Stigma

If you're ever in the mood to try something new and different, I'd dare you to try this. The reason? Stigma is an art book. With a story. It's like a midday dream or river of thoughts. It's also a quick read. *A spoiler free review* All you need to know about Stigma is that it's an extremely beautiful short story in full color and with techniques not so often seen in manga. It's narrated by the main character in a way resembling a mix of memoir and film noir style which gives it a certain, apathetic and distant feeling. However, the story is told mainly throughthe art. If you are not familiar with Minekura-Sensei's other works, I can tell you that she's a master of artwork and composition which manifests itself in Stigma. The story wouldn't work half as well if the panels weren't so thought out, every angle of view telling us something important. We're not spoon-fed anything but instead have to make our own conclusions about what has happened. And the colors. Just gotta love full color stories. Stigma is almost like a poem in a manga form. What's the most important is not the characters or the plot but the feeling. It's also pure Minekura with it's themes. I have always loved her chapter covers for Saiyuki with their musings about life and Stigma is like having a full set of those covers in front of you. Give it a shot for the great art. Give it a shot for the way it tells the story. If you're a Minekura fan, this is a must read and if you've never heard of her before, this is a good one to get a little taste.

Stigma was yet another example of how narration can make or break a manga. The combination of literature and art made a unique canvas that both the author and the reader can expand on. I don't recommend it to people who are squirmish about blood or violence, or who are looking for one of those "go-lucky-happy-ending-storys". Overall, this manga had good art, a decent storyline and genius narration, I recommend it to anyone who is more about the "story" then the "ending"