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The Devil Is a Part-Timer Manga #1

The Devil is a Part-Timer Manga, Vol. 1

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After being soundly thrashed by the hero Emilia, the Devil King and his general beat a hasty retreat to a parallel universe...only to land plop in the middle of bustling, modern-day Tokyo! Lacking the magic necessary to return home, the two are forced to assume human identities and live average human lives until they can find a better solution. And to make ends meet, Satan finds gainful employment at a nearby fast food joint! With his devilish mind set on working his way up the management food chain, what will become of his thirst for conquest?!

178 pages, Paperback

First published June 27, 2012

127 people are currently reading
2662 people want to read

About the author

Satoshi Wagahara

83 books120 followers

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5 stars
834 (43%)
4 stars
631 (32%)
3 stars
369 (19%)
2 stars
59 (3%)
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30 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
3,224 reviews6,366 followers
July 20, 2022
This was actually an amazing manga! I can't believe that it took me so long to get to it. I think one of the teens I work with at the library actually introduced me to the book. I've become so addicted to Nana and Food Wars that I haven't really branched out in reading other manga so this one was a pleasant surprise. This well-known demon lord ends up in our world working at a knock-off McDonalds. He's determined to conquer the human world, but he ends of making friends and meeting his arch-nemesis. It was hilarious, heart-felt, and well-written with fantastic artwork. I loved being absorbed in the story and I definitely plan on reading the next couple of volumes in the series before I decided whether I want to start collecting them or not. If you haven't gotten the chance to read these yet please give them a try! : )
Profile Image for Kenz The Dragon Queen.
261 reviews534 followers
Want to read
August 5, 2020
I remember loving this anime so much, but it never got a second season, even though I (and many others) desperately wanted one! So, obviously, I must turn to the manga. Apparently I can only trust books.
Profile Image for L. McCoy.
742 reviews7 followers
January 5, 2018
This... now this is a fun manga book! I remember loving the anime so now I get to love the manga!

What’s it about?
The devil and another demon have ended up in Japan. Is the devil a politician? A celebrity? Perhaps a successful night club owner like some TV shows may suggest? Nope! He works part time at MgRonald’s! He tries to rule the world by working his way up the corporate ladder but an angelic warrior gets in the way!

Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is interesting and done in a unique way. Typically you might hear me say “Oh look, Satan ends up on Earth, imagine that...” but this book takes something that has been done several times but does something fun and different with it, I like that!
The characters are all amusing, interesting and well written!
The art is cartoony, fun, well done and is perfect for this comic!
This is a very funny comic! The character interactions and story are hilarious! I also love the MgRonald’s name (that’s what I often call McDonald’s ever since seeing the anime)!
This is quite the unpredictable story! I remembered a lot of it from the show but there were some things that I either forgot or were different from the anime so it’s not too predictable.
This book can be quite exciting!
The world building is surprisingly well done and detailed.

Overall:
I see no problems here! Fun manga with a creative story and well written characters! We honestly need more comics like that IMO. I love this and am definitely looking forward to reading volume 2.

5/5
Profile Image for Selena Pigoni.
1,927 reviews266 followers
September 26, 2023
So I watched the anime for this one about a year ago and saw that the manga had come to the US. Of course I had to read it. (I have not read the LN yet, but I will eventually.)

The manga is fun, though I have to admit watching the anime helped. There's some time jumps that miss out on fun jokes that were in the anime (the inner debate on whether to use magic to fix the fryer) that the manga didn't have, and a non-linear explanation of how the heck Maou and Ashiya got to our world (they're here in our world, and then they do a flashback/monologue for backstory, then back to our world, then flashback/monologue again).

Also worth noting, Ashiya comes across as far less anxious in the manga than he does in the anime. Everyone else is about the same.

I think I would have been lost if not for already knowing most of the important information up front, but I could be wrong. It's always hard to know for sure.

The artwork was good, and for the most part, I think I preferred it to the anime's. I also found it kind of funny that Chiho's chest shrunk (usually, boobs are bigger in the manga, not smaller).

