[Discussion] Johan Liebert: Possibly the Greatest Antagonist in Anime/Manga

[itachixnamikaze]

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This is my first discussion thread so please don't bark at me with your hates. Also, control your fanboy instincts.

Johan Liebert is the namesake "monster" of the story and the mystery of his past is the focus of the plot. He has been called a monster, the next Adolf Hitler and even the devil himself. Johan Liebert was shot in the head at a young age but saved from death by Dr. Tenma. Because of this, he regards Dr. Tenma almost as though he was his father. He has spent portions of his life in different places under different aliases and possesses an extraordinary level of charisma and intelligence. He uses his gifts to cruelly manipulate and corrupt others, often with no apparent end other than to cause suffering and destruction. His goal, as he stated when he was young, is to be the last one standing at the end of the world. One of the themes of Monster is how individuals are capable of transforming into monsters; Johan often acts as both a direct and indirect catalyst for this transformation.

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I believe Johan is possibly the greatest antagonist in anime/manga. If you watched Monster, you would know why he is regarded as Hitler or the Devil Himself.
In the manga, Johan was said to massacre people through manipulation. He had no powers or anything special inside of him. Some villains in other anime/manga wants to be God or the most powerful. However, Johan wants the end of the world to actually happen. Johan has stated that his one true goal is to be the last one alive when the world ends. But in reality, his goal is to commit the "perfect suicide", dying without leaving behind any evidence of his existence. He simply doesn't want to destroy the world by himself, but let them destroy themselves.

Johan was mostly based on The Bible about the Anti Christ who will end the world.

To make ze story short, Johan is very evil and corrupt. He may not be the greatest but he's definitely 2nd or 3rd for the greatest antagonist in anime/manga

 

[narutorikudoumode]

Monster is one of my favorite series I'm glad someone else has read it. by the way have you read his other series like
20th century boys, pluto, and billy bat I have to say they all are amazing I rate each a 5

 

[foxyladyland]

"monster" is so bizarre and scary and spooky and realistic I cant watch cuz im too afraid of it..
but are you afraid of the dark? im not anymore

 

[Escorpiius]

I had this convo before xD:

I really like Johan as a character. One of my favorite. But I don't like him as a villain though because his motives are never explained fully imo. His purpose/goals were never revealed to a degree where the watcher can connect to it and grasp it; atleast in my case. And even at the end, his character remains highly sketchy. Some can view him as an Antichrist, some view him as a 'Monster' due to ill-fate in childhood, some may view him as a Hitler-wannabe, at times I even see glimpses Aaron the Moore in him. But with the open ending, I never could make a final drawing of him.

 

[Zexion~]

This is the guy that is pretty damn evil...But not that intelligent right?

Lol if not ignore ..

Ya he was pretty cruel..didn't really like his death tho

 

[iNotorious]

He is cruel .

 

[Drakengard]

I had this convo before xD:

I really like Johan as a character. One of my favorite. But I don't like him as a villain though because his motives are never explained fully imo. His purpose/goals were never revealed to a degree where the watcher can connect to it and grasp it; atleast in my case. And even at the end, his character remains highly sketchy. Some can view him as an Antichrist, some view him as a 'Monster' due to ill-fate in childhood, some may view him as a Hitler-wannabe, at times I even see glimpses Aaron the Moore in him. But with the open ending, I never could make a final drawing of him.

Well somebody on a forum made an argument that in truth he wanted to run away from the fact that his mother thought of him as a monster and the series seemed to support it in various ways... my favorite interpretation of it.

 

[6ari8]

TBH, I didn't understand what is it that he did that required Nina's forgiveness.

Is it because in the last scene with their mother, she choose Nina instead of him?

 

[EternalMangekyouRinnegan]

His mother was the real monster, though.

This is the guy that is pretty damn evil...But not that intelligent right?

Lol if not ignore ..

Ya he was pretty cruel..didn't really like his death tho

What? Johan would make Light feel like a retard after one conversation with him.

 

[Vatsa]

This is the guy that is pretty damn evil...But not that intelligent right?

Lol if not ignore ..

Ya he was pretty cruel..didn't really like his death tho

You obviously haven't watched Monster. Johan's intelligence supersedes Light, L Lawliet, and Lelouch's intelligence.

OT: I agree. Johan is by far the best anime villain ever, imo.

 

[Fireplay]

Doesn't look like much but usually the baddest ones don't look bad.

 

[Chakra Wizard]

I've yet to find another anime villain that surpasses Johan, and to those who feel his lack of motivation soiled his potential, I respectfully disagree. I actually found Johan a more menacing and perfect villain before they attempted to humanize him, which is really a crime to what he represents. He's supposed to be this unabashedly evil, hence the title Monster

 

[Suono]

Johan is easily the most charismatic villain of all time. I have yet to see anyone who comes close to his level of evil and I doubt I ever will.