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Beast Complex #1
Beast Complex, Vol. 1
In these six stories from the creator of the Eisner-nominated, best-selling series Beastars, a menagerie of carnivores and herbivores grapple with conflicts based on their differences and—sometimes—find common ground.
A tiger and a beaver who grew up together defy peer pressure to end their friendship and join forces to fight injustice. A camel journalist who passed judgment on carnivores for years spends a life-changing night with a seductive wolf. A crocodile and a gazelle must find a way to work together as chef and assistant on a cooking show with flagging ratings. A fox and a chameleon wrestle with stereotypes about each other—and themselves. And much more…
A tiger and a beaver who grew up together defy peer pressure to end their friendship and join forces to fight injustice. A camel journalist who passed judgment on carnivores for years spends a life-changing night with a seductive wolf. A crocodile and a gazelle must find a way to work together as chef and assistant on a cooking show with flagging ratings. A fox and a chameleon wrestle with stereotypes about each other—and themselves. And much more…
200 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2018
About the author
Paru Itagaki
81 books552 followersParu Itagaki ( 板垣巴留, Itagaki Paru) is a multi-award-winning Japanese manga artist, known mainly for her work Beastars. She is the daughter of Keisuke Itagaki.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
March 31, 2024
A collection of short side stories set in the world of BEASTARS produced before and during the run of that series. Except for a one-panel cameo of Legoshi in the background of one story, no regular characters appear herein.
The Lion and the Bat
A student council president is tasked by a teacher with coaxing a dropout to return to school. But the bat in question has a legitimate reason to be upset when a carnivore shows up at his home.
The Tiger and the Beaver
Elementary school buddies have to defend their carnivore/herbivore friendship and stand up for the bullied.
The Camel and the Wolf
A journalist wants to write his last story about the complex relationship between predator and prey animals in his society, but when he asks a random wolf if she has ever had an uncontrollable urge to devour a predator the answer puts him in an unexpected position.
The Kangaroo and the Black Panther
The manager of a slowly failing hotel takes a fatherly interest in the furtive teen staying in one of his rooms who seems to have gotten herself into some sort of trouble.
The Crocodile and the Gazelle
A reality cooking show on the verge of cancellation tries to shake things up with an aggressive-talking new chef who puts the nervous sous chef on edge.
The Fox and the Chameleon
Back to high school as a vixen teases her shy classmate and suffers some bullies.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Story 1. The Lion and the Bat -- Story 2. The Tiger and the Beaver -- Story 3. The Camel and the Wolf -- Story 4. The Kangaroo and the Black Panther -- Story 5. The Crocodile and the Gazelle -- Story 6. The Fox and the Chameleon
The Lion and the Bat
A student council president is tasked by a teacher with coaxing a dropout to return to school. But the bat in question has a legitimate reason to be upset when a carnivore shows up at his home.
The Tiger and the Beaver
Elementary school buddies have to defend their carnivore/herbivore friendship and stand up for the bullied.
The Camel and the Wolf
A journalist wants to write his last story about the complex relationship between predator and prey animals in his society, but when he asks a random wolf if she has ever had an uncontrollable urge to devour a predator the answer puts him in an unexpected position.
The Kangaroo and the Black Panther
The manager of a slowly failing hotel takes a fatherly interest in the furtive teen staying in one of his rooms who seems to have gotten herself into some sort of trouble.
The Crocodile and the Gazelle
A reality cooking show on the verge of cancellation tries to shake things up with an aggressive-talking new chef who puts the nervous sous chef on edge.
The Fox and the Chameleon
Back to high school as a vixen teases her shy classmate and suffers some bullies.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Story 1. The Lion and the Bat -- Story 2. The Tiger and the Beaver -- Story 3. The Camel and the Wolf -- Story 4. The Kangaroo and the Black Panther -- Story 5. The Crocodile and the Gazelle -- Story 6. The Fox and the Chameleon
December 2, 2021
Oh, to be a furry in the era of Queen Itagaki's success! What a time to be alive!
February 26, 2024
A collection of stories set in the Beastars universe, Beast Complex brings out a variet of characters and issues that can be explored in this anthropomorphic animal setting. To be fair, though, Beast Complex was the precursor to Beastars - and you can see how specific issues are then highlighted further, with more nuance in Beastars. We even have some common characters - the second story, about a young Siberian tiger named Gon, and his beaver friend, is about the current headmaster of Cherryton School. It gives a nice backstory for why he was so hesitant about the Beastars system and his approach as an educator, and his desire to see true harmony between herbivores and carnivores, and not just the veneer of cohabitation that it is.
Aside from this character, there are other stories that explore the complicated relationships between herbivores and carnivores, and how each fares under the current world order. The first story about a lion named Raul who is the typical ace student destined to shine in society as a respectable ideal of a carnivore or something, shows how carnivores are often ignorant of the fear herbivores live in, or how they have to keep on going despite violence being done to them. Another which evokes the atmosphere of fear for herbivores is the story of the camel and the wolf, where the camel lives in an area notoriously unsafe for herbivores. The stories center on the fear of herbivores, but not about paiting carnivores as villains as a whole. There are nuances to each, and they are taken into consideration character by character.
Perhaps my favorite was the herbivore-carnivore chef duo, where a gazelle sous chef is partnered with a crocodile chef on a popular cooking show and them working out their differences, or more like, the gazelle overcoming her prejudice a bit. Did I love that single panel of Legoshi and his roommates making an appearance? Certainly! But I also like it because it truly hits the core of the discord in this world - there are herbivores who are naturally fearful of the threat carnivores possess to them, but on the carnivore side, they, too have to suppress their natural cravings, and they do it because they wish to co-exist, but they also do not like being discriminated against because of what they are.
A break from the usual carnivore vs herbivore schism comes in the story of the chameleon and the fox, where the fox, who is being bullied by her other fox classmates resents the stereotypes attributed to her species, and especially resents the other foxes for living up to them. But, seeing her chameleon classmate, whose natural state of being is comfort in invisibility, she wishes that she could be as comfortable in her own skin as him.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
Aside from this character, there are other stories that explore the complicated relationships between herbivores and carnivores, and how each fares under the current world order. The first story about a lion named Raul who is the typical ace student destined to shine in society as a respectable ideal of a carnivore or something, shows how carnivores are often ignorant of the fear herbivores live in, or how they have to keep on going despite violence being done to them. Another which evokes the atmosphere of fear for herbivores is the story of the camel and the wolf, where the camel lives in an area notoriously unsafe for herbivores. The stories center on the fear of herbivores, but not about paiting carnivores as villains as a whole. There are nuances to each, and they are taken into consideration character by character.
