Devil Lady

Devil Lady
デビルマン レディー (Debiruman Redii)
Genre	Action, Horror, Yuri
Manga
Devilman Lady
Written by	Go Nagai
Published by	Kodansha
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Weekly Morning
Original run	30 January 1997 – 6 July 2000
Volumes	17
TV anime
Directed by	Toshiki Hirano
Studio	TMS
Licensed by	ADV Films
Network	Mainichi Broadcasting System
Original run	10 October 1998 – 9 May 1999
Episodes	26
Anime and Manga Portal

Devil Lady (デビルマンレディー, Debiruman Redī^?, Devilman Lady) is a Japanese action horror manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. It was originally serialized between January 1997 and July 2000 in the manga magazine Weekly Morning. Seventeen bound volumes were published by Kodansha for release in Japan. The story focuses on Jun Fudo, a teacher who is attacked by demons while accompanying a group of students on a school trip. In the midst of the assault, Jun transforms into the Devil Lady and defends the survivors of the initial attack, killing the demons with her new-found strength. Jun, now the Devilman Lady, fights for the sake for humanity to protect them from the devil beasts and their creations.

The manga series was adapted into a twenty-six episode anime television series, the anime aired in Japan on Mainichi Broadcasting System between October 1998 and May 1999. ADV Films licensed the anime series, and released six DVD volumes between January and August 2003, as well as a complete boxed set in 2004.

Plot

Manga

Jun Fudo was a teacher who raised her younger brother, Hikaru, while their father was away in the United States. One day, as she and a group of students go on an outdoor trip Jun begins to experience unusual nightmares. Far worse things were about to happen to them, however, when a group of demons, martial artists in human form, in a nearby chalet attempt to rape Jun and the female students in their demon forms. As she was being violated, Jun felt her soul being ripped apart and because of this, a terrifying transformation occurs turning her into the Devil Lady. She protects the girls who have survived the demon attacks and kills the demons with her newfound strength. Suddenly, a woman named Lan Asuka appears and says that she was the one who had awakened the sleeping beast within Jun.

Totally confused by all this and also by her father's sudden appearance and experience, things became too complicated for Jun to understand. Through Professor Fudo's knowledge, he tells a tale of a strange phenomenon that occurred in shantytowns years ago. It was known as the "Devil Beast Syndrome" in which its inhabitants would transform into demons and rape women before eating them with no memories or intelligence of their previous lives and giving them enhanced strength with other abilities to boot.

Professor Fudo doesn't believe that their "Devil Beast Syndrome" transformation was supernatural but was actually the next stage of human evolution, calling it "Nature's way of dealing with mankind's overpopulation". He also said that few people were genetically engineered to retain their conscience should the "Devil Beast Syndrome" occur in them, Jun being one of them. With Jun now becoming the Devilman Lady, she will fight for the sake for humanity to protect them from the devil beasts and their creations.

Anime

Jun Fudo is a beautiful supermodel who is idolized by many. She also has a dark secret that not even she knows about at first, for within her lie the genes that hold the next step in the evolution of mankind. The same blood as the beastlike superhumans that terrorize the city. Unlike the rest of them, though, Jun has managed to hold a tenuous grip onto her humanity, and she is recruited by the mysterious Lan Asuka, member of a secret organization within the government, aimed at controlling, if not eliminating, these berserk destroyers of mankind. Jun, as Devilman Lady, must now exterminate her own kind, but how much longer can she keep her sanity in a situation she never chose in the first place?

Characters

Manga

Jun Fudo

Lan Asuka

Akira Fudo/Devilman/Devil Mask

Akira Fudo appears for the first time as an ethereal being in Lan Asuka's room accusing her that she was the reincarnation of Satan.

Ryo Utsugi/Dante

In this storyline Ryo Utsugi is the re-incarnation of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri.

Aoi Kurosaki

Aoi Kurosaki makes her first appearance in the 3rd Volume of the manga and she is described as Jun's mortal enemy while competing for the Olympics, as no matter how hard Jun tried to win, Aoi was faster. Her transformation into a Devil Beast starts gradually when she was still young as a result of her hatred for her step-father, who sexually absused her.

