Devilminutia: Name Meanings

(I'm going to be using the heading Devilminutia for short posts discussing the minutia of Devilman - things that don't quite have enough substance for a proper piece, but are still worth pointing out and discussing.) Because of the nuances of kanji, there are both a lot of ways to write Japanese names and a … Continue reading Devilminutia: Name Meanings →

The Summer You Were Here: Taiko no Tatsujin

Note: This piece was originally written for CapsuleCrit; however, as it's been several months since they said they were going to publish it and I still haven't heard anything, I'm putting it up here instead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYk8Tk_qr40 I may have lived in Tokyo for two years, but the first time I played Taiko no Tatsujin was … Continue reading The Summer You Were Here: Taiko no Tatsujin →

Asuka Ryo Best In Show

As you all know, I am the #1 Devilfan, and I will fight to the death anyone who claims otherwise. By extension, this means I am also the #1 authority on all things Devilman related. Including Ryo. Especially Ryo. Because boy howdy, are there a lot of Ryos to keep track of, varying wildly in … Continue reading Asuka Ryo Best In Show →

On Satan, Gender, and Representation

[UPDATE: 11/2023 I wrote this post a few years ago, when I was going through something of a "they/them are the only valid nonbinary pronouns" phase, which I've since grown out of. I'm leaving this intact for posterity, but he/him and they/them are both perfectly fine choices for Satan.] Part I - Angelic Identity Politics … Continue reading On Satan, Gender, and Representation →

A Close Reading of Ichikawa Haruko’s “A 25-Hour Vacation”

Ichikawa Haruko is best known as the creator of Land of the Lustrous, but before that manga began publication, she published a number of one-shots which were collected in a two-volume edition simply titled Ichikawa Haruko Collection. These one-shots wound up being used as fodder for a rather infamous tumblr callout post accusing her of … Continue reading A Close Reading of Ichikawa Haruko’s “A 25-Hour Vacation” →

Kiki Delivers a Stroll

Chapter 10 of Volume 2, Kiki and New Magic, by Kadono Eiko. . . . . . Rrrrrrrrring— Rrrrrrrrring— Kiki put down her dustcloth and picked up the phone. "Why hello, is this Kiki's Delivery service?" said a man with a bit of a rumble in his throat. "Yes, that's right." "There's a little something I'd … Continue reading Kiki Delivers a Stroll →

Shin Devilman, More Like SHIT Devilman

Let me be honest: I am not fond of Shin Devilman. For those blissfully unaware, Shin is a one-volume spinoff of the original manga drawn by Go Nagai and written by his novelist brother Yasutaka, serialized from 1979-1981, in which Akira and Ryo travel through time and confront demons in various historical contexts. Unfortunately, it's … Continue reading Shin Devilman, More Like SHIT Devilman →

Kiki Delivers the Window to the Woods

Chapter 5 of Volume 2, Kiki and New Magic, by Kadono Eiko. “Here, a souvenir.” Kiki held out the package she brought back from her trip home to Tombo. “A souvenir? Wow.” As soon as Tombo took it, he pulled open the ribbon and looked in excitedly. “Oh hey, is this one of those bells? The … Continue reading Kiki Delivers the Window to the Woods →

“You know I’m a…”: On the Value of Liberal Translation

This post contains major spoilers for every iteration of Devilman. Devilman completed serialization in 1973, and didn't receive an official English translation until 2018, meaning that for approximately 50 years, the only version available to people who didn't speak Japanese (and even those who did, but couldn't get their hands on copies of the original) … Continue reading “You know I’m a…”: On the Value of Liberal Translation →