Perhaps my favorite was the herbivore-carnivore chef duo, where a gazelle sous chef is partnered with a crocodile chef on a popular cooking show and them working out their differences, or more like, the gazelle overcoming her prejudice a bit. Did I love that single panel of Legoshi and his roommates making an appearance? Certainly! But I also like it because it truly hits the core of the discord in this world - there are herbivores who are naturally fearful of the threat carnivores possess to them, but on the carnivore side, they, too have to suppress their natural cravings, and they do it because they wish to co-exist, but they also do not like being discriminated against because of what they are.
A break from the usual carnivore vs herbivore schism comes in the story of the chameleon and the fox, where the fox, who is being bullied by her other fox classmates resents the stereotypes attributed to her species, and especially resents the other foxes for living up to them. But, seeing her chameleon classmate, whose natural state of being is comfort in invisibility, she wishes that she could be as comfortable in her own skin as him.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
April 25, 2023
I think I like these short stories more than the main Beastars series. I really like that each short story gave a completely different perspective on the issues between carnivores and herbivores.
If anything, I’m a bit upset since some of the stories were so good that I want to read more than 1 chapter of them.
If anything, I’m a bit upset since some of the stories were so good that I want to read more than 1 chapter of them.
March 4, 2024
Винаги ми е малко сложно да дам добра оценка на "Бийстари", понеже все още, въпреки дългото време, прекарано с историята, ми е малко некомфортна антропоморфнтата тематика. Ако човек успее да ѝ се изплъзне обаче, попада на доста добре развит свят и добре поставена история. Главната тема е неразбирателството между месоядни и тревопасни, но тя е само повърхността на цялата проблематика.
Конкретно това издание събира някои от първите уан-шот кратки истории на авторката, които добре улавят стила ѝ и начините ѝ на изразяване. Разглеждат се няколко типа взаимоотношения между тревопасни и месоядни. Имаме една-две по-любовни истории, няколко приятелски и няколко ежедневни. Някои прескочиха границата ми на комфорт, но не е като да не са любопитни.
Смятам, че тази манга е чудесен вариант за онези, които искат да проверят дали авторката е като за тях.
Конкретно това издание събира някои от първите уан-шот кратки истории на авторката, които добре улавят стила ѝ и начините ѝ на изразяване. Разглеждат се няколко типа взаимоотношения между тревопасни и месоядни. Имаме една-две по-любовни истории, няколко приятелски и няколко ежедневни. Някои прескочиха границата ми на комфорт, но не е като да не са любопитни.
Смятам, че тази манга е чудесен вариант за онези, които искат да проверят дали авторката е като за тях.
January 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this short story collection in the world that Beastars takes place. It truly was interesting to see other slice of life kind of stories. I will take as many volumes of this that the mangaka wants to write for sure.
April 22, 2021
Quattro episodi scritti prima e due durante Beastars dove le tematiche sono le stesse della serie madre: pregiudizio, discriminazione, istinti.
Paru Itagaki non solo ha bene a fuoco cosa vuole dire, ma lo dice anche benissimo.
Paru Itagaki non solo ha bene a fuoco cosa vuole dire, ma lo dice anche benissimo.
May 3, 2021
Beast Complex is a charming collection of 6 short stories from the Beastars universe and, after reading 11 volumes of Beastars, this manga was a very interesting and refreshing view into the wider world that Paru Itagaki has created. The only negative point I have is that we won't see any development of the characters in Beast Complex and they were all so interesting! You should definitely read this whether or not you've read any of Beastars.
July 29, 2021
Un petit recueil d'histoires courtes dans l'univers de Beastars ! Très sympa, j'aime beaucoup que les relations carnivores herbivores explorées ne soient pas que romantiques. Je pense que j'ai préféré celles sur des camarades de classe !
June 28, 2021
Gros coup de cœur. Chaque chapitre nous montre un duo Carnivore/Herbivore, la complexité de vivre dans une société comme celle-ci. C'est fascinant et touchant. Complète parfaitement Beastars !
July 29, 2023
this just made me want to rewatch/reread beastars again i love this universe so much………..
May 1, 2021
A collection of short stories showcasing the difficult dynamic between predators and prey.
A pre-cursor to Beastars introducing different relationships between Carnivores and Herbivores. The themes vary from friendship, stereotyping, romance, professional relationships, and economic challenges. Each story was very unique and focused on different animals. There are some familiar characters in the background from Beastars! The illustrations are realistic and capture the emotion and intensity in scenes. The dialogue and monologues are insightful and short. There is a lot of room for readers to "fill in the blank" for different situations and come to their own conclusions. Two of the stories had sexual undertones that were odd and bordering on fetish. The plots were generally standard "day in the life" of an animal with some drama. It's clear to see how these stories inspired Beastars.
Readers who enjoyed Beastars will enjoy these short stories. However, I thought the stories were generally underwhelming and slow.
A pre-cursor to Beastars introducing different relationships between Carnivores and Herbivores. The themes vary from friendship, stereotyping, romance, professional relationships, and economic challenges. Each story was very unique and focused on different animals. There are some familiar characters in the background from Beastars! The illustrations are realistic and capture the emotion and intensity in scenes. The dialogue and monologues are insightful and short. There is a lot of room for readers to "fill in the blank" for different situations and come to their own conclusions. Two of the stories had sexual undertones that were odd and bordering on fetish. The plots were generally standard "day in the life" of an animal with some drama. It's clear to see how these stories inspired Beastars.
Readers who enjoyed Beastars will enjoy these short stories. However, I thought the stories were generally underwhelming and slow.
March 17, 2021
There were 6 stories in this manga volume which means each story was so incredibly short...and yet I cried with 2 of the stories still! I actually loved every single story in this volume. If you are a fan of Beastars the manga or the anime, this is definitely something you need to get your hands on and read.
Every single pair I was like "oh man I wonder how this relationship is going to work out" and it ended to well. Every story was about a carnivore and a herbivore pair and how they interact with eachother through friendships, relationships, and prejudices and stereotypes. My favorite was the Lion and the Bat. I really did start tearing up by the end of that story. Second favorite was the Tiger and the Beaver. Highly highly recommend even if I wished the stories were a bit longer and fleshed out.
Thank you NetGalley for providing the advanced copy I read.
Every single pair I was like "oh man I wonder how this relationship is going to work out" and it ended to well. Every story was about a carnivore and a herbivore pair and how they interact with eachother through friendships, relationships, and prejudices and stereotypes. My favorite was the Lion and the Bat. I really did start tearing up by the end of that story. Second favorite was the Tiger and the Beaver. Highly highly recommend even if I wished the stories were a bit longer and fleshed out.
Thank you NetGalley for providing the advanced copy I read.
