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Incredible book and series! I keep coming back to see if there are any further updates

This manga serves as an excellent continuation of the original Devilman, providing much-needed definitive answers. It introduces a brand-new set of protagonists who must confront the menace of a demonic invasion. The characters encompass a cult of satanists, an evil tree salesman who metamorphoses into a demonic tree, and a shark that emerges from a woman's stomach. For the most part, the manga nails its tone, consistently dark and brooding, while still incorporating moments of lighter human comedy.

Go Nagai's art in this manga shows significant improvement. The humans no longer appear cartoonish but are finely drawn with delicate features, making their transformations into demons more impactful. Some segments of this manga are simply fantastic, such as the sequence in Hell, which might be one of Go Nagai's best. This manga heavily emphasizes the disturbing aspects of the demons, appealing to those interested in body horror.

There are numerous one-shot villains who are fairly enjoyable, though they don't measure up to Jinmen or Sirene due to a lack of development. This is one of the story's weaker points, as despite having fun designs, the villains usually get only a single chapter before being quickly dispatched. Those who receive more attention often feel sidelined compared to returning villains from the first manga. While it's nice to see some development in those characters, this manga feels like it adds little in terms of original characters. However, it does resolve many plot holes and effectively expands the lore.

The fights, if they can be called that, remain underwhelming. The best Go Nagai achieves in these fights is one character shooting an energy beam or performing a flashy attack that either wins or loses the fight, happening about five times throughout the entire manga. Most conflicts are resolved by a deus ex machina or by simply bashing the characters together until one emerges victorious.

The main character, Jun, undergoes various forms of abuse. This is handled both tactfully and crudely when Jun is constantly subjected to rape, as is the second protagonist. However, Jun is more developed and three-dimensional than her male predecessor, marking an overall improvement in characterization. There are some intriguing characters, such as the unsettling swimming rival to Jun, the family at the heart of the satanist cult, and a dim-witted individual who believes he's the real Dante. One sequence that encapsulates the middle part of the manga involves a paranoid demon hunter who unknowingly becomes a demon, gradually realizing this while hunting down protagonist demons who themselves are hunting evil ones. Segments like this and the depiction of Hell successfully delve into philosophy more effectively than the original Devilman, and I'm surprised by how underrated this manga is compared to that one.

Lore plays a significant role in the appeal of Devilman Lady, as this manga elaborates on practically everything introduced in Devilman. This includes explaining the afterlife and the hierarchy on both the God and Satan sides. This is a crucial chapter in the franchise for elucidating the overarching conflict that defines the series. If you enjoyed the original Devilman, this is a must-read to make sense of its ending and gain closure on the story, especially since it brings back so many old characters. Among the various Devilman mangas I've read, this one stands out as the best (most others seem terrible).

The major issue with this manga lies in its ridiculous ending. Like the original Devilman, Devilman Lady presents a massive series of plot twists that undermine what the plot had established up to that point. In fact, the new protagonists are completely invalidated in a way that defies description. If you consider what this manga contributes to the lore, it essentially changes one thing, and you wouldn't lose anything by centering the story around Devilman in Hell. Is it a cop-out? Is it a subversion? Go Nagai's writing transcends such labels. One thing is certain: it is not good.

I did enjoy Devilman Lady, and the ending wasn't enough to completely spoil the experience. The tone and atmosphere are well-executed, but the pacing is rather erratic. The new villains aren't as memorable as the few strong ones in the original. It's unfortunate because with better development in the middle part of the manga, dedicating two or more chapters to these one-shot villains instead of always concluding them in one, they could have been elevated beyond seeming like filler segments. Since much of the enjoyment comes from its connection to Devilman, it's mandatory to have read that first.<p>

Seldom has it been the case that a series has received as much unwarranted criticism as Devilman Lady. The harsh judgments directed at this series have some understandable grounds, yet I contend that these criticisms are flawed and fail to give Devilman Lady the respect it merits. I will keep this review entirely spoiler-free and clarify that this series is a sequel to the original, unlike Violence Jack.  
   
The most frequent complaint I've encountered about this series is that it's essentially softcore hentai masquerading as something more complex. This claim primarily hinges on the numerous scenes featuring nudity and mild pornographic imagery. However, there is a deliberate artistic rationale behind Nagai's decision to present this manga in such a sexualized way. Jun is a devilman, a beast constantly torn between her human sensibilities and her bestial instincts. Her carnal desires throughout the series are visually represented through her depictions as a nude figure. Naturally, this makes sense since animals do not wear clothing. Nagai explicitly conveys that demons' primary purpose is to rape and devour their victims. This sensual excess underscores why humans detest the animalistic tendencies of other species. After all, humans rarely engage in such behavior and are adept at restraining their urges. For Jun to yield to the beast within would mean forfeiting her humanity entirely.  

