Forum Settings
Forums
New
What did you think of this chapter?
DO NOT discuss the source material beyond this chapter. If you want to discuss future events, please use separate threads.
DO NOT ask where to read/download this chapter or give links to copyrighted, non-fair use material.
DO NOT troll/bait/harass/abuse other users for liking or disliking the series/characters.
DO read the Manga Discussion Rules and Site & Forum Guidelines.
Jun 26, 2013 11:15 AM
#1

Offline
Oct 2007
197
THIS IS A MANGA ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS ANYTHING BEYOND THIS CHAPTER.
----------------------------------------
akira discovers miki's death, ryo reveals his true self, last battle takes place.

well that was a weird last episode. i love the idea that ryo is in love with akira and being a hermaphrodite but it really wasn't done that good.

4/10

all in all i can say this manga is pretty disappointing, i love the art, atmosphere and characters but the story was lacking, the best part of it was the "monster of the day" chapters of the middle.
forum avatar: Sukisho
profile avatar: Ashita no Nadja
Jul 19, 2013 2:13 AM
#2

Offline
Nov 2012
4807
It wasn't even bad at all.
I agree the series at first felt like a very average shounen with a lot of gore, but it started getting better during he 3rd volume .
I disagree as well the story wasn't lacking in anything, and the plot twist just completely blew me away because at first I was a bit frustrated at how perceptive Ryo was about how things were panning out and how whatever he said about humanity came true, but after revealing that he is Satan and was the one that planned this out really surprised me and changed the way I looked at the manga completely because, well, everything makes sense now. Now I can see why people consider this a masterpiece and I can see why others would consider this to be very mediocre.
8/10
RX-782Jul 19, 2013 2:46 AM
Sep 14, 2013 9:25 PM
#3
Offline
Nov 2012
21
I understand gknight's reaction to the ending, as it was rather confusing (not End of Evangelion/Akira-level confusing, but still confusing nonetheless). As for the "standard shonen" thing, one must keep in mind that this came out in 1972, before pretty much any other shonen, so it most likely invented a good deal of those cliches to begin with. I will agree that the beginning was a bit boring, though.
Oct 10, 2013 6:38 PM
#4

Offline
Sep 2012
447
That last volume. Everything just happened all at once. The plot twist was good and there were some neat revelations, but the execution was just so terrible I couldn't help but laugh.
Oct 17, 2013 10:22 PM
#5

Offline
Apr 2012
752
Holy shit I've never seen anything so god awful as this piece of art. The visuals are campy, with the beast forms likely the most interesting part of the narrative, the story at the caliber of Mars of Destruction, the characters as complex as a bag of poo, and the perfect finale to end by glopping in some pretentiousness from a half-baked moral. This form of creation must have required skill in order to create a work so profoundly bad.
Nov 20, 2013 5:47 PM
#6

Offline
Apr 2013
38
Blfrvfrv said:
That last volume. Everything just happened all at once. The plot twist was good and there were some neat revelations, but the execution was just so terrible I couldn't help but laugh.


SECONDING THIS
BECAUSE WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST WITNESS
Nov 21, 2013 2:57 AM
#7

Offline
Aug 2008
39
I THIRD THIS
BECAUSE WHAT THE FUCK DID I READ

But, in honesty, I did enjoy it for the most part, but some of these 'twists' and the way they were executed? I'm just left like: O___O?

Everything happened so quickly towards the end. No battle scenes at all and Akira is dead? I just...what??
<3Naruto+Sasuke=SMEXY<3
Dec 25, 2013 3:09 PM
#8

Offline
Aug 2009
354
As for me, this is really the cream of the crop of manga. None of the twists were badly executed. They made perfect sense and Nagai's panel storytelling greatly contributed to that. You could really feel that Nagai poured his soul in this particular piece of work. The manga also asks a very important question. After a particularly gruesome raping of Miki Makimura by the witch hunters caused by the massive demon hysteria, you really ask yourself if humanity is even worth the trouble/worth saving. And then there's the ending. The descent of the angels in the last scene as Akira lay peacefully next to Satan is among some of the most iconic endings of any fiction I've ever seen or read.

Everything about Devilman was just fucking beautiful.
DocJangarlyDec 25, 2013 3:19 PM
Jul 26, 2016 7:59 PM
#9

Offline
Feb 2011
36
Ryou's revelation and the ending was so damn epic, one of best manga I've ever read.
Feel bad for Akira though.
Jan 17, 2017 3:36 PM

Offline
Dec 2015
601
Originally, I started reading Devilman because of its classic status and since Hideaki Anno cited it as an inspiration (there was also an interesting interview with Anno and Nagai). But I didn't know about its massive influence on Berserk beforehand!! That made me appreciate Devilman as a series but also Berserk so much more! Seeing as Miura improves so many interesting concepts introduced in Devilman in Berserk- And another bonus is that Miura's drew the perfect Berserk versions of some of the artistically best Devilman panels!) It also made me think about possible Devilman based Berserk endings and aditionally I feel like I've gained more insights on Guts and Griffith's character and their relationship based on Akira and Satan's interactions)

Artistically this series had much more to offer than I originally expected! The character design or sometimes in general the artistic style itself might be more simplistic looking but the effects work and inking were almost always spectacular! Especially when it came to conveying the mental disturbances in Fudo's mind or just the transformation sequences, as well some of the later more gruesome fighting or murder sequences,

Characterwise Ryo Asuka (and Miki partly too) was a really good & interesting character ! I wish there could've been more expansion on his inner thoughts/feelings especially after the grand revelation near the end.