March 10, 2021
My favorite thing about Beastars, what drew me into the series and kept me reading, is the incredible world building. I held off on starting it for a long time because I assumed the animal aesthetic was only surface deep, so I was absolutely floored by the obvious amount of work Paru Itagaki puts into making this universe believable.
Beast Complex expands on that world building with short stories focusing on individual relationships between carnivores and herbivores. Five of the six stories in the first volume take place outside of high school central to Beaststars, so if you've ever longed to learn more about this world and its inhabitants, definitely check out this spin-off.
Beast Complex expands on that world building with short stories focusing on individual relationships between carnivores and herbivores. Five of the six stories in the first volume take place outside of high school central to Beaststars, so if you've ever longed to learn more about this world and its inhabitants, definitely check out this spin-off.
May 10, 2021
As it happens, Paru Itagaki has loved drawing animals and animal-people since she was a child. So it’s no surprise that when she started professional manga creation, she chose to write about a world where various animal people lived together and tried to have a civilization. Before she landed a long-term contract for Beastars, (the anime adaptation of which I’ve reviewed), she started a series of linked short stories under the blanket title “Beast Complex.”
Each story in this first volume is titled after two people’s animal identities, and features a different aspect of people’s relationships with each other.
“The Lion and the Bat” features Raul, who is the student council president and good at both academics and athletics. He’s driven to succeed, but that leaves him vulnerable to teacher “requests.” In this case, his nocturnal classmate Azmo has not been to school in some time and the teacher asks Raul to try to convince the bat to start attending again.
As it turns out, Azmo has been having a rough time, and has reason to distrust lions. Raul must set aside his pride to help Azmo, and learns that sometimes you don’t get the results you want, even if the outcome is positive for those you reach out to.
“The Tiger and the Beaver” is set in elementary school. Gon and Mogu are ten, and lifelong friends. But soon their bodies will change, and Gon will become an enormous carnivore, while Mogu won’t get much larger. That’s why their school separates the dorms. But Gon wants to stay friends with Mogu. When they witness bullying by older students, the boys know they have to stop it, even if it risks both their safeties.
“The Camel and the Wolf” is a tale of a burnt-out journalist about to file his last story about “street devourers” (carnivores who eat herbivores right there in public), and the beautiful white wolf he meets. Can he learn from her why some carnivores are murderous?
“The Kangaroo and the Black Panther” takes place in a crime-ridden city with declining tourism. The kangaroo runs a hotel that’s seen better days, and he’s startled when a teenage black panther girl asks for a room. She’s either in trouble, or is trouble, but he can hardly claim not to have any vacancies. Notably, the kangaroo has a gun.
“The Crocodile and the Gazelle” focuses on the long-running cooking show “Happy Happy Cooking.” Luna has been the assistant chef for five years, and knows that the ratings have been steadily dropping, but is still upset when the cattle host retires in favor of Benny, who’s a culinary scientist…and a seven foot tall saltwater crocodile. Can this odd couple learn to work together and save the show from cancellation?
“The Fox and the Chameleon” brings us back to junior high school. The fox is being bullied by her fellow fox classmates; the only person who she can get along with is a shy chameleon boy. (Unlike real life, chameleons can effectively become invisible just standing in the middle of nowhere.)
As I’ve mentioned before, using anthropomorphic animals allows the writer to talk about issues like prejudice and social injustice without directly mapping them on real-life racism or ethnic divides. The kangaroo can certainly be thought of as an Australian expatriate and the black panther girl as of African descent, but they aren’t necessarily those categories. Carnivore vs. herbivore makes for a very different vibe in the social confrontations.
On the other hand, the similarities between our Earth’s culture and theirs sometimes weaken the suspension of disbelief. (The author notes this in her end omake; she’s of the opinion that you shouldn’t overthink it.)
The art makes it easy to tell even characters of the same species apart–look for the Legoshi cameos!
A couple of the stories come across a bit trite, but I think younger readers will still find them fresh.
Recommended for furry fans, and people who enjoyed Beastars.
Each story in this first volume is titled after two people’s animal identities, and features a different aspect of people’s relationships with each other.
“The Lion and the Bat” features Raul, who is the student council president and good at both academics and athletics. He’s driven to succeed, but that leaves him vulnerable to teacher “requests.” In this case, his nocturnal classmate Azmo has not been to school in some time and the teacher asks Raul to try to convince the bat to start attending again.
As it turns out, Azmo has been having a rough time, and has reason to distrust lions. Raul must set aside his pride to help Azmo, and learns that sometimes you don’t get the results you want, even if the outcome is positive for those you reach out to.
“The Tiger and the Beaver” is set in elementary school. Gon and Mogu are ten, and lifelong friends. But soon their bodies will change, and Gon will become an enormous carnivore, while Mogu won’t get much larger. That’s why their school separates the dorms. But Gon wants to stay friends with Mogu. When they witness bullying by older students, the boys know they have to stop it, even if it risks both their safeties.
“The Camel and the Wolf” is a tale of a burnt-out journalist about to file his last story about “street devourers” (carnivores who eat herbivores right there in public), and the beautiful white wolf he meets. Can he learn from her why some carnivores are murderous?
“The Kangaroo and the Black Panther” takes place in a crime-ridden city with declining tourism. The kangaroo runs a hotel that’s seen better days, and he’s startled when a teenage black panther girl asks for a room. She’s either in trouble, or is trouble, but he can hardly claim not to have any vacancies. Notably, the kangaroo has a gun.
“The Crocodile and the Gazelle” focuses on the long-running cooking show “Happy Happy Cooking.” Luna has been the assistant chef for five years, and knows that the ratings have been steadily dropping, but is still upset when the cattle host retires in favor of Benny, who’s a culinary scientist…and a seven foot tall saltwater crocodile. Can this odd couple learn to work together and save the show from cancellation?
“The Fox and the Chameleon” brings us back to junior high school. The fox is being bullied by her fellow fox classmates; the only person who she can get along with is a shy chameleon boy. (Unlike real life, chameleons can effectively become invisible just standing in the middle of nowhere.)
As I’ve mentioned before, using anthropomorphic animals allows the writer to talk about issues like prejudice and social injustice without directly mapping them on real-life racism or ethnic divides. The kangaroo can certainly be thought of as an Australian expatriate and the black panther girl as of African descent, but they aren’t necessarily those categories. Carnivore vs. herbivore makes for a very different vibe in the social confrontations.
On the other hand, the similarities between our Earth’s culture and theirs sometimes weaken the suspension of disbelief. (The author notes this in her end omake; she’s of the opinion that you shouldn’t overthink it.)
The art makes it easy to tell even characters of the same species apart–look for the Legoshi cameos!
A couple of the stories come across a bit trite, but I think younger readers will still find them fresh.
Recommended for furry fans, and people who enjoyed Beastars.
