Embalming

A manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki, Embalming is set in a turn-of-the-century Europe where a number of people are using the notes left behind by one Dr. Victor Frankenstein to do their own crazy monster-building experiments. The resulting creatures, called Frankensteins, come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and mental states: from grotesquely monstrous to seemingly human, and from slightly nuts to batshit insane.

Instead of one main character, Embalming features an ensemble cast: revenge-driven Fury Flatliner, who wants to destroy all Frankensteins; happy but dumb Frankenstein girl Elm and her misanthropic human companion Ashuhit Richter, who belong to a secret society dedicated to Frankenstein research; John Doe, a mysterious and dangerous Frankenstein, and others.

The full title is Embalming - The Another Tale of Frankenstein, but that's both too long and too Engrish to be used in real life.


 * Abusive Parents: Wraith's alcoholic father
 * Ancient Conspiracy: Polar Route, a secret society of Frankenstein creators
 * And Then John Was a Zombie: Fury's friend Wraith is killed then revived as a Frankenstein within the first chapter.
 * Anti-Hero: John Doe, Ashuhit Richter, Dr. Peaberry...
 * Awesome McCoolname: Fury Flatliner? Wraith Allen? Elm L. Renegade? Come on...
 * It doesn´t help, that Elm is supposed to be German.
 * The name "Ashuhito" consists of the English word "ash" and the Japanese word "hito" (person). The character is German. Of course it is a cool complex meaningful name, but...?
 * Bishonen
 * Came Back Wrong: Even if a Frankenstein is created using nothing but the original human's body, they will not come back as the person they used to be. At best, they will develop a different personality but at the worst, they will become Ax Crazy with both memory loss and personality change.
 * Death Is Cheap: Once at least. A dead human can still live on as a Frankenstein but Subverted once it's found out that they will not come back as the same person.
 * Elegant Gothic Lolita: Elm, who has the body of a 13-year-old
 * Expy: Edel is very similar to Mahiro from Busou Renkin, both in design and personality.
 * First Episode Spoiler: Fury is reviled to have been turned into a Frankenstein at the end of the first arc.
 * Frankenstein's Monster: Duh!
 * Genki Girl: Elm
 * Gratuitous English
 * Gratuitous German: A LOT. Examples include "Eisen der Arm", "Panzer das Bein/Bain", the obligatory Baumkuchen-joke and don´t even get me started on the use of the word Frankenstein.
 * It's borderline Bilingual Bonus in the second oneshot, when the German word for "liar" appears written on two signs, and of course it turns out
 * Harmful to Minors: Fury and Wraith watch their parents get murdered by a Frankenstein when they are 13. And Ashuhit
 * Well, in typical Watsuki fashion, half the characters have horrible childhood traumas.
 * Historical Domain Character: Jack the Ripper, Queen Victoria and knowing Watsuki, many will follow.
 * Ho Yay: Wraith is very, very, very fond of Fury.
 * Hunter of His Own Kind:  was created by Dr. Peabody to destroy other Frankensteins.
 * Idiot Hero: Elm, of course.
 * Fury has also been called a "Country Hick" more than once.
 * Knife Nut: Fury's weapons of choice, usually one in each hand.
 * Lightning Can Do Anything: Frankensteins are brought to life when struck by lightning. Lightning, however, cannot bring them back the way they were.
 * Madness Mantra: When Fury enters combat with three other Frankensteins, he continues to yell 'Kill All Frankensteins!' while he tears them to piece.
 * Mad Scientist: In spades
 * Magnificent Bastard: Dr. Peaberry.
 * Replacement Goldfish: Also
 * Revenge: Fury's drive. Partially due to the death of his parents, and partially for the events of the first arc.
 * Interestingly, despite wanting to destroy all Frankenstein gets along quite well with Elm.
 * Shout-Out: A little more than that, actually. Upon arriving in London, Ashuhito meets with a man called Mike Roft, who then sends his younger brother to search for Fury and Dr.Peaberry...
 * The Ditz: Elm
 * Victorian London
 * Yandere