Vlava

Vlava is the deity of a fictitious European country. He resembles a lot to the Cretan minotaur with having a head which looks like the head of a cow. When Vlava and his followers descend to hell with Jun, he meets with Jinmen and forms an alliance with him to eliminate Devilman who was protecting Jun. He is killed by Devilman in hell. Later on in the story, he reappears on Earth and joins with Dante's Devil Beast army.

Anime

Jun Fudo (不動ジュン, Fudo Jun^?) Voiced by: Junko Iwao (Japanese), Shawn Sides (English)

Jun is a successful and very well-endowed supermodel in Tokyo when the story begins. She is found by a woman, Lan Asuka who forces her to confront a werewolf-like monster called a Devil-beast. As it tears into Jun, her own powers awaken within her and she becomes a Devil-beast herself. She defeats the beast with her new powers and reverts back to her human form. Asuka then tells her that she is a member of a military unit known as the Human Alliance whose purpose is to hunt down and kill all those who are affected with Devil Beast Syndrome. Asuka gives Jun an ultimatum; if Jun doesn't hunt for them, she will be hunted by them. Jun has no choice but to obey Asuka from that point on.^[1] Jun is a very quiet and timid person who seems to avoid most social interactions, with two exceptions. She is generally open with her manager and very friendly with an aspiring teen model named Kazumi. As the series progresses she becomes much more independent. She also has the same last name as Akira Fudo, the protagonist from the original Devilman series.

Devil Lady/Devilman Lady

Jun's alter ego, Devil Lady is the exact opposite of Jun. She is loud, violent, and temperamental. Her unforgiving and aggressive nature tends to make all of her battles very graphic. As Devil Lady all of her senses are greatly increased and she has night vision. Her ability to heal is also highly amplified, bordering on regeneration. Her strength allows her to bend and twist steel girders, without struggle. She is able to fly via large wings that unfold from her back. She can generate high voltage electric currents to destroy her enemies instantly and form blades of energy around her arms or elbows to neatly slice through almost anything. Her most powerful ability is the giga-effect, which allows her to become a giant and fight other devil-beasts that has grown immensely. Aside from the way she can retain her human conscious, her giga-effect ability is what many people and devil-beasts alike are after.

Lan Asuka (アスカ蘭, Asuka Ran^?) Voiced by: Kaoru Shimamura (Japanese), Siân Rees-Cleland (English)

Asuka is the woman who scouted Jun for the Human Alliance, and is a high-ranking government official. She is a cold, aggressive, and manipulative woman, who cares nothing for the people who work under her. When she forced Jun to confront the Devil-beast Wolver, she had no concern for Jun's survival, her theory that Jun was a Devil-beast was based only on a hunch.^[1] As the series progresses, even though she is cruel to Jun, she cares about Jun's safety. She seems to have different intentions from her organization and does a great deal of work without their knowledge. It is revealed that Asuka is a hermaphrodite and what her true intentions are. We later find about her/his past: she/he first posed as male as teenager, and during that time she/he killed her/his father (who was a Devil-Beast) because he killed her/his mother. She/He thinks humans are at the end and their time is up, so she put mankind on trial to see if they would sink low and become beasts or if they could go to a higher standard. She/he wants to be reborn into something new thats why she started the Devil-Beast hunts. She/He hates her/his body and blames her/his parents for giving it to her/him. She/He later reveals to Jun that she/he has loved her since the moment she/he laid eyes on her. She/He then raped Jun after revealing her true intentions.^[2] She/he has the same last name as Ryo Asuka, Akira Fudo's friend from the original Devilman series. She too becomes a Devil-Beast in the end, though not a mere human-animal hybrid but, like Jun, something different - in her case, an angelic being. Her true form though is that of a monstrous harpy-like creature, who bears a strong resemblance to the demon Sirene from Devilman.