December 1, 2023
Chronique complète :
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2023/...
Extrait :
Petit série, mais surtout spin off de Beastars, Beast complex a déjà de quoi taper dans l’œil si on a bien aimé la saga principale. Série en trois volumes, il n’y a pas vraiment de fil conducteur à première vue, l’intérêt de ce spin off est de mettre en avant d’autres personnages dans cet univers riche qu’est Beastars au travers de courts récits. Les titres des chapitres, et donc, des histoires courtes, me rappelles beaucoup les comptines de Jean de la Fontaine.
Ce premier tome comporte six histoires inédites dans l’univers de Beastars, que ce soit à l’école dès le plus jeune âge, au lycée, ou bien lors du travail. Les habitants de cet univers sont tous confrontés régulièrement aux mêmes problèmes. Les tensions entre les herbivores et les carnivores semblent omniprésentes, mais il y en a également au sein même des deux groupes. Au final, ne sont t’ils pas tous les mêmes ? Des êtres vivants ayant parfois du mal à agir correctement en présence d’autrui ? Certaines intrigues redonnent de l’espoir, d’autres montrent la réalité et enfin quelques-unes m’ont laissées perplexes. En tous cas, l’auteur arrive à rendre ses personnages attachants assez rapidement, quand il souhaite qu’ils le soient. Les histoires sont variées et se placent vraiment dans la vie de tous les jours, plus rarement dans des situations assez rares.
Pour l’intrigue qui m’a le plus marqué, je dirais que c’est celle avec le lion et la chauve-souris. Elle démontre qu’avec des efforts continus on pourrait tous s’entendre, et que malgré nos masques teintés de perfection, personne ne l’est vraiment. Entre manquement des cours, harcèlements, romance et mal-être la série évoque vraiment pas mal de choses, et c’est le cas aussi de ce spin off. L’histoire de la chauve-souris est quand même assez triste, et même si elle se termine plutôt bien, une pointe de déception reste. Le lion, qui s’était ouvert pour la première fois à quelqu’un se retrouve de nouveau seul, mais désormais, il est plus proche d’arriver à changer par lui-même. L’autre intrigue que j’ai trouvée prenante, c’est le tigre et le castor, qui se déroule durant l’enfance cette fois-ci. Jeunes et insouciants, les enfants ne comprennent pas toujours certaines décisions des adultes. Imprudents, ils vont donc parfois à l’encontre des règles, où se pensent suffisamment fort pour agir. Manque de bol, ils sont souvent déçus, se rendant compte que les risques pris, ne valaient peut-être pas le coup. Mais ils sont surtout persuadés d’une chose : ils ne changeront pas, tout comme leurs relations. Mais est-ce seulement possible ?
[...]
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2023/...
Extrait :
Petit série, mais surtout spin off de Beastars, Beast complex a déjà de quoi taper dans l’œil si on a bien aimé la saga principale. Série en trois volumes, il n’y a pas vraiment de fil conducteur à première vue, l’intérêt de ce spin off est de mettre en avant d’autres personnages dans cet univers riche qu’est Beastars au travers de courts récits. Les titres des chapitres, et donc, des histoires courtes, me rappelles beaucoup les comptines de Jean de la Fontaine.
Ce premier tome comporte six histoires inédites dans l’univers de Beastars, que ce soit à l’école dès le plus jeune âge, au lycée, ou bien lors du travail. Les habitants de cet univers sont tous confrontés régulièrement aux mêmes problèmes. Les tensions entre les herbivores et les carnivores semblent omniprésentes, mais il y en a également au sein même des deux groupes. Au final, ne sont t’ils pas tous les mêmes ? Des êtres vivants ayant parfois du mal à agir correctement en présence d’autrui ? Certaines intrigues redonnent de l’espoir, d’autres montrent la réalité et enfin quelques-unes m’ont laissées perplexes. En tous cas, l’auteur arrive à rendre ses personnages attachants assez rapidement, quand il souhaite qu’ils le soient. Les histoires sont variées et se placent vraiment dans la vie de tous les jours, plus rarement dans des situations assez rares.
Pour l’intrigue qui m’a le plus marqué, je dirais que c’est celle avec le lion et la chauve-souris. Elle démontre qu’avec des efforts continus on pourrait tous s’entendre, et que malgré nos masques teintés de perfection, personne ne l’est vraiment. Entre manquement des cours, harcèlements, romance et mal-être la série évoque vraiment pas mal de choses, et c’est le cas aussi de ce spin off. L’histoire de la chauve-souris est quand même assez triste, et même si elle se termine plutôt bien, une pointe de déception reste. Le lion, qui s’était ouvert pour la première fois à quelqu’un se retrouve de nouveau seul, mais désormais, il est plus proche d’arriver à changer par lui-même. L’autre intrigue que j’ai trouvée prenante, c’est le tigre et le castor, qui se déroule durant l’enfance cette fois-ci. Jeunes et insouciants, les enfants ne comprennent pas toujours certaines décisions des adultes. Imprudents, ils vont donc parfois à l’encontre des règles, où se pensent suffisamment fort pour agir. Manque de bol, ils sont souvent déçus, se rendant compte que les risques pris, ne valaient peut-être pas le coup. Mais ils sont surtout persuadés d’une chose : ils ne changeront pas, tout comme leurs relations. Mais est-ce seulement possible ?
[...]
August 14, 2021
Comme je ne fais jamais rien comme tout le monde, que je n’ai ni lu Beastars ni vu l’anime, je me suis dis pourquoi pas commencer par le spin off ma foi tant qu’à faire! Je me suis donc laissé tenter par ce premier tome que j’ai adoré! Il m’a donné envie de découvrir la saga principale mais aussi l’anime. Bon je vous avoue que le manga est dans ma PAL et l’anime dans ma watchlist depuis belle lurette mais bon clairement je n’ai pas assez de temps devant moi pour tout concilier. Il faudrait des journées beaucoup plus longues pour pouvoir lire et regarder tout ce qu’on a à lire et regarder haha.
e spin off est en fait un recueil de petites histoires. En effet, il n’y a pas de fil conducteur à l’histoire si ce n’est que l’on évolue dans le monde des carni et des herbi. Chaque chapitre nous montre une histoire entre deux personnages, qui sont souvent particulier. Par exemple nous avons le dromadaire et la louve ou encore le tigre et le castor. Deux animaux qui n’ont strictement rien à faire ensemble aux premiers abords. Un herbivore et un carnivore. Et pourtant, ces petites histoires nous transmettent un joli message sur la tolérance.