Over all I liked it but for some weirdness in story telling, but I think you might want to read a bit of the LN or watch at least the first episode of the anime before you read this one, if only so you have a better grasp of what's going on.
Profile Image for Alice.
461 reviews16 followers
January 12, 2016
I'm not particularly in to Manga or Anime, so I was unaware of this series and only read it because its on the Excelsior Award short list! I enjoyed it though, much more than I expected to.

It's light and fun and really cliched. I don't really understand how/why the Devil King, his General and The Hero go send to our world.. but I guess that doesn't matter, or will be explored in further issues. Sadao Maou is alright as a character, although I am just as confused as Emilia as to why the Devil King acts so nice all the time?! He's overly nice.. nobody is that nice! He's meant to be Evil.

Emilia is kind of cool in that she's the Hero, and very dedicated to her cause. However she shouts A LOT which is annoying and yet again there is the issue with a lot of scenes of her being naked in the shower (for literally no reason, no reason why we need a full frontal, full body shot of her naked...!) Sure she's smooth all over and nipple-less like doll, but its still pretty suggestive and unnecessary! I think this occurs 4 times in this short book... worth noting that none of the others characters are depicted in this way. I'm not a prude its just that only the female characters get shown naked (and seriously there is no reason for it!), it's sexist. It's also a bit of an issue when this book is for a school library... sniggering teenage boys etc a lot of attention is also drawn the size of the only other female character of note's chest size.

Why do you do this to me Manga? I want to like you...

That said it's light and fluffy and passed the time.
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,434 reviews101 followers
June 30, 2024
I do love the consistently strange interpretations of Christian mythos present in fantasy manga. Cute and light, but I think I might just go back to watching the anime instead of reading the series.

Not a huge fan of the multiple nudity shots of Emilia. They were weird and unnecessary.
Profile Image for Kiara.
227 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2024
the devil thinking that becoming a full time employee at mcdonalds is the first step to taking over the world is honestly so real
1 review
September 30, 2018
"The Devil Is A Part-Timer" written by Satoshi Wagahara, and is a young adult fiction book. It follows the story of Sadao Maou (Satan), Shiro Ashiya (First General) and Emi Yusa (Hero). We begin at war in a land called Ente Isle, Satan and his General are forced to retreat and end up in Japan with Emi following closely behind. Sadao, Shiro and Emi are stuck in Japan until they find a way to restore their magical powers. How so? Guess you will have to find out yourself.

Being written as a Omniscient First Person book, you will find yourself reading and understanding the plot from most every character. The book being based in Japan, allows the author to use methods of travel utilized in Japan to introduce complex fighting scenes and reasons for the heroes to focus on saving civilians. Allowing your mind to wander while addressing "The Devil Is A Part-Timer" will allow you to see that the plot of the story is an evil king taking land that isn't his and through karma is being taught how to care for all life forms.

Do you like suspense, comedy, sarcasm, romance or MgRonald's fries? Well, if your answer is yes to even one of these topics, "The Devil Is A Part-Timer" is the book for you. In my opinion this book must be given five stars, mainly because the characters are made to be so relatable, you feel like they are your best friends five minutes into reading. Also, the story keeps you reading, you always want to find whats around that next turn of a page. Overall, "The Devil Is A Part-Timer" is a series for anyone who enjoys a good plot and likes comedic touches.
Profile Image for Mark.
2,720 reviews261 followers
December 28, 2019
The premise of this series, that Satan ends up working at a McDonald’s knockoff after fleeing from another dimension, is ripe with potential but overripe in execution. Having watched this volumes events in the anime, I like the manga version better, but it’s still not as good as it could be.

Parts of it work, mostly centred around the restaurant and how it informs Satan’s grand plan for world domination, and Chi-chan is a great partner for him. As is his loyal general, who basically functions as a house husband.

The hero, Emi, who ends up involved in things pretty quickly, gets the shortest shrift. She’s a basic tsundere character and feels like the butt of the joke more often than she should (she does have a couple strong moments).