Kazumi Takiura (滝浦和美, Takiura Kazumi^?) Voiced by: Kazusa Murai (Japanese), Camille Chen (English)

Kazumi is a young and aspiring teen model and fan of Jun's, who she laters meets during an audition when she entered the wrong building. They become close friends, with Jun acting as a big sister or mentor. Kazumi's parents are brutally killed by Devil-beasts who also try to kill Kazumi as they consider Jun a traitor and seek to punish her by targeting people close to Jun. Kazumi is later taken in by Jun, and is unaware of Jun's night life, although she strongly suspects something is wrong. As the series progresses, the relationship between Kazumi and Jun gradually progresses into a romantic one.

Dr. Jason Bates Voiced by: Ryūsei Nakao (Japanese), J. Hudson Brownlee (English)

Bates is a scientist working at the Samuelson Labs in New Jersey, and is the current head of all Devil-beast research. He visits Japan to witness Jun's battles for this research, he expresses his views that the Devil-beasts are not evil and how he sympathizes with them. Later during Jun's battle with a Devil-beast in a television studio, she is saved by Bates, a Devil-man like Jun.^[3] Bates is the first devil-beast before Jun to retain human faculties, and to be used for the side of humans. However unlike Jun, he sometimes acts as though he would prefer to give in to his beast side and run amok like all of the others.

Kiyoshi Maeda (前田清, Maeda Kiyoshi^?) Voiced by: Takumi Yamazaki

He is Asuka's personal secretary and also Jun's driver. Although he works for Asuka, he is more morally concerned with Jun's status not only as a human but also her demon side and he tries to help her as much as he can. As the storyline progresses, he ends up getting caught in a conspiracy that may end up getting him killed and a shocking truth is revealed as he learns more of Lan Asuka's past and the future that she will unleash.

Tatsuya Yuasa (湯浅辰也, Yuasa Tatsuya^?) Voiced by: Naoya Uchida

Yuasa is Jun's long time modeling agent who has been there for her when she goes for auditions. He has a wife and daughter who loves him. After Jun's first Devilman experience, Yuasa started to get worried about Jun. As the story progresses, Yuasa feelings for Jun grew and is falling for her.

Satoru (サトル^?) Voiced by: Mami Koyama

A child who acts as the leader and organizer of the more militant Devil-Beasts, who's intention is the genocide of all humans. Satoru is a clever and dangerous foe who Jun has underestimated several times. He considers Jun a traitor to his kind and he will use all of his resources to make her life a living nightmare.

Aoi Kurosaki (黒崎あおい, Kurosaki Aoi^?) Voiced by: Megumi Ogata (Japanese), Laura Bussinger (English)

A former love interest of Jun who succumbed to the DB syndrome. A gifted swimmer, she met Jun when she was still at highschool, where she attempted to gain a first kiss from her future-slayer, which caused Jun to push back, and the incident ruined Aoi's swimming career.

Production

TV series

When creating the Devil Lady TV series many concepts and characters were changed from the original manga which was much more violent and sexually oriented. Jun, as a character is much tougher and braver in the original manga, she is also a teacher.^[4] The character Kazumi also never appeared in the original manga, her looks are based upon the character Miki Makimura, Akira Fudo's female friend in the Devilman series.

Jun's two forms are also a tribute to both versions of Devilman. While her regular sized form is similar to Devilman (including satyr-like hairy legs) as he appears in the original manga, her Giga Effect form is a tribute to the 1972 TV anime version. In Giga mode, she is a giant as tall as classic giant robots or monsters of the 70s, sports turquoise skin and yellow eyes, and does not have any body hair, all elements taken from the TV version of Devilman.

Devil-Beast Syndrome

This "disease" is a strange affliction that plagues the Devil Lady universe. While it may stay dormant within a user for years without a symptom, once they begin to become apparent there is no cure. An individual with D.B.S. will usually transform into a monstrous creature with awesome powers and little to no control over themselves. The transformations always seem to have something to do with the users inner feelings or strengths (cat lovers may become cat-like, swimmers may become fish-like etc.), those that retain their greater human faculties have the ability to control when and how they transform. It takes a great deal of damage to kill someone with D.B.S. Lastly is the Giga effect. Presumably any Devil-Beast with enough control is able to "Go Giga" or to mutate into its most powerful form, which always seems to include a dramatic size increase (sometimes the size of a skyscraper).