J’ai vraiment apprécié ce premier tome du spin off et ça me conforte dans le fait qu’il faut que je m’intéresse plus à Beastars et ça le plus vite possible! On découvre le monde divisé en deux, d’un côtés les herbivores et de l’autre les carnivores. La cohabitation est difficile, les carnivores n’ont pas le droit de manger de viande et, forcément, pour certains c’est difficile. Mais toutes ces petites histories vont au delà des préjugés et compagnie. On a une merveilleuse histoire d’amitié entre un petit castor et un petit tigre ou encore une jolie histoire d’amour entre une renarde et un caméléon. Et j’ai trouvé ça vraiment beau.
Ce spin off m’a vraiment beaucoup plu. Au début je ne m’attendais pas à ce que soit de simples petites histoires. Je pensais suivre une seule et unique histoire mais pas du tout. Mais découvrir toutes ces petites histories est vraiment quelque chose que j’ai beaucoup aimé. On a un joli message derrière qui parle de tolérance, de ne pas s’arrêter aux apparences et aller au delà de ça. J’ai vraiment adoré cette lecture et je vais m’empresser de me mettre soit à la lecture du manga principal soit au moins déjà regarder l’anime!
e spin off est en fait un recueil de petites histoires. En effet, il n’y a pas de fil conducteur à l’histoire si ce n’est que l’on évolue dans le monde des carni et des herbi. Chaque chapitre nous montre une histoire entre deux personnages, qui sont souvent particulier. Par exemple nous avons le dromadaire et la louve ou encore le tigre et le castor. Deux animaux qui n’ont strictement rien à faire ensemble aux premiers abords. Un herbivore et un carnivore. Et pourtant, ces petites histoires nous transmettent un joli message sur la tolérance.
J’ai vraiment apprécié ce premier tome du spin off et ça me conforte dans le fait qu’il faut que je m’intéresse plus à Beastars et ça le plus vite possible! On découvre le monde divisé en deux, d’un côtés les herbivores et de l’autre les carnivores. La cohabitation est difficile, les carnivores n’ont pas le droit de manger de viande et, forcément, pour certains c’est difficile. Mais toutes ces petites histories vont au delà des préjugés et compagnie. On a une merveilleuse histoire d’amitié entre un petit castor et un petit tigre ou encore une jolie histoire d’amour entre une renarde et un caméléon. Et j’ai trouvé ça vraiment beau.
Ce spin off m’a vraiment beaucoup plu. Au début je ne m’attendais pas à ce que soit de simples petites histoires. Je pensais suivre une seule et unique histoire mais pas du tout. Mais découvrir toutes ces petites histories est vraiment quelque chose que j’ai beaucoup aimé. On a un joli message derrière qui parle de tolérance, de ne pas s’arrêter aux apparences et aller au delà de ça. J’ai vraiment adoré cette lecture et je vais m’empresser de me mettre soit à la lecture du manga principal soit au moins déjà regarder l’anime!
August 5, 2021
https://songedunenuitdete.com/2021/07...
Beast Complex est donc un recueil de nouvelles. Celles-ci ont été imaginées par Paru Itagaki avant sa série principale, il s’agit donc des fondations de Beastars et je dois avouer que cela se voit. Parce que le graphisme est, je trouve, assez inégal. La mangaka en est aux balbutiements de ce qu’elle nous offrira par la suite dans Beastars.
Cependant, cela ne m’a pas empêché d’apprécier grandement cette genèse d’un univers riche avec des personnages forts. Certaines nouvelles m’ont plus accroché que d’autres même si dans l’ensemble, elles sont toutes passionnantes à lire. Par leur force narrative avec des personnages ambivalents et intéressants à découvrir. Chaque nouvelle confronte un carnivore avec un herbivore et autant le dire, certaines sont fortes et riches en émotions. Malgré leurs différences et la génétique qui les sépare, malgré l’instinct qui les pousse soit à fuir soit à attaquer, ils finissent invariablement par devoir cohabiter dans un monde qui les pousse à se respecter.
Par exemple, dans l’histoire du Tigre et du Castor, les deux amis se demandent si la vie finira par les séparer. Parce qu’ils sont à un âge où l’amitié prévaut sur leurs instincts primaires et sur les différences. J’ai trouvé ça beau et triste à la fois. Ou encore cette histoire rencontre improbable entre une louve et un dromadaire qui laisse à réfléchir quant à son dénouement. Et puis il y a celle du Crocodile et de la Gazelle qui se retrouvent à animer une émission culinaire ensemble. On va dire que leurs goûts divergent et que la pauvre herbivore n’est pas franchement rassurée.
Enfin bref, vous l’avez compris, malgré un dessin encore hésitant, je me suis régalée avec ce premier tome qui montre tout le génie de Paru Itagaki. Au-delà de leur apparence, elle a réussi à humaniser ses animaux et à nous les rendre crédibles et… attachants, tous à leur manière. Et, il y a une force absolue que je ressens dans chaque intrigue qui montre à quel point la mangaka est humaniste de bien des manières. C’est vraiment beau.
Beast Complex est donc un recueil de nouvelles. Celles-ci ont été imaginées par Paru Itagaki avant sa série principale, il s’agit donc des fondations de Beastars et je dois avouer que cela se voit. Parce que le graphisme est, je trouve, assez inégal. La mangaka en est aux balbutiements de ce qu’elle nous offrira par la suite dans Beastars.
Cependant, cela ne m’a pas empêché d’apprécier grandement cette genèse d’un univers riche avec des personnages forts. Certaines nouvelles m’ont plus accroché que d’autres même si dans l’ensemble, elles sont toutes passionnantes à lire. Par leur force narrative avec des personnages ambivalents et intéressants à découvrir. Chaque nouvelle confronte un carnivore avec un herbivore et autant le dire, certaines sont fortes et riches en émotions. Malgré leurs différences et la génétique qui les sépare, malgré l’instinct qui les pousse soit à fuir soit à attaquer, ils finissent invariablement par devoir cohabiter dans un monde qui les pousse à se respecter.
Par exemple, dans l’histoire du Tigre et du Castor, les deux amis se demandent si la vie finira par les séparer. Parce qu’ils sont à un âge où l’amitié prévaut sur leurs instincts primaires et sur les différences. J’ai trouvé ça beau et triste à la fois. Ou encore cette histoire rencontre improbable entre une louve et un dromadaire qui laisse à réfléchir quant à son dénouement. Et puis il y a celle du Crocodile et de la Gazelle qui se retrouvent à animer une émission culinaire ensemble. On va dire que leurs goûts divergent et que la pauvre herbivore n’est pas franchement rassurée.
Enfin bref, vous l’avez compris, malgré un dessin encore hésitant, je me suis régalée avec ce premier tome qui montre tout le génie de Paru Itagaki. Au-delà de leur apparence, elle a réussi à humaniser ses animaux et à nous les rendre crédibles et… attachants, tous à leur manière. Et, il y a une force absolue que je ressens dans chaque intrigue qui montre à quel point la mangaka est humaniste de bien des manières. C’est vraiment beau.