Another prevalent critique of the series is that it's convoluted. I find this to be the strangest and most unfounded attempt at constructive criticism. The series weaves together multiple plotlines inspired by various mythological stories into a cohesive narrative. Biblical tales, Japanese folklore, Homer's Greek mythology, and even Dante's Divine Comedy all play a significant role in shaping the story. Yet, Nagai doesn't overcomplicate matters. These literary influences blend seamlessly to create a classic, mind-bending manga of epic scope. I can confidently say that the ending is one of the most thought-provoking conclusions in literature. Those who claim it's confusing likely didn't approach it with the intended perspective.

Before starting this series, it is essential to have read Mao Dante and the original 1972 Devilman manga, as several events in Devilman Lady tie in with the stories of the mentioned manga. That being said, Devilman Lady is very well-written but contains very grotesque sexual content, and this series is not for the easily disturbed. If you choose to continue with it, certain rewards include appearances of Devilman, Demon Lord Dante, and several other characters while offering a dark yet ambiguous insight into morality.

The story begins with our leading lady, Jun Fudo, having a nightmare of her former career as an Olympian swimmer. We learn that she developed murderous tendencies due to losing in the Olympics, so to avoid these vile thoughts, Jun then becomes a teacher. It is during a field trip where her origin as Devilman Lady commences as her students are being eaten and violated by Devil Beasts. Jun herself is a victim of sexual abuse who then becomes a demon to save her students. Appearing on the scene is the organization known as The Human Alliance, which has been hunting down Devil Beasts in secret. A member of this organization becomes Jun's friend, named Ran Asuka. After some exposition, Jun begins her journey as Devilman Lady and seeks to provide safety for humanity by killing Devil Beasts.

Most of the series is very episodic but manages to be filled with great characterization as Jun is constantly questioning her violent actions since she potentially is as evil as the beasts she hunts. Most short stories have a sense of tragedy as, in this current world, any human suffering grief or seeking vices has the potential of becoming a Devil Beast, which often leads to a sad backstory as to why they let their souls be consumed by evil. This conflict tends to affect Jun's idea of heroism as she tries to save their souls but often ends in failure, thus questioning the separation between good and evil. This is further expanded in later chapters as more Devil Beasts are being formed along with the appearance of Devil Men (beasts who fight for justice).

This is where the series picks up on the previous message in the Devilman manga, which explained the evils of men and the need for anti-war. In Devilman Lady, the message follows a similar meaning but a very different presentation. As an example, Devilman Lady is losing sight of her humanity and believes herself to no longer be human. When she sees Devil Men executing Devil Beasts, she thinks to herself, "Are we killing our own kind?" This type of mentality is what makes the series interesting as a better phrase to sum up the story is "Who Watches The Watchmen?" Most of the "heroes" we encounter gradually become corrupt or eventually lose sight of their initial goal of protecting humanity. A greater emphasis of this story theme appears in its final chapters where the series takes a "Devilman route," with Armageddon on the rise, especially with the prophecy of the revival of Demon Lord Dante.

Aside from the conflict of good versus evil, Devilman Lady also offers a few homages to Go Nagai's previous manga, most specifically Devilman. During the middle of the story, the setting is changed to Hell, which offers the appearance of multiple Devilman characters, including Devilman himself. These few chapters add an extra layer to Devilman's character as we see him a bit more mature regarding the subject matter of corruption and offering words of encouragement to Jun Fudo.

Go Nagai's artwork in this series feels grand, especially in the scenes depicting Hell. Most of his character designs are more muscular and three-dimensional but still retain his gritty and frightening style he's known for. In my opinion, this manga may be Go Nagai's best in visual appeal, and the same can almost be said about the writing. My real disapproval of this series is the ending as it comes off as very out of character and inconclusive. I will not spoil the ending, but I'm certain that this finale could have gone in a different direction. Upon further thought, there are some unresolved events that don't get a proper resolution.

Regardless of the questionable ending, Devilman Lady certainly captures the same feel as the original Devilman to the point where I would consider Devilman Lady as a sequel. It's definitely worth reading, although one must be prepared for several uncomfortable scenes of sexual content as it's very close to being a hentai about demons (imagine a more explicit version of Berserk). Devilman Lady dives into the mental struggle of heroes pursuing justice and the sins they commit to justify their actions. The series is very episodic but contains plenty of scenarios to fully express its story and does it splendidly.

Go Nagai really needed the shounen age limit.