Later as the syndrome becomes more wide spread, it is learned that the syndrome is not passed as a virus but as sensory data. Simply being around a Devil-Beast and experiencing it with any of the five senses is enough to become one. On top of that, being around a particular Devil-Beast for a long amount of time will make a person become a Devil-Beast of similar design (Kazumi grew wings almost exactly like Jun's). Also it becomes apparent that simply becoming a Devil-Beast is not enough to make one act monstrous, and that the ones Jun was forced to dispatch were merely more volatile individuals incapable of accepting their change.

By the end of the series it is revealed that the Devil-Beasts are merely the next stage in human evolution and completely inevitable. The idea that this change would be negative and disastrous is proven false and ends on an optimistic note with Jun walking past two little girls at play who both have tails.

Media

Manga

The Devilman Lady manga was written and illustrated by Go Nagai, it was serialized between January 1997 and July 2000 in the manga magazine Weekly Morning. Seventeen bound volumes were published by Kodansha for released in Japan.^[5] The manga has been licensed for release in Italy by d/visual.^[6] The manga storyline is a much more violent and sexually oriented than the anime. The manga shows a depiction of many of the characters being tortured and raped, as well as scenes of graphic dismemberment and heavy use of blood and gore.

The manga starts with Fudou Jun, a highschool teacher, taking a trip with a group of students. While there, a group of martial artists staying nearby take a strange interest in the girls. These men are actually demons and after changing into their true form break into the cabin to rape the girls. One gets Jun and violates her. She feels her soul being torn apart and transforms into Devilman Lady. With newfound powers and strength she kills all the demons and protects the girls from any further harm.

Anime

A twenty six episode anime TV series adaptation was produced by the animation studio TMS Entertainment and directed by Toshiki Hirano. The anime aired in Japan from October 10, 1998^[7] to September 29, 1999. ADV Films announced it had licensed the series in July 2002,^[8] with the first volume being released on January 7, 2003.^[9] The Devil Lady TV show's storyline is almost completely different from the manga, featuring only two characters from the original manga, Jun Fudo and Lan Asuka.

