Apr 29, 2021
If you've been following recent manga trends you've most likely noticed a new-wave sub-genre of monster-girl supernatural dramas I like to call "waifu eat waifu protec".
They tend to have a similar premise - a monstrous shapeshifter of tremendous power is "protecting" a tormented protagonist from an array of supernatural entities wishing to "eat" them. However, said "protector" has an ulterior motive, which is to consume the said protagonist themselves once certain conditions are met.
"A Monster Wants to Eat Me" is no exception to this, however I believe it manages to set itself apart from the rest by having great sense of direction and pacing.
- "Green
...
was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly..." (Art & Atmosphere)
The major element setting this work apart from its siblings is the atmosphere. From the very beginning you get to feel the melancholy of the main character and their world. The pensive sadness they are experiencing is always looming over their shoulder and even during moments of levity it manages to remain unshaken. It works as a cornerstone for all other aspects of the manga which makes you believe that the author has a very clear idea of what they wish to accomplish with this work.
While arguably not the most outstanding in the sub-genre the art here definitely feels a lot more impactful due to the fact that it manages to maintain the melancholy atmosphere all the way through. Every page is filled with detail and emotion and even the most generic urban background looks like a painting. The double-page spreads are the highlight of every chapter, filled with small details and using lighting and shadows to great effect in order to set the tone of the scenes.
- "Dreams are the touchstones of our characters..." (Story & Characters)
Unlike in other works with similar premises where the main character feels bland or are just a vessel to take the reader along for a ride here the protagonist is an actual individual. Through subtle facial expressions, actions, inner monologues and lighting and shadow compositions of the panels accompanying them you can feel that there's more to characters than the outward appearance presents. The subtext is pretty strong and there are many small details which work as great foreshadowing for things to come.
The story is just beginning to take shape, but as it currently stands it looks fairly simplistic and does not deviate much from the premise description given earlier. At the current stage one could classify it as a mystery drama - there are many questions which have been raised and answers which have been provided were fairly smart and foreshadowed well, however it simply does not have the same pull as the atmosphere.
Additionally, this is as urban fantasy as it gets but there's simply too great of a disconnect from mundane and supernatural - the author went with the most basic of cop-outs to explain why supernatural phenomena are not being talked about on the news.. Maybe they will surprise us with their creativity and if that happens I will be the first to applaud them and change my opinion on this matter. However, until then, while the pacing is superb the actual plotline is the weakest aspect of the manga.
- "And I would have gotten away with it too, if not for those meddling transfer students..."
And now for my personal pet peeve... I simply can't comprehend why this story has to be set in a school.. It serves absolutely no purpose - teachers do not exist, characters don't go to classes or worry about their grades, there's no dramatic element of monsters messing with their school life, etc. It almost feels like the school was chosen as a "default setting" and was not thought through at all. And don't get me started on the one of the stupidest plot holes in this entire thing - you'll know when you see it..
If you look this series up on any manga list aggregators you will notice tags like "Shoujo Ai" or "Yuri". While there are some scenes where certain characters "look" at it each other "longingly" the key is context and it is definitely not the case of "Sappho and her friend". At most we are presented with a twisted friendship and if the author does in fact want to lean that way at the very least they are doing a good job of pacing the development of the relationship, making it seem plausible.
Overall this is an enjoyable read and well worth keeping up with its releases. As long as focus and direction are not lost and all the mystery elements being set-up are executed well this might turn out to be one of the best works in the genre.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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