October 4, 2022
Set in the same world as her later series, BEASTARS, Beast Complex is an earlier series that would set up a premise of what would be coming in the future. This volume collects six short stories that would show the tension between herbivores and carnivores, from friendships to romance, every tale is something that someone can relate to in a way.
In another sense, short story anthologies can get complicated in keeping the reader interested, but it wasn’t the case with this series. Each story is short, small in scale, and focused on two characters understanding each other, and don’t deviate from what she is trying to tell in her world, and that is one of Paru’s greatest strengths.
Each story had a lesson behind them, most would argue that it was a cliche, but in this day and age, it is something that is needed in a world that is quick to judge without getting all the facts.
Lion and the Bat: A Highschool Student that is a Lion with high aspirations and long-term goals is brought back down to earth when he meets a Bat that changes his life forever.
The Tiger & The Beaver: A Tale (I swear, this pun was not intended,) is about two boys who are determined to be friends, despite their differences.
The Camel & The Wolf: A Noir-Themed Tale involves a Camel who was a News Reporter that was reporting on “The Nature of Carnivores,” until he met a female wolf who swept him off his feet.
The Panther & The Kangaroo: A Kangaroo Inn-Keeper meets a young panther who has a snarky attitude but finds out a terrible secret about her.
The Crocodile & The Gazelle: The Gazelle is an assistant cook on a cooking show, but she isn’t thrilled to find out that the new chef is a Crocodile, chaos ensues, but it ends up being a light-hearted romp.
The Fox & The Chameleon: A Female Fox struggles with bullies and stereotypes while the chameleon learns how not to blend in. This was one of my favorite short stories in this anthology.
While this was her earliest work, the art, and the writing was great. It is the perfect thing to tie a BEASTARS fan or new readers over until the final season premieres, along with the other BEASTARS Volumes.
In another sense, short story anthologies can get complicated in keeping the reader interested, but it wasn’t the case with this series. Each story is short, small in scale, and focused on two characters understanding each other, and don’t deviate from what she is trying to tell in her world, and that is one of Paru’s greatest strengths.
Each story had a lesson behind them, most would argue that it was a cliche, but in this day and age, it is something that is needed in a world that is quick to judge without getting all the facts.
Lion and the Bat: A Highschool Student that is a Lion with high aspirations and long-term goals is brought back down to earth when he meets a Bat that changes his life forever.
The Tiger & The Beaver: A Tale (I swear, this pun was not intended,) is about two boys who are determined to be friends, despite their differences.
The Camel & The Wolf: A Noir-Themed Tale involves a Camel who was a News Reporter that was reporting on “The Nature of Carnivores,” until he met a female wolf who swept him off his feet.
The Panther & The Kangaroo: A Kangaroo Inn-Keeper meets a young panther who has a snarky attitude but finds out a terrible secret about her.
The Crocodile & The Gazelle: The Gazelle is an assistant cook on a cooking show, but she isn’t thrilled to find out that the new chef is a Crocodile, chaos ensues, but it ends up being a light-hearted romp.
The Fox & The Chameleon: A Female Fox struggles with bullies and stereotypes while the chameleon learns how not to blend in. This was one of my favorite short stories in this anthology.
While this was her earliest work, the art, and the writing was great. It is the perfect thing to tie a BEASTARS fan or new readers over until the final season premieres, along with the other BEASTARS Volumes.
February 17, 2021
Received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
These are all short stories set within the Beastars universe, if you haven't read those, go check it out! I think this is still somewhat easy to follow, but it's still better to read the Beastars manga, or the first couple of volumes in order to better understand the conflicts within the world.
Overall, I really enjoyed the stories and Paru's artwork! I hope we get more like this, I love the Beastars world and its complex machinations. I also like how Paru, despite having similar creatures like a tiger and a wolf from Beastars appear in Beast Complex, they're still unique enough to be their own characters instead of carbon copies of the Beastars cast.
The Lion & The Bat: A lion with high aspirations and great long-term goals is shaken to the core thanks to the words of a small bat. Very sweet story
The Tiger & The Beaver: A story focusing on two children who are determined to stay friends despite their differences. Oh man, this one was so bittersweet. Great, but bittersweet.
The Camel & The Wolf: A camel is about to write a scathing article on predators until a beautiful wolf sweeps him off his feet. The art style with the camel was fantastic, he truly looked like a nervous, broken down newspaper reporter. Definitely an odd story, but the camel's style was awesome.
The Kangaroo & The Black Panther: A kangaroo owns an inn and a young panther buys a room. The kangaroo's deadpan snark was hilarious. Can't believe he literally told his friend to buy him at the black market if he ever ends up in there, wow. A tragic story, but still interesting.
The Crocodile & The Gazelle: A gazelle is an assistant chef on a cooking show...she's not happy about the new chef because he's a predator. A lighthearted romp that was pretty entertaining, great banter between the two.
The Fox & The Chameleon: A fox deals with bullies and is frustrated by the stereotypes while a chameleon learns what it means to not blend in. A sweet story, the fox's frustrations with the bullies was relatable.
These are all short stories set within the Beastars universe, if you haven't read those, go check it out! I think this is still somewhat easy to follow, but it's still better to read the Beastars manga, or the first couple of volumes in order to better understand the conflicts within the world.
Overall, I really enjoyed the stories and Paru's artwork! I hope we get more like this, I love the Beastars world and its complex machinations. I also like how Paru, despite having similar creatures like a tiger and a wolf from Beastars appear in Beast Complex, they're still unique enough to be their own characters instead of carbon copies of the Beastars cast.
The Lion & The Bat: A lion with high aspirations and great long-term goals is shaken to the core thanks to the words of a small bat. Very sweet story
The Tiger & The Beaver: A story focusing on two children who are determined to stay friends despite their differences. Oh man, this one was so bittersweet. Great, but bittersweet.
The Camel & The Wolf: A camel is about to write a scathing article on predators until a beautiful wolf sweeps him off his feet. The art style with the camel was fantastic, he truly looked like a nervous, broken down newspaper reporter. Definitely an odd story, but the camel's style was awesome.
The Kangaroo & The Black Panther: A kangaroo owns an inn and a young panther buys a room. The kangaroo's deadpan snark was hilarious. Can't believe he literally told his friend to buy him at the black market if he ever ends up in there, wow. A tragic story, but still interesting.
The Crocodile & The Gazelle: A gazelle is an assistant chef on a cooking show...she's not happy about the new chef because he's a predator. A lighthearted romp that was pretty entertaining, great banter between the two.
