I don't want to go into detail about the actual story, rather I want to touch upon a few things that make a story great, and why TG succeeds generally. In terms of the concept, TG may lose points by more dour readers due to its adherence to convention, but makes up for it tenfold in its brilliant execution. Mangas are unique in the sense that they are released by chapter, at fixed intervals, rather than all at once. Thus it is rare, especially for such a long on-going and complex series with so many moving parts, to display such a tight control over the narrative. Astonishingly, almost as if every scene has been meticulously forged in his mind before beginning, with no need for improvisation, Sui Ishida wastes hardly any moments and preserves the continuity of the plot throughout; a true artisan. There is no fat here.
Ishida's masterful usages of symbolism, allusions, parallels, and foreshadowing seamlessly integrated into the plot also adds deeper layers of storytelling. Moreover, TG holds its cards tight enough to its chest to build up real drama through meaningful suspense and mystery, yet not tight enough to drown the possibility of more keen readers sifting through the panels to uncover future developments.
Tokyo Ghoul is a character-driven story, and as such the characters themselves make or break the actual product. Thankfully, rather than cartoonish, archetypal interpretations of individuals through heavy use of tropes, Ishida's understanding of human psychology goes a long way in his construction of characters that feel distinctly human. Quite possibly, the most enjoyable moments of this manga derive from pondering over and watching play out the character's internal conflicts, changes, motivations, desires, and growth, if for no other reason than because they are portrayed brilliantly and with class, especially in the case of our main character.
However, I don't want to make it sound as if TG has no intellectual worth beyond this. In its most basic form, this is a story about humans dealing with predators living amongst them, and conversely, predators dealing with the changing tides of society that are driving them into hiding more so than ever before. Thanks to Ishida's expert writing, seeing this interplay through the eyes of our cast of character's is a true treat. I could say much more on this point, but I think it's best to experience all Ishida has to say about society and the world generally by actually reading the story.
Tokyo Ghoul is a true breath of fresh air in a sea of mass-produced, low quality, generally unimpressive manga. If you're looking to read an adult themed, dark, supernatural story with a strong plot and as impressively grounded and real characters, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one to sink your teeth into.
