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You've heard the rumors, this manga is famous for being on the list of series that appear cute and innocent, but are actually extremely disturbing. I went into Narutaru knowing this, and I expected a typical horror series filled with parasitic monsters that slowly consume the mind of their hosts. I was dead wrong. The shadow dragons aren't the truly horrifying thing about Narutaru, the real monsters are humanity itself. This manga exists to display the most depraved and twisted aspects of the human race, and it does so beautifully and unashamedly.

Story: 10/10
The story is very confusing. You will almost certainly be left thinking ... "What just happened?" by the end. The events are often presented in a random way, and very little is explained. I cite this as one of the manga's strongest aspects. This manga is NOT confusing because it was poorly made. Like Evangelion or Serial Experiments Lain, it is filled with symbolism and references that are easy to miss the first time you read through it. You will not be able to truly understand the story until the very last panel. As for the things that are left unexplained, (the biology of the shadow dragons, many ambiguous character interactions, and almost all the character's backstories) filling in the blanks has been a major contribution to my ongoing obsession with this series.

Art 8/10
Hey, it's nothing special, but the author's distinct style fits the macabre tone of the story quite well. Other reviewers have noted that many minor characters are difficult to tell apart, and I agree.

Character 10/10
Beautiful. The characters in this manga are so realistic, so human. That's what makes them terrifying. Every character commits some kind of unspeakable act by the end. All of them. No exceptions. Each of the dragon holders has serious psychological issues, except the main character Shiina, who stands out as one of the most patient, kindhearted, and tragic characters of all time. The characters Norio Koga and Hiroko Kaizuka will burn themselves into your permanent memory. It's hard to tell sometimes who the good guys and bad guys are, and the message by the end almost seems to be "everyone is beyond salvation."

Enjoyment 10/10
Like a fine cheese, my appreciation of Narutaru has improved over the two years since I first read it. From the beginning the series blew my mind, but I was initially put off by the strange, but intriguing ending. Yet I have never been able to completely forget this manga, and I have read and reread it's chapters more times than any other. It leaves you wanting more, not a sequel, but to delve as deeply as possible into the rich and complex story. There's no other series quite like it, the closest thing out there might be Evangelion, although Narutaru in my opinion is far more poignant. (Bokurano, while being just as fantastic, is quite different.)

Overall, I cannot recommend this manga enough. At this point you've had plenty of warning that this series is not for the faint of heart, not because of the violence, (while there's still a decent amount present) but because of how dark and morally depraved it can get. However, If you can stomach it, this is one of the most fantastic stories you'll ever read.