MW | Manga - MyAnimeList.net

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Japanese: MW

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Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 3

Chapters: 26

Status: Finished

Published: Aug 25, 1976 to Jan 10, 1978

Genre: Drama

Theme: Psychological

Demographic: Seinen

Serialization: Big Comic

Authors: Tezuka, Osamu (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.55¹ (scored by 3,897 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #2779²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #2379

Members: 10,097

Favorites: 158

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Kodansha USA

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7.55

Ranked #2779Popularity #2379Members 10,097

MangaBig ComicTezuka, Osamu (Story & Art)

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Volumes: /3

Chapters: /26

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Synopsis

Gurai is a Japanese Catholic Priest, who is unable to give up his lifelong sexual relationship with Yuki, a beautiful and sadistic young master criminal. Yuki's malicious crimes have become more and more extreme over the years, claiming many innocent lives, and Gurai is tormented by guilt at his inability to stop them...

(Source: ANN)

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Background

MW was published in a single volume in English by Vertical, Inc. on October 30, 2007. The publisher's translation of the manga was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Japan. The series was also released in Spanish by Planeta DeAgostini Cómics in November 2005, and in Polish by Waneko on May 28, 2020.

The series was adapted into a live-action film that was released in Japan on July 4, 2009.

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Characters

Michio, Yuki

Main

Garai, Iwao

Main

Hige Oyaji

Supporting

Meguro

Supporting

Sumiko

Supporting

Reviews

May 27, 2009

oOoOoOo

Recommended

While seemingly a commentary about the American military presence in Japan, Tezuka's MW is a rather silly thriller, although refreshing in its unromantic focus on the sociopathic Yuki Michio. The principle influence behind the infamous Johan from "Monster", Yuki is a troubled but seemingly emotionless killer and manipulator. He seems to have only one real human connection, to Father Garai, a Catholic priest who tries in vain to resist his forbidden relationship with our pro/antagonist. The frank depictions of homosexuality (and sex in general) are refreshing, providing character development without seeming over-the-top.

What I found wonderful about MW was its lack of preachy ...

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Sep 1, 2025

midas123

Mixed Feelings

This was my first work of Osamu Tezuka, meaning I had some expectations. This is the "god of manga," the "father of manga," the guy who basically laid the groundwork for the entire industry. So,when I picked up MW I was ready for something special. What I got was… interesting. It’s a hard work to pin down because it’s not some mind-blowing masterpiece but it’s also far from generic. The whole experience felt very reminiscent of reading Monster, just maybe even slower.

The story centers on this bizarre and deeply unsettling dynamic between two main characters: a Catholic priest wrestling with his guilt, and Michio Yuki, ... a beautiful, gender-bending serial killer who feels no emotion and seems to live only to commit evil acts. Their chemistry is the absolute core of the manga, and it’s a pretty fucked-up and fascinating thing to watch. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be doomed gay romance or what, but their connection is this weird, obsessive bond that reminded me of something like Hannibal. The priest is constantly trying to stop Yuki but every time Yuki is about to be caught or killed, the priest is the one who steps in to save him. The priest’s internal struggle is actually the more compelling part of the story, as you watch him get dragged deeper and deeper into this toxic relationship.

It’s a pretty disturbing work. Yuki’s actions are relentlessly cruel and the story doesn’t shy away from showing you just how depraved he is. For a while my main problem with the manga was that I couldn't figure out what it was trying to say. There’s a story being told, sure, but the message is pretty hard to grasp. It clicked by the end though. This is a story about systemic evil. About how evil isn’t just an individual trait but something that is born from corrupt systems and powerful people. Yuki is basically nihilism and pure evil personified, a monster created by a world that is just as monstrous. In that regard I think Tezuka succeeded in getting his point across.

That being said, most of the manga for me was just… okay. The whole thing reads like it would make a pretty good live-action movie, but as a manga, it has some serious issues that are very much a product of its time. The art is simple. It's not bad, it gets the job done, but it’s nothing to write home about. The biggest problem, by far, is the pacing. This might be the slowest manga I have ever read, mostly because it is just relentlessly bogged down by dialogue. It can be a real slog to get through at times. The ending was also just okay. It was fine.

Ultimately the most interesting thing about MW is seeing how it probably inspired later works, especially Naoki Urasawa’s Monster. You can see so much of Johan’s DNA in Michio Yuki. As a first dip into Tezuka’s massive library, it was a solid 7/10. It definitely feels like a work from a master, but it’s also flawed and dated in ways that are hard to ignore. It didn't blow me away like I might have hoped but it was unique enough that I’m definitely not turned off from reading more of the god of manga’s work. I just know this probably isn’t his best.

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Nov 30, 2021

moose_man

Not Recommended

I really have to admire Tezuka's ability to cover an enormous range of subjects. There's not many people that would seriously attempt a graphic retelling of the life of the Buddha, a Nazi spy drama, samurai stories, and a queer crime romance. It's not hard to tell why he was such a trailblazer, not only in his early work like ASTRO BOY but in his gekiga era as well.

MW is a mixed bag. It's an interesting premise. The Catholic clergy is a rich subject to mine for storytelling and the queer criminal angle is pretty fresh even now. With that said, it's not a story ...

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Poll: MW Chapter 26 Discussion ClosedCX - Apr 27, 2011	15 replies	by nidoqueen106_2 »» Sep 28, 2024 7:52 AM
Poll: MW Chapter 25 Discussion Jacksnapp - Jan 15, 2017	1 replies	by Fabrizio00 »» Apr 22, 2024 5:03 PM
Poll: MW Chapter 24 Discussion Jacksnapp - Jan 15, 2017	1 replies	by Fabrizio00 »» Apr 22, 2024 4:51 PM
Poll: MW Chapter 23 Discussion Jacksnapp - Jan 15, 2017	2 replies	by Fabrizio00 »» Apr 22, 2024 2:28 PM
Poll: MW Chapter 22 Discussion Jacksnapp - Jan 15, 2017	1 replies	by Fabrizio00 »» Apr 22, 2024 12:28 PM

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