Another problem I had is that the last half of the series, which improved upon the first 3 volumes so dramatically ( writing (plot) + art wise), could've been expanded upon more. By setting up Ryo as the final antagonist, a much longer, detailed final fighting sequence at the end would've made the series as a whole and the rushed ending a lot more enjoyable!The ending also left me with some questions about the rest of the Devilman and how Satan will endure Akira's loss. I don't mind the Demons winning; a better explanation or at least worldless visualization could've helped.
I also thought that the revelation that Satan fell in love with Akira was such an unexpected and interesting dynamique and should've been explored more thoroughly or been brought up during a longer final fight sequence or beforehand... (And the summer bonus chapter doesn't count, it didn't really add anything at all except that Ryo was subconciously jealous of Miki but nothing really substantial)

But all in all, better than I thought 👍
JacksnappJan 17, 2017 3:46 PM
Feb 25, 2017 7:46 AM

Offline
Mar 2016
1734
Meh. It was alright I guess.
Nov 30, 2017 11:48 AM

Offline
Aug 2016
3777
In my opinion, Devilman as a whole is one of the most interesting concepts ever conceived in manga, and that last conversation was simply fantastic, but execution as a whole needed improvement. can´t tell how many times i told myself "hey, this could have been written better", but still, it was a good read.
:v
Dec 12, 2017 2:48 AM

Offline
Mar 2014
4229
Like some people have already said in this thread, I found the concept really good. The story raised some important questions regarding humans and the atrocities they commit. I think the Ryo plot twist was good, although it was foreshadowed enough to not come as a surprise to me. The ending was very serene and memorable. Overall, it was very good but I am certain that it would have been even better if it had some additional chapters to expand on the characters and their lives along with the general world building. So basically my problem was the execution at some bits. I'm somewhere between a 7 or 8/10
Oct 9, 2022 11:49 AM

Offline
Jun 2019
353
I enjoyed the manga especially volume 4 and 5. Well, I felt that the story was too rushed and I would have liked it more if it expanded on their relationships. Like Miki’s feelings towards Akira (and his back?) felt shallow and fake, I wish there were some real heartfelt interactions between them that made Miki’s death sad. I liked Ryo and Akira’s dynamic though, how they were a team at first but became enemies at the end. And how their personalities feel like total opposites. Totally didn’t expect Akira to die at all. I wish the battle between them was longer but I still like the ending. Like everyone else said, great concept but wished the execution could be better

Nov 7, 2022 3:36 PM

Offline
May 2021
691
I enjoyed this a bit, specially the last 2 volumes where it gets a bit more serious and dark, it was kinda rushed towards the end but I don't care too much, RIP Akira though. The show isn't near perfect but nonetheless it is a worthy read, btw those were god angels at the end coming to kill Satan? I guess that God is the final winner then, anyways 5/10.
-Xenophon-Nov 7, 2022 3:43 PM
Nov 22, 2023 7:05 PM

Offline
May 2010
6697
Surprised by how I absolutely DEVOURED this manga in just two days. Absolute classic I can think of so many great manga/anime series it inspired in the future! Fantastic, detailed artwork, creepy demon desings, bloody fights, all the gore... Also, gay af lol.

I love the theme of people turning from victims into mad tormenter themselves and series where another life form finds out what humanity has done to Earth and decides to get rid of it once and for all. Here it also worked perfectly.

Sure, it definitely is product of its time, with sexism, awkward, outdated humor at times, total chaos even (weird time travel Marie Antoinette and Jeanne d'Arc chapters lol), but as someone who can cope with that - I enjoyed this series tremendously. 9/10
May 18, 3:19 PM

Offline
Apr 2015
2526
Man oh man, This was the best thing I've read in a while. It was very unique in terms of art and it's crazy to think how did Go Nagai make this in 1972, because it utilizes alot of stuff that wasn't popularized back then. The story had a good ending imo too, I'm really satisfied with what I read. Truly ahead of it's time.
Will definitely give this an 8/10. Now to read all the gazillion spinoffs xD

More topics from this board

Poll: » Devilman Chapter 1 Discussion

accela - May 7, 2008

6 by Biisoo »»
May 17, 1:33 PM

» Any SFW version of Devilman???

ltarget - Jan 30, 2018

16 by 24846 »»
Mar 2, 2023 4:32 AM

» anime or manga

h6n65b65hb65 - Aug 31, 2021

4 by miblan »»
Jan 29, 2023 1:21 PM

» The 53 chapter situation

ShadowMonkey - Jan 31, 2018

6 by Sukyattohanta »»
May 29, 2022 12:34 PM

» Question about the manga

JacobDeezN - Mar 6, 2022

1 by Noldorin_Feanor »»
Mar 7, 2022 6:41 AM
It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login