Episodes

#	English title Japanese title	Original airdate
01	"Beast" (獣)	October 10, 1998
Jun just seems to be going through the motions in her photo shoot, although the photographer seems to think she is doing wonderfully. Jun is later attacked by werewolf which awakened the Devil Lady in Jun. After fighting the werewolf Jun meets Lan Asuka, a mysterious woman and member of a secret organization within the government, aimed at controlling, if not eliminating, these berserk destroyers of mankind.
02	"Blood" (血)	October 18, 1998
Jun is called upon to handle more than she ever imagined. She exhibits abilities that were unimagined by the Human Alliance (HA), to meet an unexpected challenge. Jun still can't believe what is happening and wonders if it was all a nightmare.
03	"Wings" (翼)	October 25, 1998
Devil-beasts cannot understand why Jun holds onto her inferior human side, and now seek to punish her for it. They find out about those close to Jun, picking Kazumi as an easy target. While Jun is able to find out in time to save Kazumi, she wasn't able to stop the beasts from brutally killing Kazumi's parents.
04	"Seed" (胚)	1 November 1998
Jun is still reeling from previous incidents, and reflects on how she was different from others. She falls into self-pity, as she is seemingly being held captive by the H A, the very organization that utilizes her to destroy other beasts. Jun is leery of people in shadows, thanks to her last encounter. A new beast with an unusual characteristic is discovered.
05	"Shark" (鮫)	8 November 1998
Thanks to Asuka, Jun has an unplanned reunion with an old friend from high school, Aoi Kurosaki, Their friendship did not last as Jun and her ex-classmate had a difference of opinion on what the relationship should be. Meanwhile Kazumi feels a little left out, however Jun's encounter only strengthens the her bond to Kazumi.
06	"Cat" (猫)	15 November 1998
Jun experiences a love / hate relationship first-hand, when she meets Hitomi Konno, someone who idolizes her and loves cats.
07	"Fog" (霧)	22 November 1998
With each transformation, the risk increases that Jun will lose her human side. Recent events take Jun's thoughts back to the story her grandfather told her about the Grim Reaper hoping she would go to bed, leading only for Jun's curiosity to increased.
08	"Enemy" (敵)	29 November 1998
The HA continues their attempt to keep the general population from discovering the devil beast phenomenon. A broadcaster attempts to release the news of the devil beasts. Jun is introduced to Dr Jason Bates, an American from the Samuelson Lab. Jason has come to observe the giga effect, which transforms the devil beasts into giants. He doesn't believe that beasts are inherently evil and that devil beasts can hold on to their human soul. Jun's confrontation with the broadcaster doesn't go as planned, as a Devil-beast in a television studio nearly kills her. However she is saved by Jason, a Devil-man like Jun.
09	"Eyes" (眼)	6 December 1998
Jun dwells upon her previous failure and the disappointments of Asuka and Jason. While looking into a store window, Jun feels someone watching her. Jun finds herself in the park in a photo shoot. Kazumi is interviewed and photographed. She also meets someone who has an interest in what happened to her family. Those around Jun begin to question her sanity when she seems to continually feel watched.
10	"Flames" (炎)	13 December 1998
A large fire at the Sakura Housing Complex looks suspicious, firemen are surprised to find a survivor in the rubble. Asuka and Jun disagree on how the small survivor should be treated. Asuka believes the survivor to be a devil beast, since survival would have been impossible otherwise. The fact of the HA having no experience with a devil beast being a child doesn't temper Asuka's belief. The Biochemical Investigations Team decides to study the child. Kazumi reviews a videotape that was sent by Sakazawa, remembering his earlier comment she wonders about Jun. Jun's frequent and sudden departures don't help Kazumi's confidence in their relationship.
11	"Box" (箱)	20 December 1998
A department store executive disappears after being falsely accused. Unfortunately, he isn't the only one who disappears. Jun is called in to handle this situation in an all too public department store building, all just in time for Christmas.
12	"Faces" (顔)	10 January 1999
Jun has visions of a devil beast world, Yuasa offers to lighten Jun's workload. When Jun runs into Jason in the street, they go to a cavern bar. Jason accuses Jun of enjoying the kill, and yet calls her weak mentally and physically. Maeda tells Jun that she will need to accompany him as soon as she gets home. The authorities are finding victims with their face missing, meanwhile Jason still obsesses over Jun's and some of the other beasts' ability to manifest the giga effect. Asuka's orders reflect her belief that beasts in the giga effect are no longer in control, endangering Jun's life.
13	"Rope" (縄)	17 January 1999
Jun has a photo shoot with inexperienced model Takai, a high school student that is more intimate than usual. Jun shows interest in a phone call that Yuasa receives during the photo shoot. After the photo shoot Jun acts inappropriately with Takai and shows regret. Jun later sees Sakazawa speaking to Kazumi and Yuasa in separate incidences. She concludes the man is a nuisance. Asuka picks up Jun and tells her they are going for a ride in the country. She tells Jun they have found a victim with one-third of the blood drained from the body.
14	"Home" (家)	24 January 1999
Sakazawa remembers his life before the beast obsession. Kazumi goes missing and Jun becomes focussed on finding her. Meanwhile, Kazumi realizes she has been used, but isn't quite sure for what. The HA has their hands full with another beast, and receives unexpected help. The battle between the beast factions now begins to accelerate.
15	"Crows" (鴉)	31 January 1999
Kazumi's conversation after a photo shoot, plants the seeds of remembrance regarding her parents death. Bodies begin to show up on top of lamp posts, utility poles and other odd places. Shiro Kazawa's warnings replay through Kazumi's mind. Crows show up in the oddest places. The HA thinks Jun needs a chauffeur. Kazumi once again becomes noticed by the beasts.
16	"Voice" (聲)	7 February 1999
The dead bodies on top of traffic posts continue. The HA begins to have trouble keeping the secret of the devil beasts. Maeda gets directly involved in the fight against devil beasts. Kazumi's voice is a God-send to Jun.
17	"Hunger" (飢)	14 February 1999
Saturo continues to recruit beasts to his cause, his statement that Jun is hated by the humans seems to be manifesting itself. Jun appears to be losing control of her beast side.
18	"Body" (軀)	21 February 1999
The battle between humans and devil beasts is worsening. And Asuka's behavior is drawing the attention of the HA.
19	"Fetters" (枷)	28 February 1999
Kazumi is still getting used to the idea of the beasts in the open. She worries about being able to trust other devil beast other than Jun. Yuasa is surprised to see Maeda after their last conversation, and Maeda becomes more suspicious of Asuka. The battle with the beast is no longer a secret, Yuasa and Jun temporarily relive a normal work day. Yuasa's family has a stressful day, while he lives in a fanciful moment.
20	"Corpses" (骸)	7 March 1999
In America, Lan gets a new private secretary, Captain Izume Kogure. Jun meets some old acquaintances that she's not particularly wanting to see as well as a new more powerful associate of Satoro's. Maeda discovers Lan's secret past. Jun and Satoro have a battle of the wills.
21	"Signs" (印)	21 March 1999
Maeda discovers the truth about the RNA Transmutation Innoculation and informs Jun. Kazumi becomes closer to her new friends, but still wants to be with Jun.
22	"Wish" (願)	11 April 1999
Jun receives help from an unexpected source, when defeat is imminent. Kazumi remembers her first meeting with Jun. Hostility increases between humans and the devil beasts and Devil beasts are rounded up as Satoro gathers his army. Izumi is concerned about Lan Asuka. Jun inspires a fond childhood memory in Kazumi causing Kazumi to want to help Jun in a new way.
23	"Life" (命)	18 April 1999
Jun is legendary among the gentler beasts as the champion of their kind. Kazumi's influence inspires hope in her recently found friends. They expect Jun to rescue them. Lan's plan becomes more apparent. Jun faces a beast with unexpected strength.
24	"Heart" (心)	24 April 1999
Jun befriends a new young companion who understands Jun's past too well. Unfortunately Chiyoko doesn't understand why Jun had to do all that she did. She doesn't understand the fine line that Jun mustn't cross.
25	"God" (神)	2 May 1999
Beasts are being kept like prisoners and Kiyoko, Misaki, Takae and Takeshi try to avoid extermination in the beast prison. Asuka sends a not so friendly welcoming party when Jun returns to Tokyo.
26	"Man" (人)	9 May 1999
Asuka was revealed to be the child of God and she appears all over the world to make everyone accept that fact. Jun awakes in a place and sees all of the demons trapped in a tower forged of demon bodies, she also finds Kazumi trapped in the tower. Jun decides to forge her soul with the force from the Demons, which Kazumi also lets her absorb her in order to help in the final battle with Asuka.

