Another

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I saw the anime first and this manga is different from the anime (the original source is a novel anyway) but comparing it with the anime I think the manga is better in several aspects, even though the anime is a very good adaptation as well.

The story is very good, it kept me interested all the time and I liked the dynamic between the main characters (Kouichi and Mei).
The ending without going into details was satisfying and made sense (it wasn't something out of nowhere as sometimes happens).
For small differences, compared to the anime, I liked more how the ending was developed in this manga.

The ... art is excellent, I liked it a lot, I think it fits perfectly with a story about death and paranormal things.

In conclusion, if you like paranormal, mystery and horror I think this manga is a good choice.

The manga "Another" undeniably carries a high level of eerie vibes, immersing readers in a haunting atmosphere. However, it falls short of delivering the visceral fear and gruesomeness that one might expect from a horror story of this caliber. While it has its moments, the overall execution leaves much to be desired.

The story revolves around the tragic death of a student 26 years ago, which sparks a chain of calamities tied to Class 3-3. The students' failure to acknowledge their peer's death seemingly cursed the class, resulting in an "extra seat" every year—a mysterious presence of someone who shouldn’t exist. This leads to a series ... of untimely and often violent deaths. To mitigate this calamity, the students devised a grim solution: ignore one of their classmates entirely, in hopes of maintaining the proper number of people in the class.

(Comparison to the Anime)
For those who have already watched the anime adaptation, the manga may not feel as engaging. While the anime includes additional content—notably the "beach arc"—the manga omits these elements, leading to a less appealing narrative. The deaths depicted in the manga are also less gruesome and impactful compared to the anime’s more vivid portrayal.

One notable difference lies in the depiction of Misaki Mei. In the manga, Mei is portrayed as a more mature and composed student. Conversely, the anime opts for a more doll-like, petite design for Mei. Both interpretations have their merits, but the manga's portrayal offers a slightly different perspective that some may appreciate.

(Physical Presentation)
The physical edition of the manga (a combined 4-volume release) deserves praise for its unique presentation. It includes colored pages with a distinct texture, contrasting with the standard manga paper, which adds a tactile and visual novelty to the reading experience.

Regarded as one of the most popular horror animanga titles, Another as a manga doesn’t quite match the impact of its anime counterpart. While revisiting familiar moments was enjoyable, the experience lacked any truly captivating elements to set it apart. For readers new to the story, the manga might serve as an adequate introduction. However, for those who have already experienced the anime, it may feel underwhelming. As my first manga review I hope I did justice to the various concerns that you as a reader might want answered.

God almighty, I never knew reading 20 chapters could be this tedious...

Most of us came across Another via the anime released in 2012. However, this manga is not the source material; both the anime and manga are adaptations of a hit Japanese mystery novel written in 2009. If you want to read the source material, read the novel. Regardless of you being here due to nostalgia or as a newcomer, I advise you go watch the anime, as it takes less time to finish than this dismal read. Of course, that is if you are that determined to experience Another; if not, I suggest you ... look for something else to sate your hunger, as I doubt this will do it.

I have no idea what the story was. I could summarize the premise in two to three sentences, but that's the limit. That's the real mystery: how did the cast come up with such an illogical solution to the problem and expect a newcomer to not only understand, but also comply. Best part is they don't even stick to it; by the end of the first half it's practically abolished, so the "mystery" is just gone as if it wasn't even there. It just makes me ask "Why?", the same question I could apply to numerous other aspects of this work. I'd say only in the beginning is where this mystery could provoke inquiry; later I didn't even feel the need to follow it. The more time passes, the less it becomes cohesive.

What makes this read excruciating is the way it's written. I can't tell you how mystery should be written, but this ain't it. There is too much talking, barely anything happening. Not only is most of information both unimportant and inconsequential, but it is repeated to the point of annoyance. Any moment of suspense or tension is lost in talking and needless narration. Scenes that are supposed to be hard-hitting don't land due to lack of build-up. And there are so many cheap "teasers", where the art turns darker, character's eyes white with them saying stuff life "Oh, fool, how can you not know?", while saying nothing of actual substance. It's pathetic how desperately it tries to establish any sense of dread or fear.

The only character one will remember is Mei Misaki. Give it a bit of time, and the rest of the cast will become a homogenous mass in your memory. I can barely recall the protagonist's name. They are indistinguishable both in appearance and character, as their only purpose is to practically narrate the plot. They have nothing going for them. Reading their dialogue is overbearingly boring. Again, Misaki is the only exception, thou not because she is a good character, but because she is the only one who resembles anything "interesting".

There are flickering moments of something enjoyable here. Sense of fear in these works stems from the victims being regular folk who can't oppose the threat but only pray for mercy, and Another does set up that tone. People are killed brutally and without some greater meaning. It is a helpless situation. Good atmosphere can be established, good example being when Mei is first introduced. But not only do all those qualities get strangled by flaws; they get thrown out the window when the story decides to "reset" itself.

The art is... Fine. It isn't anything worth writing home about. There are moments where it enriches that previously mentioned atmosphere and silence, but most of the time it is just glanced over. It does the job; that's as far as it goes. Thou, during those obnoxious "teasers" the contrast and shading know to be good. It does leave an impression of something striking happening. Shame it wasn't put to better use.

There is also Another Ø, a 3-chapter title acting like a prologue to the original work... I'll be honest, I don't recall anything from reading it. I think that speaks enough of my opinion.

Maybe I've grown past it, maybe it's just a bad adaptation of the source material... Whatever it may be, it was miserable. If you are so keen on reading it, I advise watching the anime, due to it taking less time and, if I'm not mistaking, having some things the manga doesn't. Again, only if you are that keen. Otherwise, I recommend looking for something else.

Thank you for reading up to this point. I wish you all the very best. Kind regards.