The Fox & The Chameleon: A fox deals with bullies and is frustrated by the stereotypes while a chameleon learns what it means to not blend in. A sweet story, the fox's frustrations with the bullies was relatable.
August 5, 2021
Pensare che l'autrice sia del 1993 e ai tempi della pubblicazione di questo manga fosse poco più che ventenne mi fa sentire un pelo invidioso. Questa raccolta di racconti ambientati nel mondo di Beastars sorprende per profondità, poetica e maturità. Non voglio spoilerare troppo ma le storie che mi hanno colpito di più sono state "Il canguro e la pantera nera" e "La volpe e il camaleonte" (forse quest'ultima è la mia preferita). Nei suoi racconti l'autrice descrive le ambivalenze, sofferenze, dinamiche, dissapori e a volte addirittura unioni e complicità tra erbivori e carnivori senza mai essere scontata e banale. Attraverso gli animali e la loro specifica natura riesce a descrivere un certo tipo di comportamento umano racchiuso in uno specifico spettro o in uno specifico contesto. Ci sono la paura della crescita e dell'eventuale separazione (o fine di tutto), c'è la critica sociale allo show televisivo moderno, la paura del diverso, l'odio per sé stessi, la paura della solitudine, il bullismo, insomma ci sono tutti gli argomenti moderni e di rilievo della nostra generazione ma con una scrittura e una rappresentazione completamente nuove. Lo stile della Itagaki è assolutamente riconoscibile e matura di capitolo in capitolo (gli ultimi due infatti sono stati disegnati durante la serializzazione di Beastars ed è evidente la maturità stilistica dell'autrice). Personalmente amo molto il suo tratto sperimentale e il suo amore per la cultura e l'art nouveau francese abbastanza evidente anche in Beastars. Concludo dicendo che è difficile rimanere delusi da questo manga, credo che la Itagaki sia tra la schiera di nuovi autori/mangaka della nuova generazione destinata a restare e a brillare nel tempo.
January 7, 2023
Beast Complex has a totally different flavor to Beastars as a collection of short stories set in the same universe. Both Beast Complex and Beastars are amazing, and I can���t choose between them—but I will say that Beastars has impressed me completely with the wildness of its worldbuilding. Paru Itagaki answers questions in her serial manga which are evident of a thorough understanding of the universe she has endeavored to create. So, for me, this collection is completely charming, but it is because of how successful Beastars is as a series for me.
A bit about each story:
- The Lion and the Bat had me in love with the bat character design.
- I wish The Tiger and The Beaver gave a little more focus to the Beaver. I loved the younger protagonists and the struggles of the tiger kid.
- The Camel and the Wolf really surprised me! What a great story.
- The Kangaroo and the Black Panther was perhaps the most touching story of this collection for me, and I really liked the character designs of the two main characters.
- The Crocodile and the Gazelle was for me the most tense story of the collection. LOVED the Crocodile’s design! Paru’s reptiles are so cool.
- The Fox and the Chameleon was extremely sweet, maybe the sweetest of the volume.
This first Beast Complex collection is also interesting because Itagaki’s artwork is very clearly pre-Beastars to start, and improves in later stories in the volume. That alone is lovely to see all at once.
While some prefer this to Beastars, I love both and will honestly read anything Paru Itagaki puts out. (Looking forward to Drip Drip at some point.) Itagaki-sensei, please keep your beast world alive!
A bit about each story:
- The Lion and the Bat had me in love with the bat character design.
- I wish The Tiger and The Beaver gave a little more focus to the Beaver. I loved the younger protagonists and the struggles of the tiger kid.
- The Camel and the Wolf really surprised me! What a great story.
- The Kangaroo and the Black Panther was perhaps the most touching story of this collection for me, and I really liked the character designs of the two main characters.
- The Crocodile and the Gazelle was for me the most tense story of the collection. LOVED the Crocodile’s design! Paru’s reptiles are so cool.
- The Fox and the Chameleon was extremely sweet, maybe the sweetest of the volume.
This first Beast Complex collection is also interesting because Itagaki’s artwork is very clearly pre-Beastars to start, and improves in later stories in the volume. That alone is lovely to see all at once.
While some prefer this to Beastars, I love both and will honestly read anything Paru Itagaki puts out. (Looking forward to Drip Drip at some point.) Itagaki-sensei, please keep your beast world alive!
January 28, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
So Beastars has finished its run, but there is still content to be enjoyed. Many people, including myself, are waiting for the second season of Beastars to come out on Netflix, but there is also this anthology to enjoy as well.
This is a collection of short stories, with different characters, but set in the Beastars world. It was interesting to learn that some of these stories were written before Itagaki wrote Beastars, and you can tell. This definitely feels like the foundation of a bigger story waiting to be developed, and I think that’s why I enjoyed it more. I loved seeing where the world building began, how Beastars was created from this collection of stories, and how certain character arcs came to be. You can even see Legoshi in one of the panels. It was fascinating to see Itagaki’s process, knowing her little drabble’s would spawn into a larger and fascinating story.
However, on their own, the stories needed more time and development because the world is too interesting to not develop further. I had a few I really liked, such as the story with the the Fox and the Chameleon, the Lion and the Bat, and the Camel and the Wolf. The problem is that Beastars is a much more superior version, so these short stories aren’t enough to stand on their own, but as a companion piece it’s a nice addition to your Beastars collection. I definitely recommend this to any Beastars fan who aren’t ready to let the story go.
So Beastars has finished its run, but there is still content to be enjoyed. Many people, including myself, are waiting for the second season of Beastars to come out on Netflix, but there is also this anthology to enjoy as well.
This is a collection of short stories, with different characters, but set in the Beastars world. It was interesting to learn that some of these stories were written before Itagaki wrote Beastars, and you can tell. This definitely feels like the foundation of a bigger story waiting to be developed, and I think that’s why I enjoyed it more. I loved seeing where the world building began, how Beastars was created from this collection of stories, and how certain character arcs came to be. You can even see Legoshi in one of the panels. It was fascinating to see Itagaki’s process, knowing her little drabble’s would spawn into a larger and fascinating story.
However, on their own, the stories needed more time and development because the world is too interesting to not develop further. I had a few I really liked, such as the story with the the Fox and the Chameleon, the Lion and the Bat, and the Camel and the Wolf. The problem is that Beastars is a much more superior version, so these short stories aren’t enough to stand on their own, but as a companion piece it’s a nice addition to your Beastars collection. I definitely recommend this to any Beastars fan who aren’t ready to let the story go.
July 18, 2021
https://lapommequirougit.com/2021/07/...
Un titre surprenant qui m’a rendu très curieuse quant au manga beastars, que je risque de mettre immédiatement dans ma wishlist !
