ahill boy reads Devilman

[ahill1]

So I've finished the 1st volume. I've mixed feelings about it. It didn't stick up too much as a stand out volume and the characters didn't seem to stand out either, but I liked some concepts as the merging with the demins only happening once the human loses its reason, which makes sense as even if not real, once we lose reason we become more "vulnerable", so to speak. There were quite a big of info given regarding the demons and apparently the ice age was a defining occurrence spearating the demons from mankind. The art seems rather simple but I still don't necessarily dislike it. I kinda of like this type of traces and it resembles AnJ's a little, which I criticized at first but better came to terms with time. Let's see how the story unfolds when I pick up the second volume to read some time of this day.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Yeah, as Kenshi and I said, its appeal is less so in its plot/character writing and more in seeing how it influenced many manga/anime with supernatural horror elements, particularly Berserk and Parasyte (and to a lesser extent Neon Genesis Evangelion). Beyond that, it's mainly recommended more as popcorn entertainment (though if viewing it purely for gore schlock, the 90s OVAs do that better).

In that sense, it can be considered the polar opposite to what Ashita no Joe was. Whereas Joe was one of the first and still one of (if not) the best in its field that stands the test of time, Devilman has become very dated in that it was best served as the template for other works.

 

[ahill1]

Yeah, as Kenshi and I said, its appeal is less so in its plot/character writing and more in seeing how it influenced many manga/anime with supernatural horror elements, particularly Berserk and Parasyte (and to a lesser extent Neon Genesis Evangelion). Beyond that, it's mainly recommended more as popcorn entertainment (though if viewing it purely for gore schlock, the 90s OVAs do that better).

In that sense, it can be considered the polar opposite to what Ashita no Joe was. Whereas Joe was one of the first and still one of (if not) the best in its field that stands the test of time, Devilman has become very dated in that it was best served as the template for other works.

I see and yeah, the art of the initial portion has really felt a little like Berserk's, I definitely felt a Berserk token there.

Does the 90s anime deliver the story as well as the manga? If so, could I switch to it without losing anything? Not that I disliked the manga's art or anything but I seem to be more in the mood for anime right now.

 

[Papasmurf]

There is an anime of Devilman that's like decades old but it's like Sailor Moon, the anime and manga go entirely different routes.

Devilman Crybaby does loosely follow the manga but it changes too much to be a faithful adaptation and adds in sex scenes including gay sex scenes and has anime-exclusive characters. Not really recommended until you've already finished the manga and want to see it adapted.

 

[ahill1]

I see.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Does the 90s anime deliver the story as well as the manga? If so, could I switch to it without losing anything? Not that I disliked the manga's art or anything but I seem to be more in the mood for anime right now.

No. The 90s anime only adapts the first 2 volumes loosely and is only recommended if wanting to see the mindless violence well animated. It has more polished art than the manga in a similar manner to how AnJ2 drastically improved upon the manga's art style, so it's recommended if just wanting to see a mindless but entertaining action flick. The manga is the best route if wanting to examine the story.

 

[ahill1]

Finisbed volume two.

The initial interaction between Akira and his foster family was fairly comical and good in a way that seems portrayed differently from how most of those family interactions are portrayed to us. While I liked the more simplistic and in a way coward way Akira was initially represented, I also enjoy his more serious self after merging with the demon Amon.

The fight with Silen was cool in a way and that demon that offered SIlen a chance to merge seemed to have a bond with the female demon, which is a potential to explore, maybe, a more "human" and caring side between the demons. I just got a little confused to this rhinoceros-like demon appearing outta nowhere. The house Akira was hosted seems to be through a rockus though, so wonder how they'll get over it.

 

[Papasmurf]

In later editions of the manga, that rhino/buffalo looking demon was seen admiring Silene as she bathes just before the Silene episode began. You must be reading the original publication from the 70's.

 

[ahill1]

In later editions of the manga, that rhino/buffalo looking demon was seen admiring Silene as she bathes just before the Silene episode began. You must be reading the original publication from the 70's.

Well, should I be reading the newer ones?

 

[Papasmurf]

The new ones don't really add much of anything. Just an extra prologue chapter where we see some guys coming across Demon corpses and stuff and the aforementioned Silene bathing portion. Reading the old version is fine for understanding the story.

 

[ahill1]

ic. was the new one.made by the same mangaka?

 

[Papasmurf]

Yeah the mangaka made some additions to the manga to explain events better decades after the manga finished. The additions aren't wholly necessary for understanding the story better, it's like the Kanzenban ending of Dragon Ball which adds to the ending but doesn't change the overall story.

 

[ahill1]

Goddamn, that Susumu sequence with his possessing mom was dread. It seems a scene that straight came out of a horror movie. I think it could have been made a little more dreadful if Susumu's mom had more subteities in her change of attitude. Not totally changing to "huhhh I'm gonna murder you!!", but have her evilness released in phases.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

You'll probably find that a lot in the manga. A thing about Go Nagai's writing style in general is that he can have good ideas when it comes to thematic content, but has a poor way of conveying them and/or character development with any subtlety.

 

[ahill1]

You'll probably find that a lot in the manga. A thing about Go Nagai's writing style in general is that he can have good ideas when it comes to thematic content, but has a poor way of conveying them and/or character development with any subtlety.

Sure.

I also finished volume 3. This volume 2 was fairly nice. I enjoyed some thouhts it spawned, like Devilman's initial conflict in his role of helping humanity and the whole theme relativising the demons' evilness, as they are, let's say, another species and what they do to humans might be seen as the same the humans do to other species.

 

[ahill1]

Have read volume 4. I liked the hystorical references it had, mainly the hunt witch one, and the way the humans faced the whole demons' raid, killing their own people is a good way to show how fear can cloud and warp humanity's judgements and decision makings.

Ryo seems awfully calm with everything going on. But at the same time he seems to be the most aware and enlightened one about the whole deal.

 

[ahill1]

Finished. The development and the conclusion made the story worth it. I think the revelation and how it wraped up may be one of the most shocking and mind boggling I've ever seen. Really good. I like the thoughts and discussion it promotes, at the end you couldn't even distinguish humans from demons. And the hunt witch at the end showcases nicely the evil nature that permeates most humans -- with a trigger we can see the sadistic side of many humans, how they aren't hurting others merely for justice, but to satisfy their needs for violence, as seen in the faces of the vigilante justice. My only criticism would be that the revelation of Ryo's true face was dumped in too quickly and fast paced, like if it were sudden unloaded, but nitpicking aside, not really too troublesome.