Demon Diary

What can I say about Demon Diary? Well, the word "kawaii" pops into mind often when I read this manga.

Demon Diary is a Korean manga by artist Kara, and two different writers, Lee Chi Hyong, who first developed the story, and Lee Yun Hee, who picked it up after Chi Hyong. Although the writers change, there isn't too much drastic change in the story.

Demon Diary follows the trials and perils of a young Demon Lord, Raenef, and his tutor/guardian/servant Eclipse, as poor Eclipse tries to turn Raenef into a vicious Demon Lord. Of course, Eclipse finds his task not to be so simple, as that his "master" Raenef is extremely childlike in manner, and terribly cute. As the story carries on, we also meet Erutis, a knight who had originally wanted to kill Raenef, but ends up being his page, and the rather egotistical and hard-headed wannabe-priest Chris, who also originally intended to kill the rather clueless and ditzy Raenef.

Raenef himself is the the fifth of a line of Demon Lords, but unlike any of his predecessors, Raenef is not at all cruel, but he wants to be (obviously to please Eclipse). The young pupil and his tutor develope a rather lovey-dovey relationship throughout the manga. However, towards the end of the story, the tale takes a dark turn as Raenef finally becomes a true Demon Lord.

Personally, I find Demon Diary to be one of the most entertaining mangas I've read in a long while. It is very humourous, and is only a slashable manga (though the pairing of Raenef [uke] and Eclipse [seme] is extremely obvious). Raenef is an absolutely adorable and very lovable character, while Eclipse is, for the lack of a better word, drool-worthy. The manga is very endearing, funny, and the art is superb throughout the entire manga. This is a definite must-read by all.

Also in the first volume of Demon Diary are two short stories, "Crystal Heart" and "Terra". "Crystal Heart" is a very tragic, yet beautiful love story--a BL love story, between the stubborn Monika and the gentle Mano. The only pity about "Crystal Heart" is that it's so short, but the tale is truly a painful and beautiful love story. "Terra," on the other hand, is less blatant, and tells the story of Vice, a magician on his search for Terra, a woman that embodies the Earth. "Terra" is more a story in relation to the current environmental crisis that engulfs our world.