What the Devil?

Can something be awesome and annoying at the same time? Is it possible for a show to feel both half-assed and batshit crazy? Yes, it is. My recent watching of the 1972 series Devilman proves it beyond a doubt.

Another one of my blind purchases at Acen, I was unsure of what I'd get with this title. Looking to expand my knowledge of Go Nagai but unwilling to jump right into a long-runner like Mazinger Z or Getter Robo, this lesser-known work was where I settled. Turns out this was another good purchase, albeit one I'd have trouble recommending to many people.

The first few episodes erect a some barriers to entry right off the bad. First off, protagonist Akira Fudou, the titular Devilman, is a total asshole. Like, nowhere close to the “jerk with a heart of god” cliché, just plain unpleasant. Also, there's some pretty childish comic relief shoved in our faces, courtesy of buttmonkey teacher Alphonse-sensei and Taro's habit of wetting himself. Animation quality struggles to rise out of the toilet, and succeeds only rarely. The monster-of-the-week format could also be a turn-off for some, although I don't know who would even start this type of show without expecting it. On the plus side, the premise is an interesting twist on your typical superhero show, and Devilman's design kicks ass. Almost every episode has a respectable body count, as well; maybe that's just a selling point for me, but it's nice to see that an assault by demons comes with actual consequences.

How did this series eventually win me over? Well, Akira becomes much more likable as the series goes on. At the start he just had a weird “thing” for girlfriend Miki that even he couldn't explain, and would kill anything that threatened her happiness. As his new everyday life unfolds, however, he forms less passionate but still significant connections with others. There's not a specific point I remember when Akira's ideals change from complete self-interest to a more noble “gotta protect humanity regardless of personal cost”, but then again there doesn't really have to be. I choose to interpret his unheralded shift to heroism as a conscious choice rather than sloppy writing, at any rate.

He isn't the only person you warm up to. As the series goes on, more and more one-note characters get rounded out to some extent. Taro gets a grade-school crush that sounds dumb once you hear it, but actually inspires him to test his own fear-induced limits a couple times. The nerd you never thought you'd see past episode one makes a few scattered appearances in which he's revealed as a normal kid under incredible pressure from his parents, but capable of acting out in his own way. Alphonse-sensei's antics never really get funny, but they do gain an edge of self-awareness that make them bearable. Even some of the demons you end up rooting for.

And speaking of the demons, I'd have to say that they and the chaos they cause make the show. Whereas other stories tend to sustain their “tension” by simply one-upping the disposable enemy's power level next week, Devilman is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to get. Okay, this week the demon appears to people in a mirror and takes over their hands, driving buses over cliffs, forcing people to strangle each other, you name it. Right, this week the demon takes the form of jewelry and shrinks whoever touches him, and then they get eaten by their cat or something. Now this time the demon takes the form of a popular celebrity, and his quirky-looking autograph eventually turns into a spider that jumps down people's throats. The show has this totally wild Grimm-fairy-tale-esque vibe where everything is always trying to kill you, no exceptions.

Is Devilman a fist-pumpingly good TV series? No, and honestly it's a bit of a slog sometimes. But it's something you watch for the little nuggets of bizarreness scattered throughout. Like when Devilman decides to transform while in a giant clam, and the transformation sequence takes place outside. Or when he inexplicably begins torturing a female demon for information by repeatedly whipping her nipple. Or the fact that everyone reacts to the Tower of Babel suddenly appearing in the local airport the same way we might react to a car crash. Sure, a well-crafted plot is very good thing, but there's also something to be said for how often Devilman can surprise the viewer. This show definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm wholeheartedly glad I stuck it out.

Anyone out there a big Go Nagai fan? Tell me which of his works I should watch next! I know there's plenty to choose from, but what are your favorites?