“Hinagi is a child, lost in a land unknown to her, awoken by an ill-intentioned stranger who found her unconscious on the roadside. With much trepidation she sets off to Shambala, a prosperous and bustling city just outside of Nirvana. With the assistance of a mysterious exiled monk bent on taking down the entire foundation on which Shambala stands, Hinagi will have to choose between allowing faith to blind her or opening her eyes to the possibility that not all is how it seems.”
“Depraved Monk in Paradise” is Available Exclusively Through the Mangamo App
*This review covers the first 10 chapters of the series
A wonderfully eclectic mix of Buddhism, bōsōzoku, horror, and punk aesthetics, Mutsuki Hazama's “Depraved Monk in Paradise” offers a peculiar yet entertaining world of outlaw samurai versus perverted religious icons. Consequently, the key to the series' success lies in its ability to weave a multitude of varying inspirations into a cohesive story while keeping a cool, action-heavy edge to the whole thing. This is apparent in the character design, with the titular depraved monk (Bonza) embodying that punk/bōsōzoku energy that was prevalent throughout the '70s in Japan. However, the series is far from being a throwback as Hazama manages to bring a modern age to a lot of cultural and religious elements and readers should be pleased with how Hazama plays with familiar conventions.
Where the art direction really pops though is in the depictions of the demons (mara) who prey on humans throughout the mecca of ‘Shambala'. Elements of horror are perfectly utilized in these designs, as, without actually trying to evoke terror, the monsters manage to be outright ghastly in appearance. Imagery such as a woman with contorted babies bubbling up from her skin or an elephant god with screaming children strapped to it evokes a palatable sense of unease and imbues the world that Hazama created with a delightful, sinister edge. In general, the art direction and the way that the mangaka captures action are utterly impressive and instantly engaging.
At 10 chapters in, the story does lack any greater depth or profundity, nor does it hint at there being much of a change to this. There is certainly a mystery about the inner workings of Shambala and the demons it raises to terrorize the people, but the series appears to be aimed at entertaining its audience instead of crafting an intricate story. While later chapters could prove this observation inaccurate, there is nothing essentially wrong with this approach for those looking for a little bit of quick escapism. Furthermore, readers will find the chapter release approach through the Mangamo app an idyllic way to consume manga of this ilk.
If you are the type of manga fan that is attracted to the medium's ability to tell deeply engaging stories on a personal level, “Depraved Monk In Paradise” may not be the title you are looking for. However, if you want a lovely bit of action pact escapism led by a bad-a** punk/samurai on a motorcycle, then you will want to check this one out.
