Devil Survivor 1

Devil Survivor #1

by Satoru Matsuba

After demons break through into the human world, Tokyo must be quarantined. Without power and stuck in a supernatural warzone, 17-year-old Kazuya has only one He must use the COMP, a device created by his cousin Naoya capable of summoning and subduing demons, to defeat the invaders and take back the city.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Comics, Graphic Novels, Comics Manga, Science Fiction, Horror

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2013

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am definitely happy I found this one during my bargain miracle hunt. :P

I still want to play the game for this one, and also for all the others in this genre. I also have to say that this intro, while for a earlier series, is immensely helping me if I want to try my hand on watching Devil Survivor 2 again. So many explanations about skills, monsters, demons, and more. Sure, DS2 is quite a bit different, but it quite cleared up some questions I had when I watched the first episode back when it first aired. The Devil Survivor 2 show just jumped right into the action, and as of today I was quite confused about a lot.

This was a really good volume with lots of action, with lots of things happening, but all explained really well. Our group of 3 gets some modified comps and find out they can summon monsters to battle other monsters. I loved how our group didn't immediately know what to do, that there was much confusion and fear, I always find it a bit boring when a MC just immediately knows what to do, it just doesn't feel real.

The monsters are creepy, deadly, and will not stop until they reached their goal.

Out of the 3 characters (not counting Naoya) I loved the MC the most, followed by Yuzu, though then the later Yuzu. In the beginning she was just a bit too annoying. Yes, I can understand these monsters are scary, but it is either fight or die.

The MC was great, resourceful, helpful, friendly. He tried his best to help his friends, he is the one figuring out how things work. Plus I liked how he looked. :P

I am really curious about why Naoya picked these 3 (yes, they are friends, but I am sure there is a deeper reason), and what is going on with the world. Why did monsters suddenly start appearing? What is up with the underground? Are the toxic gasses real?

The art is pretty great, and I like it a lot.

All in all, I definitely have to hunt for the rest of this series as I want to see what happens now. Can this world be saved? Will we gain more friends that can help out?

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com

[Aravena · Rating 2 out of 5]

(vol. 1-8 tamat)

"Though your days be peaceful, the fated time draws near. I am your judgement....

...I sundered the tongue of your fathers and shattered their arrogant power. So long as the Lord does not live in you, all living beings hold darkness in their hearts. If you truly wish to be yourself, then rise and fight the darkness within… the demon inside."

^Nyomot dari intro game-nya.

Ini komik adaptasi dari game Devil Survivor, salah satu anak dari franchise Shin Megami Tensei yang merupakan kakak sepupu dari seri Persona. Kalau tidak tahu-menahu tentang game-game tersebut, tidak usah khawatir; ini cerita yang bisa langsung diajak kenalan dan kawin lari tanpa harus sungkem dulu ke rumah ortu dan berbagai saudaranya itu.

Premisnya gabungan dari:

(1) Pokemon (*dengan monster berupa makhluk mitologi dari berbagai belahan penjuru dunia)
(2)Konsep Hari Pembalasan dan berbagai konsep keagamaan lainnya
(3) Latar action survival modern dengan tokoh remaja
(4) Filosofi 'menentukan dunia mana yang terbaik untuk manusia'.

Kalau kedengarannya kompleks bin njelimet.... yah, memang iya, tapi saya rasa komiknya cukup berhasil 'memadatkan' semua itu jadi paket yang mudah dicerna (walau dengan konsekuensi ada beberapa tema menarik yang kurang tergali).

Saya ambil komik ini karena (sangat) suka dengan game-nya. Terlepas dari gameplay-nya yang memang sangat bagus, saya juga suka plotnya, karakternya, desain makhluk mitologinya.... dan terutama kemampuan penulisnya untuk mengintegrasikan berbagai unsur teologis ke dalam cerita (*mungkin bagi sebagian kalangan akan dianggap 'penistaan agama' sih hahaha).

Karena plot dan temanya pada dasarnya bagus, komiknya pun tetap terasa menarik. Sayang, gaya gambarnya agak minimalis, pace kadang terasa terlalu cepat, dan ada beberapa bagian saat saya merasa penulisnya agak kesulitan 'menerjemahkan' unsur game menjadi narasi komik yang logis. Selebihnya, sudah cukup efektif sebagai 'bentuk ramping' dari cerita aslinya.

........

Ocehan mabuk sebagai penggemar game-nya (*sebaiknya jangan dibaca untuk yang hanya tertarik dengan komiknya):

(1) AGGGGGH ADEGAN PERTARUNGANNYA KOK NGGAK SERU BANGET!?

Haha, sewaktu main gamenya, salah satu yang paling berkesan memang bagian duelnya.... yang jujur, susah banget. Ini salah satu RPG paling susah yang pernah saya mainkan, tapi ini jenis 'susah' yang saya suka. Tipe yang fair dan bukan dalam rangka 'ngerjain' pemain, melainkan yang mendorong pemain untuk serius memutar otak dan merancang strategi supaya bisa menang. Tingkat kesulitan itu juga membuat atmosfer saat boss battle-nya makin tegang bin mencekam.

Jadi, saya agak bengong sewaktu duel epik dengan Beelzebub, Jezebel, Belberith dkk. di-fast forward jadi hanya 4-5 halaman komik. Haha.

(2) Salah satu daya tarik utama Devil Survivor dan seri SMT adalah berbagai makhluk legenda yang ditampilkan dengan interpretasi desain yang sangat menarik. Sumbernya pun sangat bervariasi, baik berupa makhluk mitologi Nordik, siluman-siluman kecil dari Timur maupun Barat, dewa-dewa kepercayaan Hindu, iblis dari Alkitab, dan masih banyak lagi (*Rangda dan Barong dari mitologi Bali juga ada lho!). Semua itu dilengkapi dengan ensiklopedi mitologi dan demonologi yang menjabarkan asal-muasal para makhluk tersebut.

Di versi komiknya, semua itu terpangkas lumayan banyak karena keterbatasan halaman. Bisa dimengerti sih.

(3) Saya merasa atmosfer komiknya kalah jauh dibandingkan gamenya. Gaya gambar di komiknya tidak cukup kuat untuk bisa menyampaikan tema dan suasana mencekam Hari Pembalasan, sementara kalau di game.... musiknya itu sangat berperan membangun atmosfer.

Serius, musiknya bagus.

(4) Hal positif dari komiknya: ada sejumlah adegan dan dialog baru yang memperkuat penokohannya, terutama karena di game tokoh utamanya itu tipe silent protagonist. Namun rasanya memang masih 'nanggung', dan saya kecewa juga karena ada beberapa bagian favorit saya yang dihapus.

Begitulah, rupanya memang mustahil bagi saya untuk 'bercerai' dari pengalaman dan ekspektasi saya dari versi game, haha. Anggap saja ini komik tiga bintang untuk yang belum pernah main versi aslinya.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! I really liked this battle-based demon shonen. Lots of action in the first volume with some plot developing. Everything is all a bit mysterious as to why these three teens are being called to fight the demons that seem to be gathering upon Tokyo. The characters are introduced nicely and the demons are absolutely awesome. The art is very well-done and I've got to say I was hooked only several pages in. This isn't just your typical demon-slayer; there's something unique here, a feel and atmosphere with this first volume, the rest we'll have to find out later as so much mystery surrounds the story yet. Bring on Vol. 2!

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. This felt a bit much like it was trying to mimic the feel of the game without any actual gameplay, and the characters felt very underdeveloped, even for a first volume. I'll give it another volume, but mostly I was sad that I couldn't call my character "Squinky" like in the game.


Full review to eventually appear on The Anime News Network.

[Savleye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the manga for this game series has taken me on a huge nostalgia trip. I'm 23 and I played this game for the first time when I was 11 and it was my first introduction to Shin Megami Tensei games and JRPGs and I instantly fell in love with the games.

Onto the actual manga, I like how they made the silent protagonist a well rounded character with a personality. I'm also noticing a few slight differences between the manga and the game, such as the 3 initial demons the trio meets being different, or the spell maragi being changed to maharagi. Otherwise, the manga stays very true to its source material.

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing special, exciting, or interesting.

[Elias Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay

[Yuiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great series! Really good story, love the art and lots of awesome exciting action scenes 😻😁❤️

[Miranda]

DNF

[Ashra · Rating 3 out of 5]

it got me interested in playing the game! (the game is GREAT!!) But I don't remember this version of the narrative having enough bite to get me any more invested in the manga.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10

[Mikey The Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this one was a little simple, however I loved the characters and the action was great.

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga is based on a game, or so it says. So far, it has been a pleasant surprise. I only have one more volume; I may regret that.

[Ben Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from a friend for a quick read and I always heard great things about the devil survivor series, so I decided to give it a read. To be honest, after reading the first three chapters I was not invested at all. considering that I'm a manga weeb, and I love reading manga, this one did not hit the mark for me. I might give it another go if I play the game series but this story is just okay. Not interesting enough for me to continue the manga series.

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit. The energy in this manga is fantastic. The storyline being moved through video game consoles is eh.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first volume. I hope we have more of it at the library!

[Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this it was like digimon and Pokemon in concept (a sort of game) but much more bloody and violent

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started well with a strong foundation laid out. Looking forward to the next volume and how things escalate.

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need ALL the Shin Megami Tensei and ALL the Persona - now now now

[Yuiko · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright

[Yuiko · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright

[Gillian Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5