She’s also the only character who gets ridiculously gratuitous nudity - she showers twice in one volume and the artist is all about it (if anybody has ever posed like she does in that first shower shot, I’ll eat my iPad). It’s a little much, given how the other characters do nothing of the sort.

And the art is super wonky - there are some hideous noodle arms throughout. It’s a fine book for what it is, but I don’t know that I’ll push on with it until a sale comes along. It’s just disposable manga entertainment - aggressively mediocre.
Profile Image for Brittany.
186 reviews12 followers
July 13, 2018
The Devil King fled from Ente Isla with his most loyal general and landed on Earth. Making the best of a bad situation, in which he must hint for enough magic to return and try to take over Ente Isla, he gets a part time job at a fast food chain: Mgronald. Unfortunately for him Emilia the Hero followed him to Earth and is determined to undermine his plans and kill him once they figure out how to return to their homeland.

This is a cute manga, I think the story was a little all over the place and hard to follow at times, but the premise is interesting. It is a quick read, nothing mind-blowing, but if you're looking for a quick, fun and quirky read this is the manga for you.
Profile Image for Sesana.
6,175 reviews330 followers
Read
August 26, 2021
I was really enjoying this series. The central concept is creative and interesting and opens a lot of story doors, and it was light hearted and pretty funny. And then the gratuitous shower scenes happen. Well, that's that, I guess.
Profile Image for Harmony Williams.
Author 25 books156 followers
February 13, 2020
Exactly what I was looking for in a manga! A little ridiculous but not over the top with good banter, an interesting story, and compelling characters.
Profile Image for Elaine.
1 review
March 31, 2017
This manga was very interesting. The plot of the demon lord coming the the real world is very comical. How ever things can get very serious when they need to be. It had some magical elements in the real world. This was well done and it didn't get confusing. I liked the fact that they had a good reason and explanation for magic in the real world. The characters were also interesting and you could like all of them. It wasn't the demon lord is evil in his world so his evil in general, he was a character you could root for. Also the magical characters aren't the only interesting one's; the humans are too. The art was also well done even if the style isn't really something new. Something that I didn't like was that the plot sort of came out of no where. There wasn't a real set up to the plot, but in the end it did work out. I think that people who like manga's that are comedic, but serious would like this. Overall I would recommend this book.
Profile Image for Daisya Spencer.
374 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2018
The Devil King, Sadao Maou, and his general, Shiro Ashiya, travel to modern-day Tokyo from Ente Isla after demon armies were driven away. Now, Maou works at a fast-food restaurant and lives on a budget in an apartment with Ashiya for the time being until they find a solution to return home because in the modern world their magic is lacking quite a bit.
I quite enjoyed this volume and found it to be hilarious on most occasions. Particularly with Ashiya and Maou. There were times that I didn't understand what was going on, but other times I got it.
I gave this volume four stars instead of a five mainly because I just didn't have the drive to pick it up even though I was enjoying it if that makes any sense.
Overall, I did enjoy this volume and can't wait to dive right into the next one.
Profile Image for Alejandro.
106 reviews
September 12, 2017
Welcome to another installment of "Ale Reviews Manga"! (See guys, I'm getting better at this... kind of.)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Satan, the king of the devils, was transported to our world and forced to take a part-time job at a McDonald's like place? Me neither, but here I am reviewing The Devil is a Part-Timer, a manga about exactly that.

I found the first volume of this series to be a fairly quick read, but not necessarily because I was engrossed by the story line. Even though the main premise of this series is Satan working a part-time job in order to, in his words, take over the world, the reader is barely given a glimpse into that part of his life. Rather, it appears the main crux of the story is that everyone is trying to take a hit at him while he is down, including a plucky female hero that forced him to travel into the human world in the first place and is now stuck there herself. I mean, its kind of funny to read about Satan being knocked down a few pegs, but besides that, it didn't really hold my interest.

Will I continue to read The Devil is a Part-Timer? Probably not, unless I have nothing better to read. But I will say the art is definitely cute though.

With that, this officially concludes this installment of "Ale Reviews Manga"!

