The year 2050 is all right. Or at least it would be if it weren't for the presence of the Demon King, a mad sorcerer with the ability to summon demons to do his dirty work and terrorize the masses. Most people aren't even aware that he exists, but tales of the terror wrought by the demons are whispered in secret.
This doesn't worry Aya Chihiko, though. She's more concerned about the fact that her family has moved to the small, isolated town of Daijin. On her first day of school there, she runs (literally) into Toru Akujin, a disfigured and mysterious young man whose family is surrounded by a swirl of ominous rumors of involvement in the occult.
Spurred by these rumors, Aya follows Toru to his home, only to be attacked by an invisible demon and saved by Toru. At the Akujin House, she learns a few important things:
A) Demons are very real, and the Akujin family are exorcists who protect Daijin from them.B) Toru is part demon himself, a quarter to be specific, the result of his grandfather having a son with the demon lord Valhelamet.C) The Akujins have a connection and rivalry with the mysterious Demon King, which all began when Toru was very young...
Aya joins the lonely Toru on demon-hunting expeditions, and the two soon become friends.
And then the Demon King finds Toru. And things go downhill fast.
Demon King can be found at [1]
, [2], and at [3].
This webcomic provides examples of:
- Antagonist Title: The titular Demon King is the Big Bad.
- The Antichrist: The Udra Mumak, aka the Prince of Torment is supposed to be this. They are supposed to use the powers of Valhelamet to open up the gates to Hell and conquer the world. Toru is tricked into taking on the Udra Mumak's power, but is for the most part an Anti-Antichrist
- Ars Goetia: Most of the major demons that appear are derived from the Ars Goetia.
- Beast and Beauty: The comic is about the relationship between the monstrous quarter-demon Toru and the pretty but normal Aya.
- Beast with a Human Face: Quite a few demons take this configuration, most notably Master Leonard.
- Berserk Button: Toru hates it when people disrespect his dead family members, as demonstrated when Pit refers to his dead mom as a witch. After his grandpa dies, some of his schoolmates disrespecting him makes Toru finally become the Udra Mumak
- Body Horror: Being possessed or attacked by demons is nasty. Even minor demons like Arndj can cause things like nasty veins on the victim's face.
- Brick Joke: Hideki tells Toru and Aya that a way of luring out the demonically possed vice-principal would be to go into the boiler room, which apparently has a stash of dirty magazines hidden away in it. Later on, it's revealed that the original owner of the magazines was Toru' father, Minoru.
- Casting a Shadow: It's called tenebromancy. Quite a few demons can use it, as well as male lead Toru.
- Combat Tentacles: Toru's tenebromancy usually takes the form of inky black tentacles. There's also Vassago, which is a vaguely squid-like monster.
- Demonic Possession: Of course.
- EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Toru, emphasis on the eerie. Colored illustrations give him an almost beige-ish skin tone. Pit also counts, as well as Marchosias in her human form.
- Hellhound: Quite a few demons are based on canines. Barguest is explicitly called a hellhound and resembles a mostly dog-shaped black mass. Glasya-Labolas looks like a more standard winged dog, while Amon and Marchosias are mostly wolves.
- Human-Demon Hybrid: Toru is a quarter-demon, while his dad is half-demon. Pit the demon hunter is also distantly descended from a demon
- Looks Like Cesare: Toru is visually based on Cesare, but with more demonic features. He even wears a similar turtleneck at times.
- Playing with Fire Another fairly common element used by demons. Users include Aym, Astaroth, and Pit.
- Our Demons are Different: They're pure evil spirits who come from Hell. The average rabble are apparently derived from the souks of the damned, while their leadership, the Lords of Hell, are fallen angels. They can possess people, are weak to silver and iron, and can produce hybrids with humans known as "man-devils"
- The Rival: Hideki starts out as one, as he believes Toru is evil and antagonizes him for it. He changes his mind when Toru saves his life. Later, Pit becomes a more effective rival.
- Significant Green-Eyed Redhead: Aya. She doesn't have any supernatural powers, but it makes her stand out.
- Town with a Dark Secret: Daijin is hopelessly corrupt and falling apart, and features both a portal to Hell and family of wizards that include a couple of demon spawn.
