“They really tried to stop me”: Monster Almost Met Its Bitter End After Naoki Urasawa’s Publisher Refused to See it as a Successful Manga

The world of manga is defined by the creators’ long tales of perseverance and passion in the face of countless resistance, and Naoki Urasawa’s journey is no exception. Known for iconic works like Monster, 20th Century Boys, Pluto, and many more, this genius mangaka’s creative journey, especially in terms of Monster‘s success was far from smooth.

Kenzo Tenma from Monster manga cover | Credit: Viz Media

Naoki Urasawa faced an uphill battle, not from critics or fans, but from his own publisher, who initially refused to see the potential of Monster, which would become one of the most celebrated works in manga history. His fight against the odds earned a place for Monster as one of the greatest psychological thrillers in the manga industry to this day.

Skepticism Over Monster‘s Success by Naoki Urasawa’s Publisher

In 2019, Naoki Urasawa showed a group of journalists around the free exhibition of his artwork at Japan House London. The brief encounter was penned down by Andrew Osmond in his own blog. During this meeting, Urasawa introduced 20th Century Boys as a partial autobiography; a legacy of his 1960s childhood dreams and memories.

Tenma’s first encounter with adult Johan | Credit: Viz Media

Upon talking about his worldwide hit Monster, Naoki Urasawa revealed a crucial glimpse of his journey to creating this manga. He shared that when he first pitched Monster to his publisher, the reception was far from enthusiastic. In fact, Urasawa recalls how his publisher tried to shut the project down before it even began, quoting,

My publisher was adamant that it just wouldn’t do well; they really tried to stop me.

Centered around the endeavor of a neurosurgeon, Dr. Kenzo Tenma, the idea of a dark, psychological thriller with themes of murder and Cold War secrets seemed too niche for the mainstream manga market. The publisher believed that audiences wouldn’t connect with the grim subject matter and unconventional storyline.

However, Urasawa fought back, determined to bring his vision to life, even if it meant going against the wishes of his publisher. This resistance from within, rather than outside forces, proved to be one of the greatest challenges of his career.

Naoki Urasawa: A Manga Legend in the Making

In Monster, Naoki Urasawa crafted a story that explored uncharted territories. The story follows Dr. Tenma’s thrilling journey, as his life turns upside down after he chooses to save the life of young Johan Liebert over a City Mayor. This decision unfolds a chain of nightmarish events as Tenma later gets accused of murder, and continuously chased after Johan Liebert — who represents the worst aspects of human depravity.

Tenma and Johan in chapter 162 of Monster | Credit: Viz Media

Urasawa’s masterful storytelling is intertwined together with themes of guilt, morality, and the aftershocks of historical events, particularly those of World War II and the Cold War. But despite the strength of the story, Monster almost never saw the light of day, if Urasawa hadn’t remained steadfast to his vision.

While Monster eventually found success in Japan, Urasawa faced another obstacle in trying to reach international audiences, particularly in countries where manga hadn’t fully integrated into popular culture. One of the most notable examples was the United Kingdom, as he remarked,

I couldn’t quite grasp why the country which had the Beatles, who loved rock music, couldn’t understand manga.

This finding pointed to a bigger problem that manga’s global distribution was dealing with at the time. Manga was still regarded as a niche product in Western markets, despite its huge popularity in Japan and other Asian countries. With its complex themes and gloomy undertones, Urasawa’s Monster had even greater challenges in its quest for international recognition.

However, despite the initial resistance from his publisher and the cultural barriers manga faced internationally, Monster became a resounding success. Urasawa’s vision for a psychological thriller resonated with readers in Japan and eventually found an audience across the globe. It serves as a reminder that great stories are worth fighting for, even when the odds seem stacked against them.

Monster is currently available to watch and read on Netflix and Viz Media, respectively.