I didn't enjoy "Devilman Lady" for the most part. It's a story I should have loved just based on its premise and concepts. A psychosexual narrative exploring the humanity within oneself, it seemed like the natural evolution of the ideas from the original Devilman manga. But then the author decided that copious amounts of rape would make it interesting. Need character development? Let's add another rape scene. Transitioning to a new arc? Gang rape the protagonist. There were times I wanted to grab the author by the neck. If a story doesn't need to show that, DON'T SHOW IT. And if the author believes it's necessary, he could imply it instead. Close the door, screams happen inside, cut to the end of the scene. That would be incredibly disturbing and leave room for the imagination. But no, every fifth chapter featured a new rape scene. I wasn't even disturbed anymore, just tired of reading about it.

My issues don't stop at the disturbing content, though. The writing suffers greatly. Rules are pulled out of thin air, arcs or plot points go nowhere, scenes mean nothing, there's filler upon filler, and pages upon pages of wasted ink on boring elements that didn't need to be there. It felt like each chapter introduced a new villain with no connective tissue between scenes. I didn't care about half of what I read, but I must clarify: I was invested in the story.

It's a shame that these problems come alongside some of the best scenes in the Devilman universe. The trip to hell arc was one of the best I've read in the mythos. The icy forest assault, the demon king scenes, the implications towards destiny, the church assault—these moments had me binging the series until those terrible elements reappeared to halt my progress. I could have finished this in one day if it had maintained the quality of those standout moments, but there was always something stopping me. I ended up dropping the series and recently picked it back up. I managed to power through, but I don't think it was entirely worth it.

This manga has two sides of the same coin. On one side, it features the worst, edgy, offensive content imaginable; on the other, incredible moments that make you believe it's worth it. What ultimately convinced me that this manga doesn't deserve a read is the ending.

What even happened? In two chapters, everything fell apart. Nothing made sense anymore. The rules of reincarnation were discarded, the plot needed an ending, the final plan had to happen, and there was no time to explain why. Then, right before the climax, it ended. Nothing was resolved, the main character meant nothing, the main villain meant nothing. Nothing meant anything. It was as if the series got canceled, yet I've seen no evidence of that.

It's a shame. The art evolved, the dialogue was impressive at times, but it often reverted to "let me explain why this is happening in extreme detail" when the same information could have been conveyed without all the dialogue. All the elements that could have benefited from subtlety were over-explained, while the ones the author clearly couldn't explain were left unresolved to confuse us. Always a great aspect, only for the opposite to happen elsewhere.

5/10. Instead of being an "average" manga, it's one with great moments and other TERRIBLE moments.

Devilman Lady serves as a sequel to the original 70s Devilman, which is one of Nagai's most renowned works, if not his best.  
Prior to reading Devilman Lady, I had heard whispers that it wasn't well-crafted. This concern lingered as I truly enjoyed the original Devilman and hoped its sequel wouldn't disappoint. In the initial volumes, Devilman Lady felt somewhat mediocre—events seemed random, and nothing of great significance occurred. However, things took an exciting turn starting from volume 7, where an unexpected and shocking development unfolded (I can't elaborate due to spoilers).  

That said, the narrative is indeed engaging and well-written. This time around, the focus shifts to exploring demons' desires and thought processes, which I find particularly fascinating. The story reaches its climax in volume 7 and beyond. Many have criticized the ending as poor, but I wouldn't label it as such. Its main drawback is that it ends on a massive cliffhanger, though answers may be revealed in Devilman Saga, so I don't see this as a major issue.  

The artwork has seen significant improvement compared to the original Devilman (a 20-year gap exists between the two, after all). While the original's art was commendable, the sequel elevates it further—a fact that cannot be denied.  

The new characters introduced are compelling, allowing readers to connect with them easily. Additionally, characters from Nagai's earlier works make appearances in Devilman Lady, delighting fans familiar with his previous creations.  

Considering all these factors, Devilman Lady is quite impressive and deserves more recognition. Although it doesn't match the greatness of the original Devilman, it undoubtedly stands as a strong sequel.

This and Violence Jack are, by far, the greatest mangas ever made.  
Do not let the gaijins here dissuade you from reading them.  
The overall themes of faith, religion, and the demon rape are enough to make you start this and forget everything else.  
Of course, you need to read Devilman first to even understand anything.  
The final twist at the end is probably the most convoluted piece of shit I've ever read, but it makes sense if you spend a few hours thinking about who was the real evil in the end and what the hell the overall point of the story was.  
This is one of the few mangas I've read that doesn't make it very clear who is evil and who isn't. Both sides have goals that make perfect sense—in fact, I was rooting for the demons by the end of it.  
Forgive the mess that is the essay above.  
10/10