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.

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.

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 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.

Beageruta is a dark sci-fi mystery story exploring criminal underworld set in a gritty pre-cyberpunk world where everything and everyone is fucked - both literally and figuratively.

If you enjoy flashy over the top action with a dash of realism and don't mind violence, drugs, profanity and sex this is quite a ride waiting to be experienced.

One thing you'll notice right away is dark and gritty atmosphere. Going through the pages you simply can't shake off the pessimism permeating the scenes. The only thing you can be certain about is that everything has a price and nothing is ever clear-cut.

The opening scene alone is enough to get you hooked by the art. There is something about it which you don't often see - realistic flow of movement. It might seem a bit contradictory at first - "flashy and over the top but realistic sci-fi action" - however it turns out that the author has great knowledge of human anatomy and that clearly shows. While story has sci-fi elements you can clearly imagine the action scenes being played out in a Hollywood movie set in a modern day or near future setting. The only thing that might throw you off are the female character faces. For some reason they are very similar, so much so that sometimes you might mistake a newly introduced character scene for a flashback of already existing one. Good thing that they have plenty of different outfits, haircuts and personality traits to set them apart.

Reading this manga you will quickly learn that every character has a secret. It ranges from something small to extremely complex which almost always defines them. Characters have intricate backstories which play major role in the story and serve as motivation for their actions. No one is simply "good" or "evil" - they are people shaped by their upbringing and environment trying to make the best of shitty situations they find themselves in.

The story is absurd. Wait, don't go - let me explain! Each chapter constantly reminds me of Snow Crash. For those unfamiliar it is a famous cyberpunk novel which is bombastic and completely over the top - however that was the intention from the start. Backstories here are overdramatic, situations are over the top and the main plot is completely implausible but handled with such care and precision that you can't help but grin going through the pages wishing to see more!

While this is a very enjoyable read it is definitely not for everyone and has a few problems, however it is a high quality near future fiction which is something that's not easy to find. Reading through available chapters you can tell that this is going to be a long haul as we are still getting introduced to new characters and author is taking his time with releases. The official English translations are slow and it will be a while before volume 5 comes out, but I shall be eagerly waiting for it to arrive.