I decided to read Variante on a whim and it was an entertaining read. Nothing groundbreaking or particularly original, but it was certainly entertaining and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bloody horror manga that is driven by the characters.

The art is solid with a distinctive style that has aged well - Sugimoto makes each of the central characters look distinct and unique and does a stellar job drawing Aiko's arm, the Chimera and all the gore that comes along with them. I believe the art shines best when drawing the monstrous enemies and in the characters' expressions, all of which suit the situation and the characters' own personalities.

Speaking of the characters, Aiko is very well written, reacting to circumstances exactly how you would expect a traumatized teenage girl to react. The rest of the main cast suffer from inconsistency on occasion but are otherwise solidly written and any minor characters just don't appear enough to have a real personality beyond their roles. The villains are pretty flat and have no depth beyond being assholes, while allies are either nudged to the side to focus on Sudou, Aiko and Kochigawa or appear too late in to get adequate screentime. In general, when attention is paid to the characters and their development, it's satisfying and believable.

The story is, as said above, nothing exceptional or unique. The story is a standard formula with very few twists put in place; If you're familiar with stories with this premise, you'll see everything coming from a mile away which does put a damper on enjoyment. The handful of more original plot threads put in place felt shoehorned in for drama, or because they realized they had no explanation for something.

Overall, it's a solid manga. I recommend it if you're a fan of series with similar premises and don't have a weak stomach.