Tomodachi x Monster – Vol. 1 (Manga Series)
April Marie
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Written by Yoshihiko Inui
Illustrated by Yoshihiko Inui
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
Suitable for ages 16+
Japanese manga sometimes suffers from the same infantilization problem as anime. Those unfamiliar with it often cry, “They’re cartoons, those are for kids!” referencing series like Pokemon, or Sailor Moon. The truth is, anime and manga can be very much an adult medium. Let’s take Tomodachi x Monster for example. Tomodachi means friend(s), so the title “friend x monster” would lead us to expect something akin to Pokemon. However, the blood stains, grotesque art, and “older teen 16+” warning reveal a more sinister story.
Tomodachi x Monster revolves around a sixth grader named Narimiya Wataru, who one day hears a voice calling out to him. When he ventures into the woods away from his school he discovers a strange creature that he quickly befriends. It is only after he brings his new friend to school with him that he realizes he has entered a contract that might just get him killed. Wataru’s new “friend” is part of a world of monsters that side with young children and engage in death matches with other monsters. For those in the know, Tomodachi x Monster is essentially Pokemon meets Madoka Magica meets Battle Royale. Children make friends with small monsters, inadvertently endangering themselves, and forcing them to kill other children.
While this story seems to borrow from many different existing properties, Tomodachi x Monster definitely stands on its own. The first volume introduces what appears to be the core cast of characters very quickly. You still don’t know all of their motivations and histories, so there’s plenty more ground to cover in future volumes. This first volume also sets the tone for the rest of the series. A feel-good story of friendship this is not. These monsters are killing machines and their human friends are even more ruthless. It’s a kill or be killed world, which leads to some intense scenes of gore right off the bat. Think Corpse Party level illustrated deaths and you’ll be right on track.
If warring children isn’t your thing, the monster side of Tomodachi x Monster might still reel you in. Each of the children’s monsters have specific ways of battling. Wataru’s friend Peke has a sort of gelatinous body and can grasp onto things with the long tentacle at the top of his head. Other monsters in the first volume include one that can cut things with laser precision, and another that uses lightning attacks. In this regard, Tomodachi x Monster reminds us how interesting the pocket monster premise was when it was new.
The art in Tomodachi x Monster features childish cartoon elements in the way the children and monsters are illustrated. The kids all have typically large eyes, and round faces that indicate they haven’t lost all their baby fat. The monsters are cute creatures, some modelled after real life objects like a kendama toy or umbrella. But then there’s the more mature features of the series like the real damage these monsters do to the other children. Blood is a common sight in Tomodachi x Monster, with guts and dismembered limbs not far behind. The best example from this first volume is one “friend” who can revive corpses. Wataru witnesses his first deaths ever, where a girl he just met is sliced into pieces. Even worse, her corpse is reanimated and begins to come after him. If it wasn’t already apparent, this series is not for those with weak stomachs.
As far as first volumes go, Tomodachi x Monster brings a lot to the table. There really isn’t anything negative that can be said about what we’ve seen so far. There’s a great mix of action, gore, and tense drama as Wataru realizes what kind of world he’s unfortunately stumbled into. If you’re a fan of Pokemon, Madoka Magica, Battle Royale, or all of the above, Tomodachi x Monster is definitely a book worth picking up. Just don’t make friends with any suspicious looking monsters on your way to the bookstore, and you should be just fine.
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Manga
Categorized:Reviews