Ici, nous allons y découvrir les origines du monde de Beastars. Pour ma part, c’est un titre que je n’ai pas lu et j’hésitais à le mettre dans ma wishlist, mais après cette lecture, autant vous dire, j’ai très envie de lire cette saga !
Nous suivons alors six petites histoires, qui vont mettre en avant une chose fondamentale, le problème qui est la base de l’univers, la relation houleuse entre les herbivores et les carnivores.
Ainsi, nous y découvrirons des relations particulières, des préjugés un peu tranché, qui vont tous mettre en avant une chose fondamentale : la tolérance. Ce titre nous apprend à ne pas se fier à l’apparence, aux origines tout en nous racontant des petites histoires touchantes.
En bref, c’est un titre qui m’a bien plu. La saga est terminée en trois tomes, mais autant vous dire, cela m’a vraiment rendu curieuse quant à Beastars. Un titre qui peut être intéressant pour ceux qui veulent s’introduire à l’univers ou pour les fans de la saga !
Un titre surprenant qui m’a rendu très curieuse quant au manga beastars, que je risque de mettre immédiatement dans ma wishlist !
Ici, nous allons y découvrir les origines du monde de Beastars. Pour ma part, c’est un titre que je n’ai pas lu et j’hésitais à le mettre dans ma wishlist, mais après cette lecture, autant vous dire, j’ai très envie de lire cette saga !
Nous suivons alors six petites histoires, qui vont mettre en avant une chose fondamentale, le problème qui est la base de l’univers, la relation houleuse entre les herbivores et les carnivores.
Ainsi, nous y découvrirons des relations particulières, des préjugés un peu tranché, qui vont tous mettre en avant une chose fondamentale : la tolérance. Ce titre nous apprend à ne pas se fier à l’apparence, aux origines tout en nous racontant des petites histoires touchantes.
En bref, c’est un titre qui m’a bien plu. La saga est terminée en trois tomes, mais autant vous dire, cela m’a vraiment rendu curieuse quant à Beastars. Un titre qui peut être intéressant pour ceux qui veulent s’introduire à l’univers ou pour les fans de la saga !
February 9, 2022
On retrouve dans cette série d'histoires courtes tous les éléments de l'univers de Beastars : la dualité entre herbivores et carnivores, le marché clandestin, les problèmes sociétaux du monde animal... et tout comme dans la série à succès, on retrouve déjà des personnages qui tentent de bousculer l'ordre établi et de rendre bénéfique pour tous la cohabitation entreherbi' et carni'.
Et pour les plus curieux, il faut savoir que Beast Complex est à l'origine de Beastars ! D'après les notes de l'autrice, cette dernière série a été créée entre les chapitres 4 et 5 de ce premier volume. Ce qui explique le changement de style, qui parait moins "tremblottant" que dans les premiers chapitres.
En parlant de style, ce dernier est assez particulier : très brouillon, avec un trait tremblant et avec beaucoup de blanc. Il ne plaira pas à tout le monde mais il est assez original et ça change du trait très numérique et lisse des grosses licences actuelles.
Bref, un chouette recueil de petites histoires indépendantes, qui complète la série qui cartonne (et
qui se termine bientôt d'ailleurs) ! 😊
Et pour les plus curieux, il faut savoir que Beast Complex est à l'origine de Beastars ! D'après les notes de l'autrice, cette dernière série a été créée entre les chapitres 4 et 5 de ce premier volume. Ce qui explique le changement de style, qui parait moins "tremblottant" que dans les premiers chapitres.
En parlant de style, ce dernier est assez particulier : très brouillon, avec un trait tremblant et avec beaucoup de blanc. Il ne plaira pas à tout le monde mais il est assez original et ça change du trait très numérique et lisse des grosses licences actuelles.
Bref, un chouette recueil de petites histoires indépendantes, qui complète la série qui cartonne (et
qui se termine bientôt d'ailleurs) ! 😊
March 18, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Viz, for sending me a digital copy for review.
Beast Complex Vol 1 is a collection of short stories from the world of runaway hit manga Beastars. Paru Itagaki takes us into the lives of other students and adult animals as they navigate life and death as predators and prey.
I really enjoyed getting to know other characters in the world, and especially the relationship between a chameleon and a fox in a high school setting, and the fast banter between a crocodile and gazelle. The latter are forced to work together on a TV set, and gazelle Luna's prejudices about Benny - the new chef - threaten to boil over.
Mangaka Itagaki gives readers a peek into their work process, and notes about the creation of the hit manga, which were very cool to see.
The one story that I didn't enjoy was The Camel and The Wolf. Was she a killer in the end? What did that all mean?! I found the ending so open as to be confusing.
3/5 stars - for fans of the manga and TV show
Beast Complex Vol 1 is a collection of short stories from the world of runaway hit manga Beastars. Paru Itagaki takes us into the lives of other students and adult animals as they navigate life and death as predators and prey.
I really enjoyed getting to know other characters in the world, and especially the relationship between a chameleon and a fox in a high school setting, and the fast banter between a crocodile and gazelle. The latter are forced to work together on a TV set, and gazelle Luna's prejudices about Benny - the new chef - threaten to boil over.
Mangaka Itagaki gives readers a peek into their work process, and notes about the creation of the hit manga, which were very cool to see.
The one story that I didn't enjoy was The Camel and The Wolf. Was she a killer in the end? What did that all mean?! I found the ending so open as to be confusing.
3/5 stars - for fans of the manga and TV show
February 12, 2021
arc provided by the publisher via edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
This was an interesting read to say the least. We follow a collection of different stories set in this world where instead of people, we follow animals that act as humans. They are all split into herbivores and carnivores.
Each story sort of centered around a herbivore and a carnivore and how the two of them interact in different scenarios. One story was about a lion and him wanting to be good and not stereotypically aggressive and mean to everyone.
In another, we follow a camel who lets a wolf devour one of his fingers.
Each story was unique. I definitely enjoyed some more than others. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the art work though. It just didn’t make it as enjoyable to read as I would have hoped.
Overall, this had it’s fun moments but it didn’t blow me away.
2.5/5 ⭐️
TW: bullying, murder, blood, violence, death.
This was an interesting read to say the least. We follow a collection of different stories set in this world where instead of people, we follow animals that act as humans. They are all split into herbivores and carnivores.
Each story sort of centered around a herbivore and a carnivore and how the two of them interact in different scenarios. One story was about a lion and him wanting to be good and not stereotypically aggressive and mean to everyone.
In another, we follow a camel who lets a wolf devour one of his fingers.
Each story was unique. I definitely enjoyed some more than others. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the art work though. It just didn’t make it as enjoyable to read as I would have hoped.
Overall, this had it’s fun moments but it didn’t blow me away.
2.5/5 ⭐️
TW: bullying, murder, blood, violence, death.
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