My official rating: descriptiondescriptiondescription /5
Profile Image for Mehsi.
14.8k reviews444 followers
February 14, 2016
Short review:

I saw this anime some time ago, sadly it stopped and didn't get a second season (yet). So I decided to see if I can find something to clench my thirst for this awesome series.

Sadly, I can't find the light novels, and the manga doesn't go so far yet. :(

The manga (and probably the light novel) are very close to the anime, I was at times a bit bored, because I already seen those scenes in the anime.

So far I haven't met any characters that I didn't like, they all have their traits and they are all fun. Maou, our demon overlord who now works at a Mcdonalds. He and his servant live in a run-down apartment. And then we aren't even talking about his enemies who drop from the heavens to hunt him down.

There was only one thing I didn't like, the unnecessary amount of nude in regards of the hero girl. She is the only character who we keep seeing naked (shower/undressing/in flashbacks as the hero).

The manga is comedy, but also has action, fantasy and a bit of romance.

I would recommend this one to everyone who needs a fun manga.

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Profile Image for Diane.
261 reviews8 followers
July 9, 2015
I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Such a fun concept to have the devil & his angel hero foe cast into a world as mere humans who have lost their powers but not their hate for one another. Even better, they have to work mediocre jobs to make ends meet while figuring out how to proceed. I have a 16yr old niece whom I know is going to devour this.
Profile Image for Nore.
826 reviews48 followers
July 13, 2017
Oddly enough, I think I preferred the anime; the pacing in the manga is very... offputting, with very little attention paid to the backstory of the Devil. The anime also just has more of a cutesy air that I enjoy over the manga.
Profile Image for Ryan Calhoun.
40 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2017
OMG!!! I think I just found my new favorite manga. "The Devil is a Part-Timer" was such a funny, witty, sarcastic, and 100% FUN manga!!! I can't wait to see what the rest of this series has to offer. :)
Profile Image for Of Butterflies & Books.
819 reviews25 followers
June 30, 2024
As a fan of the anime, I wanted to check out the companion manga and I was actually really impressed by the art. I’m really interested to read more past where the first season ended and where season 2 will hopefully pick up from.
Profile Image for Amber.
2,628 reviews366 followers
July 24, 2015
This was funny and properly captured what it was like to be part-timer and you can't help but feel for all the characters.
Profile Image for Ashley Kempkes.
547 reviews40 followers
March 14, 2019
Didn't really like it - not a new idea and the lack of real fighting is boring *shrugs*
Profile Image for Samantha.
65 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2021
The Devil Is a Part-Timer! Story & Art By Satoshi Wagahara, Akio Hiiragi & 029 (Oniku)

Official Synopsis:
It's tough being evil when you have to pay the rent! This comical tale of a demon-lord-turned-fry-slinger follows the daily travails of (former) Devil King Sadao Maou and his general Shiro Ashiya as they navigate the complexities of life in modern-day Tokyo. Having suffered utter defeat at the hands of a plucky hero, they've been banished to earth and stripped of magical power. And if that wasn't enough, that pesky hero is still hell bent on finishing the job. Artist Akio Hiiragi brings Satoshi Wagahara's story to hilarious life in this manga adaptation of the hit light novel series. It turns out crushing your enemies beneath your feet is tricky when you haven't even made manager yet!

Genres: Dark Fantasy, Comedy, Supernatural, Romance & Action
Book Style: Manga (Japanese Comics - Read Right to Left)

