The Bottom Line
Nora is one of the most powerful demons in the Dark Liege's army, but he's also a big pain who can't follow orders. Meanwhile, in the human world, Kazuma is one of the smartest kids in his class, but he's bored by the banality of school life. When the Dark Liege sends Nora to the human world to learn some manners, guess who she picks as Nora's new master?
Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom is a paint-by-numbers shonen manga, complete with human hero, demon friend and battles with lots of magic and destruction. It's not especially original, but it's a fun, action-packed read that should satisfy most Shonen Jump fans.
Pros
- A lively shonen adventure that mixes action-packed fight scenes with a touch of comedy
- Fun give and take between Nora and Kazuma's very different personalities
- Kazuma, while a stern guy, has an admirably strong sense of responsibility
- Intriguing menagerie of demons and supernatural powers that propel the story forward
- The demon world is run by a woman with double-D cups. Who knew?
Cons
- Kazuma has a strangely monochromatic emotional range
- A fairly simplistic saga that doesn’t stray too far from shonen manga formula
- The Dark Liege offers comic relief, but comes across like a bubblehead
- Kakei relies on dumb dog jokes a few times too many
Description
- Original Title: NORA (Japan)
- Author & Artist: Kazunari Kakei
- Publishers:
- Shonen Jump Advanced / VIZ Media (US)
- Shonen Jump / Shueisha (Japan)
- ISBN: 978-1421518954
- Cover Price: $7.99 US / $9.50 CANADA
- Age Rating:
OT – Older Teens, Age 16+
for mild violence, some fanservice
More about content ratings. - Manga Genres:
- Shonen (Boys') Manga
- Action / Adventure
- Comedy
- Paranormal / Supernatural
- Superheroes / Superpowers
- US Publication Date: October 2008
Japan Publication Date: September 2004 - Book Description: 208 pages, black and white illustrations
- More Manga by Kazunari Kakei:
- SUREBREC: Nora the 2nd
Guide Review - Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom Volume 1
You have to give it to the Japanese editors of Shonen Jump. They know how to give their readers what they want -- over and over again. Boy gets hooked up with supernatural powers and maybe a super-sized weapon or two. He then spends several volumes battling monsters as he gains fighting skills and makes a few friends along the way. It's also worth noting that all attacks must have cool sounding names, and they must be announced before they are inflicted upon one's enemies.
If you love Shonen Jump manga, then Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom is probably right up your alley. Nora is Kazunari Kakei's pro debut, and he sticks close to the standard shonen formula. It's not artistically dazzling or ground-breaking work, but there are moments where Kakei's quirky sense of humor shines through.
For example, Kazuma is a smart but cynical lad who barely raises an eyebrow when Nora the demon gets plopped into his lap. Most kids would freak out after receiving a call from a demon lord and being branded with a star on their palm, but Kazuma, he's only mildly intrigued. When he finds out that Nora is Cerebus the hellhound, he's far from awed. In fact, he just uses it as an excuse to make stray dog jokes at Nora's expense.
And the demon lord? Besides having a face like a jack-o-lantern, the de-facto leader of this otherworldly army is a flirty, busty blonde who complains that the stress of her job is bad for her complexion. This double-D cup demon is such an exaggerated parody of foofy femininity, she might as well be a drag queen.
Nora hardly lives up to the Shonen Jump promise of being "The World's Most Cutting Edge Manga." Nevertheless, it offers fun, action and adventure for shonen manga fans who need something to read while waiting for the next volume of Bleach or Naruto to arrive.
