If you are looking for a high school rehash of the events of The Devil is a Part-Timer! light novels, manga or anime, then that’s what this is all about. If you want something new and different, you’re not really going to get it.
Creative Staff:
Art: Kurone Mishima
Original Story: Satoshi Wagahara
Character Design: 029 (Oniku)
Translation: Kevin Gifford
Lettering: Brndn Blakeslee
What They Say:
The Devil King and the Hero clash in an epic battle–in high school? Maou and Emi’s latest feud centers on the race for student council president. The day of the election has arrived, but what will happen when the truth of Chiho’s long-held crush on Maou comes to light? If only high school were as easy as a demonic reign of terror!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
If you are looking for “further adventures” or side-stories to the Devil is a Part-Timer! light novel franchise…this isn’t going to really fulfill those desires too much. What we get here is a somewhat more comic (though the original series was humorous enough in its presentation) alternate-universe retelling of events, though rearranging the order of them and abbreviating things by mashing up and shortening the action.
Instead of the fight between Maou and Emi on one side trying to save the town against Lucifer and Olba Meiyer (spelled thus in this volume) and then the later brawl between Maou and Sariel with Crestia Bell/Suzuno involved, we get one massive battle involving Suzuno, Maou, and Emi taking on Lucifer/Urushihara, Sariel, and Olba…to determine who gets to be student council president. While lowering the stakes heightens the humorous aspect to things, those who are familiar with the original either may or may not feel much in reaction to this version of events. It probably helps a lot to be familiar with the source material as much of what happens in this parallel retelling assumes that you are fully informed about the characters, their personalities, and their quirks (Sariel’s obsession with large breasts; Urushihara’s hikikomori lifestyle; the constant misunderstandings about how female characters other than Chiho actually feel about Maou).
Suffice it to say that it all achieves a modest level of amusement, perhaps enough to make a fan of the franchise to crack a smile (there are a couple of clever little gags riffing off the original series), but not quite sufficient oomph to draw out deep laughter.
Perhaps the most that this parallel series continues to offer is the prospect of cosplay for the characters. What would Suzuno look like in a high school uniform? Sariel? (If you cared…). Ms. Kisaki dressed like a professional woman (as she is a teacher in this alternate realm) instead of in the MgR’s uniform? Beyond that, it most likely only has some appeal for the most dedicated fans of the franchise, who enjoy just seeing the characters again, even if they’re mainly rehashing things that have come before (though more for light novel readers at this point than anime-only fans as characters and plot points from past where the anime ended have been included in this series from early on).
An easy read which might evoke a chuckle from dedicated fans of the story, but possibly not much more.
In Summary:
The buildup for the student council election continues as Maou and Yusa continue to spar and a new candidate enters the ring: Suzuno Kamazuki, the first-year student who runs the udon shop that competes with Maou’s school store. More powerful forces work from the shadows to force a grand battle on the day of the election speeches. It’s finally revealed—to Emi Yusa—that Urushihara, the current student council president, Sariel, the council VP, and Olba Meiyer, the Vice Principal, have conspired together to reassure Urushihara’s reelection to the presidency, all to facilitate their dominance of the school. In steps Maou, as expected, to put a stop to their evil (wait? Isn’t he supposed to be the “bad guy?”) plans. Some comedy ensues.
Content Grade: B-
Art Grade: B+
Package Rating: B
Text/Translation: B+
Age Rating: Teen—LV (14+)
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: June 28th, 2016
MSRP: $13.00