I decided to read The Devil Is a Part-Timer! By Satoshi Wagahara, Akio Hiiragi & 029 (Oniku) Vol.1 because I've seen the whole anime series and love it so I wanted to try out the Manga too. Once I started reading I fell in love because it has the same feel of the anime without much differences. This story follows Devil King, Satan (Sadao Maou) and General, Alciel (Shiro Ashiya) having suffered defeat at the hands of a plucky hero in Ente Isla, they've been banished to earth pacifically Japan modern-day Tokyo and stripped of magical power. Now Satan and Alciel must figure out a way to make it back to Ente Isla to take it over and also Satan must get a job to keep up with rent to stay undercover from the humans. But if that wasn't enough, the hero is still hell bent on finishing the job and ending up on Earth too! My favorite characters so far are Devil King, Satan (Sadao Maou) because he seems evil in Ente Isla but in the human world he fits right in being a kind person who loves his job at MgRonald serving burgers and fries. I also like Chiho Sasaki because she's a nice human who works with Satan (Sadao Maou) at MgRonald and also has a huge crush on him. Another character I like is General, Alciel (Shiro Ashiya) because he respects Satan like he's in Ente Isla even though he's on Earth, he's an overdramatic about failing his Liege and human people think he's trying to be a cosplayer or an actor! My favorite parts of the story I like the most are when Satan (Sadao Maou) and Alciel (Shiro Ashiya) end up in Japan and getting arrested because they try to use they powers but didn't work then the cops think they're foreigners cosplayers. After getting arrested they figure out where they are by using some hypnosis on the cop and get themselves ready set for modern life and an apartment (their castle). Another part I really enjoy is when Satan (Sadao Maou) and Chi are working together at MgRonald because they're very cute together trying their hardest to make sales. Satan (Sadao Maou) thinks by working at MgRonald he can make it at full-time position to rule over all of Japan, which is so funny! Also when Chi and Satan go on a date to find out why the strange earthquake's keep happening. I also like when The Hero, Emilia Justina (Emi Yusa) finally finds Satan to kill him but find out she's in the same situation as her enemies but willing to give up killing him if he stays in the Human world & not going back home. Then when Satan & Emi find out they might be in more danger after being in a shooting in the street from a magical force. Also finding out how she became a hero in Ente Isla to fight off The Devil King, Satan (Sadao Maou)! There are a lot of parts I really love in this volume but I don't want to fully spoil the book. The art style is very spooky/old world in the dark fantasy world but it's very cute in the human world which gives a nice balance to both settings. Also love how each character has more than one look including what the characters from Ente Isla really look like. I can't wait to read The Devil Is a Part-Timer! By Satoshi Wagahara, Akio Hiiragi & 029 (Oniku) Vol.2 because I'm wondering what the mysterious earthquakes are coming from, are Satan, Alciel & Emi are really in danger from someone of their own world and if Satan and Chi end up dating each other or if they go back home or not! I would recommend this book to people who want an odd story, who need a laugh or just want to read about Satan working in a fast food burger restaurant!
Profile Image for Trevor Williamson.
557 reviews22 followers
November 27, 2021
The Devil Is a Part-Timer is one of my favorite anime series, and the light novel that serves as the basis for the series is an additional bit of guilty pleasure. It's a fairly simplistic story as far as light novels about characters struggling to keep up in a new world, having been displaced from their original setting. It seems to establish a fair number of common tropes in light-hearted fantasy humor, and while unchallenging is still a pleasant dive.

This first volume of the manga adapts the first half or so of the first light novel, featuring Sadao Maou as he encounters Emi Yusa in the real world, having been transported to Japan from their native Ente Isla. The manga mostly follows the same story of the light novel with few embellishments. The art is serviceable if not fairly tame, and while a few gags pay off a bit better in this format than in the light novel, it's mostly unchanged. What small changes are made (for example, Emi Yusa's backstory is developed a little more here, and the story's major thematic revelation is handled more clearly here) serve the overarching plot of the series a little better than in the light novel, although it's not quite enough to justify itself.

It's really not that bad an adaption, though I would hesitate to encourage anyone interested in the series to read both the manga and the light novel for the whole picture; quite genuinely, this is a story that is perhaps best served by just choosing one format over the other. I do prefer the manga for its visuals over the light novel's bland prose translation, but I think it's going to be up to individual readers which format they prefer.

For me, the manga is a fun enough diversion, and if I didn't already know the light novel pretty well, I would likely have started with the manga over the novel. Live and learn!
Profile Image for Arska-täti.
909 reviews5 followers
May 14, 2020
Kun demonikuningas Sadao Maou yrittää valloittaa Ente Islan maailman, joutuu hän kohtamaan hurjaakin hurjemman sankarittaren Emilian. Pelastautuakseen Emilian raivoisalta hyökkäykseltä Maou joutuu pakenemaan viimeisen kätyrinsä Alcielin kanssa taikaportista ihmisten maailmaan, tarkemmin sanottuna nykyajan Tokioon.