See also

• Demon Lord Dante

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "獣". TMS. Devil Lady. Mainichi Broadcasting System. October 10, 1998. No. 1.
2. ^ "枷". TMS. Devil Lady. Mainichi Broadcasting System. 28 February 1999. No. 19.
3. ^ "敵". TMS. Devil Lady. Mainichi Broadcasting System. 29 November 1998. No. 8.
4. ^ Nagai, Go (1997). "Chapter 1". Devil Lady, Volume 1. Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-06-260790-2. 
5. ^ "デビルマンレディー（１７） [Devilman Lady (17)]" (in Japanese). Kodansha. http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3287041. Retrieved August 11, 2009. 
6. ^ "Devilman Lady". d/visual. http://www.d-world.jp/dv/gonagai.php?action=devillady. Retrieved September 6, 2009. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Latest Japanese Releases update". Anime News Network. October 29, 1998. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-10-29/latest-japanese-releases-update. Retrieved August 10, 2009. 
8. ^ "AD Vision News from Anime Expo". AnimeNation. July 8, 2002. http://www.animenation.net/blog/2002/07/08/ad-vision-news-from-anime-expo/. Retrieved August 10, 2009. 
9. ^ "New AD Vision DVD Announcements". AnimeNation. October 15, 2002. http://www.animenation.net/blog/2002/10/15/new-ad-vision-dvd-announcements-2/. Retrieved August 10, 2009. 

External links

• Devil Lady at the Internet Movie Database
• Devil Lady (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia