D.N.Angel, Vol. 12

D・N・ANGEL [ディー・エヌ・エンジェル] #12

by Yukiru Sugisaki

On his fourteenth birthday, Daisuke Niwa comes down with a condition that has plagued men in his family for centuries, causing him to turn into the phantom thief Dark Mousy every time he sees his crush, Risa, and back into Daisuke when he sees Risa's twin, Riku, but in the midst of all the craziness, Daisuke must find a way to get Risa to fall in love with him and cure his condition for good.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Romance, Shojo, Comics, Comics Manga

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2008

About the author

Yukiru Sugisaki (杉崎ゆきる; Sugisaku Yukiru in Japanese) is a Japanese manga artist. Her hobbies are dramas, video games, and "collecting rabbit things".
Sugisaki's face is rarely seen, as she prefers to draw herself with a rabbit face or mask in her manga profile images. She also seems to have developed a trait of leaving her series unfinished before moving on to different projects (Notably D.N.Angel, which has seen multiple month-long droughts between chapters. She has just recently done many Lagoon Engine installments, including the Japanese release of volume 7.
Previous to that, she completed a small series entitled Eden, which had its debut in the October 2006 issue of Shōnen Ace, and finished in February 2007. It saw a departure of sorts from Sugisaki's previous series, with a darker, sci-fi noir theme and older protagonists.

Currently, she finished D.N.Angel in 20 volumes (5 released only in digital).

Her work

She made her debut in "Asuka Magazine" with "Namaiki no N". Her other works include "D.N.Angel (13 volumes, unfinished) ", "Rizelmine (1 volume, finished)", "Lagoon Engine (7 volumes, unfinished)", and "Lagoon Engine Einsatz (1 volume, unfinished)". Her "D.N.Angel" manga and "Rizelmine" manga have also been adapted into anime series. Because the D.N.Angel manga was incomplete at the time, the anime has many differences to the original manga, most notably the ending.

Sugisaki is also the artist of the "BrainPowerd" and "The Candidate for Goddess" manga, both of which have been turned into an anime. Her "Neutral" artbook contains artwork from "D.N.Angel", "BrainPowerd", and "The Candidate for Goddess". Her second artbook, [FEDER:] (which is no longer available for purchase), contains newer artwork solely from D.N.Angel. She has also penned the well-known "Sotsugyo M", and created doujinshi for series such as "Tenkuu no Escaflowne", Neon Genesis Evangelion, Lets&Go , and King of Fighters.

Most of her works feature young, cute main characters and elements of Yaoi, though not considered Yaoi.

Her current project is D.N.Angel, which has finally begun serializing in Monthly Asuka again.

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this volume's sense of adventure as Argentine took Risa into the dungeon where Quolia was kept and Daisuke and Satoshi navigated the tunnels to and scaled the tower. Risa's insight into Argentine having a heart was really profound; I enjoyed that whole sequence. Quolia reminds me slightly of the dormant Jenova in Final Fantasy VII. I'm really interested in seeing what happens with her.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, the relationship between Satoshi and Daisuke is growing ridiculously well. This book was amazing in that aspect. I've always loved the two of them and how they interact, and this installment really cemented that. Plus, I think we're finally really getting to see how Satoshi operates, and that's really awesome to watch unfold. Highly recommended!

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I’m of two minds about this story. On the one hand, the relationship between Satoshi and Daisuke, how they ally in spite of Dark and Krad is absolutely beautiful. The way they work together, fight together, and figure their way through a maze of traps to save Risa, at last confiding in each other takes my breath away. A pity Risa doesn’t seem that worth saving. All the screaming and freaking out over the most trivial, shallow things while she’s in danger isn’t just annoying. It’s insulting, this portrayal of a feminine stereotype which makes girls in danger or facing adversity seem weak and shallow by association. There’s no attempts to make these shortcomings more loveable, to draw them in with her overall character, allowing the audience to understand them. We’re just expected to accept them. While Risa started to show a little more backbone towards the end, I’m tired of Risa and Riku getting into trouble. It happens so often, it’s becoming a worn-out cliche in which all sympathy is torn to shreds. I’m tired of Risa and Riku. There has been so little to them as characters other than being in love and getting into trouble. My annoyance at this overused theme was once more overwhelmed by the power and promise of the Satoshi/Daisuke storyline. The Argentine aspect of the plot would have been a lot more interesting if it wasn’t saddled with Risa. As a villain, Krad is much more interesting than Argentine and he has a much more interesting object of obsession. One of the most powerful, beautiful sequences in this volume was when Krad emerged to battle an obstacle, is ready to turn on Daisuke, and Satoshi fights back. Dark has abandoned Daisuke, nor does he approve of Daisuke’s alliance with Satoshi, yet he’s withdrawn his help. Both boys discover what they’re capable of apart from Dark and Krad. The power and beauty of their journey together still makes me inclined to give this four stars. If the Harada twins weren’t around to drag the plot with their repetitive damselling, I would have given this five stars.

[Cecillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really nice to see some "bonding time" between Daisuke and Satoshi. Even if I end up feeling more and more sorry for Satoshi, his life seems to suck so bad. I'm also wondering about the kind of area this whole story takes place in that they have the weird church from the Ice & Dark arch, AND these big ass towers where Argentine is hiding in that Daisuke wasn't aware of. Also it looks like the mangaka took at break between this volume and the previous one, because there's a shift in the art style. It looks more "modern" in this volume. It's still super nice to look at so I'm not complaining, but it is very noticable.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The resolution of the Argentine plot (he just turned back into a statue? Underwhelming.) and the beginnings of (hopefully?) Riku finally realizing Dark and Daisuke are one and the same??

[Cosmé di Angelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is so pretty!!!!

[Ali's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super profundo y emotivo y emocionante este tomo. LO AME

[Dony Grayman]

Vieja edición argentina.

[Danny Sifonte · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the themes in this book is what you would do to save the person you love. The main character Daisuke, has to save his tru love Riku because she has been kidnaped by an ancient evil villan. Another theme is also about trust, because Daisuke had to decide whether he should trust his foe hiwatari even though his family tells daisuke not to (but hiwatari knows where the ancient villan is. When Daisuke was making the decision of trusting Hiwatari, I would of put them both on stage and I would of frozen Hiwatari and made the audience hear what Daisuke was thinking and had his parent come on stage as if they found out what he was about to do and try to stop him.

[Lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much Satoshi/Daisuke goodness. A little truth is out a few feelings discussed. Daisuke continues to be our goodest boi.

[Debb Nitram · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Se puede amar sin hacerle ver tus sentimientos al otro. Pero, para ser amado hay que dejarle ver tus sentimientos a toda costa. Puede que se haya dado cuenta que se necesita un valor verdadero para recibir esos sentimientos verdaderos."
"Un 'corazón' significa querer. Y vos la querés a ella."
"Todas las personas perdemos cosas. Incluso se puede decir que uno obtiene cosas para perderlas. Es solo que, o lo pierdes antes o después."

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

9/28/09 The problem is it didn't actually advance the story line at all. If anything it raise one more question. : (

I am kind of disapointed.


10/1/09 2.5 it was also too short. Considering how long I waited for this one it seems they didn't really do much.

[Robyn]

AH-HA! 8D there IS going to be another one out, awesome! <3 been waiting years to know if there would be or not...

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read the entire series, due to the long delay between volumes 11 & 12. I am so glad this series is starting up again! It's so delightful.

[Nura · Rating 3 out of 5]

kenapa riku blushing ya waktu si dark mau pergi dari kamarnya?
suka covernya.