Diabolo: Volume 1

I never had heard of Diabolo when I decided to buy it ; I wasn't even sure how many volumes there actually were (actually, I discovered when I read it that there are only three volumes). I thought the art looked really pretty and the story seemed interesting with demons and stuff.In fact, it is the story of two seventeen-years-old childhood friends, Ren and Rai, who are as close as brothers. They have been cursed by the demon ten years ago and are now "diabolos", human beings who will turn into monsters when they turn 18. Before that happens, they have given themselves the mission to protect other people from suffering the same as they did in the only way possible : by killing them before that happens.I have to say that at first, I thought I had made a mistake buying those books. The first volume is pretty ordinary. It gives an overview of what Ren and Rai's lives must have looked like all these years, when they fought "diabolos" like themselves. Like every first manga of a serie, it only sets the story and main characters and helps to understand what their history is, without any real plot yet.However, I was pretty amazed by the second book. New characters are introduced and they have more influence in the story. The plot starts to get a lot more developped and it really gets interesting. The third manga is even deeper, with a lot of plot twists, fights and treasons.What I really loved about these series is, first, the art, which is constant eye-candy. The characters and background are truly beautiful (see previews on TokyoPop's web site). I also loved the many plot twists. I hate predictable stories and this one kept surprising me many times. Ren and Rai are also handsome, truly lovable characters who will please every bishounen-loving girl! I also like short series because the pace is always very fast so I loved the fact that we get to the core and the end of the story in only three volumes.The one big deception I had in this manga was because I thought it might be a little shounen-ai, with both characters so close, but there wasn't. However, the good side of this is that the story might reach a larger public. I would recommand this manga to my male and female friends alike ; however, note that this series is rated teens 16+ horror, though I found it less violent than mangas such as Descendants of Darkness and Count Cain.

Ok, maybe for a normal manga in mainstream print Diabolo is as intense as they come. But for people who actively seek out disturbing comics, the "twisted" stuff in this series is standard-I'm just saying because there are those out there who intentionally looking for mind-f*cks,like me, and they shouldn't mistake Diabolo as a source of that. If you're looking for, say, something that scares you stupid like Hannibal Lecter, you might wanna look up Johnny The Homicidal Maniac. On the other hand, even though I bought this in hopes I'd be disturbed out of my skin, I got something completely different that I loved. The stories are gruesome, sure, but they never reach the point where you're just perturbed and can't feel anything for the characters. But it truth you're far more interested in the human frailty of the involved victims than any amount of blood thier bodies can generate. Ren and Rai, the main characters, are perfect examples, and you love them to death for thier fierce protection of each other, which seems to be born out of grim necessity and not just stupid fluff filler. (You see that a lot in manga.)IN the first volume you don't see much of them till the end,but it's enough to make you both sad and touched. Let me say this now about the story- PLOT TWISTS. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING is what it seems. you get a shocker in every story. And it's wonderful. The art is terrific, but not in any distinctive style, I guess. Still, Ren and Rai are great-looking protagonists, and the supporting cast is more often then not just as nice to look at. The dialogue is very natural, and doesn't try to go over your head with the whole Diabolo stuff, like some series trying to explain what's going on with Hell's great plan do. In truth, the fact that almost everyone is left in the dark lets the reader feel the same anxiety they feel, with so much going on and only speculation to explain it. They're all confused and let you know they are,but stick to talking normally instead of having a few "magic words" that need to be defined. There's only a few things that bug me about this manga, and they're barely worth mentioning. Ren and Rai don't get as much focus as they deserve, which would make sense if they're were weak characters, but they're not. They're fascinating and it'd be nice to see them more. Also, the way some of the characters meet is just too coined. Ren and Rai hear a random disturbance, and then run over to help.(Although sometimes they're tracking people down.) Overall, this is a great series and I think people who are trying to move into the horror/mind-f*ck genre should start with this.

Diabolo is probably the best series i well ever read. where do i start? first there are our charactors. there's Rai, a long haired beauty who has been an orphane and all alone untill he meets Ren, a short hair cutie. the two boys have an amazing relationship and are always there for each other. when the two were younger, they were tricked by the devil and became diabolo themselves. they have till their 18th birthday before they lose their soals. while this is an amazing book, i should give you warning that there is some very contraversial content. there is quite a bit blood and gore so if you don't like horror, this isn't your type of book. the series also deals with rape, hints of yuri (girl on girl) and Yaoi (guy on guy). there isn't anything explicet though, so if you don't mind little hints, then you can read this book. for any manga lovers, i would definently recommend you add this book to your collection. the art is so beautiful and there is so much insight to life in this book. God i love this series!! and i think you might too. ^___^

While not exactly a newbie to the manga genre, I'm still far from an expert. Though, I must admit, Diabolo is one of the better series that I've read. I was compelled by the cover at first, because let's admit it, the art is very pretty, but once you get past that and actually read the pages, you're drawn into a story of deals with a devil and two boys' desparate attempt to rescue a girl before their 18th birthday, when they're destined to lose their humanity and become monsters. Ren and Rai use the powers gained in a deal with the devil Diabolo to fight against the monster who, in a sense, created them when the deal went wrong and they were tricked. You get introduced to the characters through other people, who are being dealt similar hands by the same devil. The art is beautifully drawn and the stories almost hypnotic in their ability to draw you in. There are some really dark themes involved, some could even be called controversial, and I get the feeling this series is not going to be for the faint at heart as it progresses. However, the story is one that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next volume to come out and wondering what's going to happen next, as the clock counts down to Ren and Rai's birthdays, when things are set to change forever.

"Diabolo" is, without question, one of the most beautiful mangas I have ever read. I mean that in two ways - the story is a wonderful, wonderfully disturbing read, and the artwork is some of the most visually stunning work I have ever come across, anywhere. Clean lines, amazing shading, and character expressions that are simple yet manage to convey a wide range of emotion - the art in this book is beyond reproach. However, much as it pains me to say it, this book is still not for everyone. The reason for that is that this manga, as its own rating clearly states, is definently for adults or mature teenagers. Don't buy this for the kids in your life. Disturbing imagery and even more disturbing subject matter abound. I don't want to give anything away, but hints of just about every conceivable 'taboo' are in this manga, many in this first volume. However, it should also be stated that everything is handled tastefully, no extreme scenes or explicit anything. Nothing in here couldn't be put into an R movie - though doubtfully much of it would never be. As for the story itself - flawless. It's easy to follow but mysterious, intriguing and original and at times downright scary. The real world issues help to heighten the tension caused by the otherworldly 'curse' plaguing our two 'heros' - and if there has ever been two characters more instantly loveable than Ren & Rai, I've yet to meet them. The friendship between the two boys is intense and believable ( & for you yaoi fans out there, it isn't yaoi but it certainly could be), and their history will tug at your heartstrings. Immediately after reading this manga I was thrilled and unsettled, and I sat back to read it again. It is that good. So in conclusion, if you can handle dark themes and wish to read a compelling, beautifully drawn story with some of the most interesting and lovely characters I've ever encountered, than "Diabolo" is for you. If you can't deal with mature themes, though, then ogle the pretty cover and proceed to go elsewhere.