*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 through the 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.