Ihmisten maailmassa Sadao ja Alciel menettävät kaikki voimansa ja muuttuvat tavallisiksi ihmisiksi. Selviytyäkseen Tokiossa Sadao menee töihin pikaruokaravintolaan (McRonald :D), suunnitelmanaan nousta pikaruokalan johtajaksi ja siitä eteenpäin aina koko Japanin vaikutusvaltaisimmaksi henkilöksi. Suunnitelmiin tulee kuitenkin mutkia vastaan, kun sankari Emilia ilmestyy myös ihmisten maailmaan tarkoituksenaan viedä työnsä loppuun. Mutta kun he joutuvatkin yhdessä salaperäisten hyökkäysten kohteeksi, joutuvat he turvautumaan toisiinsa selvittääkseen, kuka oikein on kaiken takana.

Hulvattoman hauska fantasiatarina, joka sekoittaa täydellisesti perinteistä hyvä vs paha -asetelmaa. Henkilöhahmoista tulee sarjan edetessä ilahduttavan paljon uusia puolia esiin. On myös upeaa seurata, kuinka paholainen joutuu opettelemaan ihmisten maailman toimintasääntöjä ja kuinka hänestä tulee vähitellen aina vain suositumpi ravintolan työntekijä. Piirrostyyli on myös loistavaa; vaikka moni kohtaus sisältääkin toimintaa, pysyy juonenkäänteissä ja tapahtumissa hyvin mukana.
Profile Image for Phoebe S..
230 reviews8 followers
April 24, 2021
When the demon lord Satan Jacob is soundly defeated by Emilia the Hero in the magical land of Ente Isla, he beats a hasty retreat- too hasty, in fact, because he finds himself in modern-day Tokyo without his magic powers! Not one to be defeated easily, the Demon King plots to... get a job at "MgRonald's," a name designed solely to avoid a lawsuit if ever there was one. Will he find a way to restore his powers and take over Earth? Will he avoid going broke and become Employee of the Month? Maybe both, maybe neither. It's all up in the air for now.

Now on to my actual thoughts. First of all, not a fan of the fanservice here, but eh, it's not as gratuitous as Tagame's work.

Other than that? This is a solid first installment. It's a little tropey, but it's got a good balance between serious mystery elements, workplace satire, and morally grey characters which seem to have a good capacity for growth and dynamic relationships (despite them being a demon lord and a hero). It even has a rudimentary magic system that Sadao Mao speculates on. I also am liking this over the anime so far due to it beginning in medias res and jumping straight to Sadao's life in Tokyo and then giving us little crumbs of backstory throughout.
3 reviews
October 2, 2018
The graphic novel that I am reviewing is THE DEVIL IS A PART-Timer 1 by akio hiiragi, and satoshi Wagahara. The Devil Is a Part-Timer the first book is about the The Devil King/Sadao Maou and his partner Alciel/Shirou Ashiya crash land on earth after being defend by the hero Emilia/Yusa-san. Sadao and Shirou are staying on earth till they have enough power to take back the his world. But before he can do that he must saved up his power and try to fit in as a human. But the hero Emilia won’t let the devil king go of that easily. To live in this world he has to get a job and he does at mgRonalds. Not to be a spoiler but on the way he makes many friends and enemies on his way to take back his kingdom.

The Devil Is a Part-Timer books has a very anime based art it almost looks like the tv show. The artistic style is quite conventional but it is based off of demon, angels ,heros,and humans so it based off of things that aren’t real. After running into Emilia she asks if she can stay over because she forgot the bag. But before that she tells them about how ugly their home is. They don’t care but they are still on high alert so that she won’t kill them in their sleep because it is her job to kill demons. The next day she comes back to pay them for letting her stay. The devil king actes nice and Emilia hates it because he was the reasons her dad died. And she hated how nice he was acting because if he was always this way her dad would be alive and so would countless others. I give this book 5 out of 5⭐s.
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