-1839-2
Monster Chronicle Chapter 142 : I'm Back Chapter 143 : The Place to Be Chapter 144 : Ruhenheim Chapter 145 : A Quiet Gunshot Chapter 146 : The Vampire's House Chapter 147 : The Town of Suspicion and Fear Chapter 148 : The Perfect Suicide Chapter 149 : The Peaceful House Chapter 150 : The Town Massacre Chapter 151 : Memories Not to Be Forgotten
18	Scenery of the Doomsday	—	December 2008 ISBN 1-4215-1840-6
Monster Chronicle Chapter 152 : A Fabrication Chapter 153 : The End of the Vacation Chapter 154 : Grimmer's Cry Chapter 155 : The Wrath of the Magnificent Steiner Chapter 156 : A Nameless Man Chapter 157 : Pictures That Can't Be Drawn Chapter 158 : Don't Cry Chapter 159 : Scenery for a Doomsday Chapter 160 : Those with Their Lives Chapter 161 : Tomorrow Will Come Chapter 162 : The Real Monster

Another Monster

No.	Title	Japanese release	English release
1	Another Monster	—	—
Preface Introduction Part One (1986–1997) Chapter 1 - The Beginning (April 2001; Vienna) Chapter 2 - Kenzo Tenma (May 2001; Yokohama, Tokyo, London) Chapter 3 - Eva Heinemann (May 2001; Düsseldorf) Chapter 4 - Heinrich Runge (May 2001; Brussels) Chapter 5 - Kinderheim 511 (May 2001; Berlin) Chapter 6 - Multiple Personalities (June 2001; Frankfurt) Chapter 7 - Rudi Gillen (June 2001; Paris) Chapter 8 - Underground Banks (June 2001; Füssen) Chapter 9 - Karl Schuwald (June 2001; Munich) Chapter 10 - Lotte Frank (June 2001; Munich) Chapter 11 - Julius Reichwein (June 2001; Munich)
2	Another Monster:Part two	—	—
Chapter 12 - Czech and Germany (July 2001; Prague) Chapter 13 - Jan Suk (July 2001; Prague) Chapter 14 - Karel Ranke (July 2001; Prague) Chapter 15 - The Red Rose Mansion (July 2001; Prague) Chapter 16 - Anna (August 2001; Prague) Chapter 17 - Sobotka (August 2001; Prague) Chapter 18 - Jaromir Lipsky (August 2001; Prague) Chapter 19 - Fritz Verdeman (August 2001; Düsseldorf) Chapter 20 - Martin (September 2001; Frankfurt) Chapter 21 - Peter Capek (September 2001; Frankfurt) Chapter 22 - Grimmer's Notebook (October 2001; Berlin) Chapter 23 - Herman Fuer (November 2001; Vienna) Chapter 24 - Collapse (November 2001; Düsseldorf) Chapter 25 - Ruhenheim (November 2001; Ruhenheim) Chapter 26 - Nina Forter, a.k.a. Anna Liebert (November 2001; Vienna) Chapter 27 - "The Magnificent Steiner" (November 2001; Valletta) Chapter 28 - Anna Part II (December 2001; Brno) Chapter 29 - Klaus Poppe (December 2001; Jablonec nad Nisou) Chapter 30 - Franz Bonaparta (December 2001; Jablonec nad Nisou) Final Chapter - (December 2001; Jablonec nad Nisou)

Anime

Main article: List of Monster episodes

The series was adapted into an anime by Madhouse, 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."^[7]

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^[8] Monster began airing on the FUNimation Channel April 3, 2010 on weekends at 12:30 am.^[9] 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.

Live action film

Major Hollywood film studio New Line Cinema 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,^[10][11] 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 Festival and the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2001.^[12] It placed on YALSA's "2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens" list.^[13] 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."^[14] A review at Anime-Planet described the series as a "breathtaking tour de force of amazing suspense and surprising intelligence."^[15] Another review from the same site called the series "a true gem and a rare anime masterpiece", despite a "daunting length".^[16] Pulitzer Prize winning author Junot Diaz called the series "his favorite guilty pleasure" in a profile for Time Magazine.^[17] 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".^[18]

References

1. ^ "Carl Kimlinger's review of Monster - Box Set 1". Anime News Network. 2010-01-04. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/monster/dvd-box-set-1. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
2. ^ "Right Turn Only - Monster Piece Theatre Feb 7th". Anime News Network. 2006-02-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2006-02-07. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 
3. ^ While the anime actually has the name "Runge" seen in episodes 31 and 74, "Lunge" is the spelling used in the English version of the manga released by Viz Media and on the official anime website.
4. ^ "MONSTER 1" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091836518. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
5. ^ "MONSTER 2" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091836526. Retrieved July 23, 2011. 
6. ^ "MONSTER 3" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091836534. Retrieved August 1, 2011. 
7. ^ http://www.davidsylvian.net/releases/tracks-poems/60-tracks-davidsylvian/823-for-the-love-of-life.html
8. ^ VIZ on FUN Channel – Yes, you heard right.
9. ^ http://www.funimationchannel.com/schedule/1_e014.htm
10. ^ "Josh Olson to Adapt Manga Comic Book Monster". MovieWeb. http://www.movieweb.com/news/63/8463.php. .
11. ^ "Monster (2009)". IMDB. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071112064014/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469469/. Retrieved 2008-12-01. 
12. ^ "小学館漫画賞: 歴代受賞者" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html. Retrieved 2007-08-19. 
13. ^ "ALA 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens". American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/annotations/07ggnt.cfm. 
14. ^ "Monster Review". THEM Anime Reviews 4.0. http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=969. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
15. ^ "Monster Review by vivafruit". anime-planet. http://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a284.html. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
16. ^ "Monster Review by Arcanum". anime-planet. http://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a320.html. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
17. ^ "The Psychotic Japanese Mastermind". Time (magazine). 2008-07-03. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1820177_1820178_1820114,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-28. 
18. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N1AEY6

External links

• (Japanese) Official anime site
• Monster Graph - A Graph that shows relationships between characters
• Monster (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Monster at the Internet Movie Database
• http://www.theanimereview.com/index.html?reviews/monster.html