The latest manga from Full metal alchemist Creator Hiromu Arakawa, Daemons of the Shadow Realmwas a return to the fantastic for the mangaka, but more than that, a return to many of the themes that made her previous hit series a success. Fans who have been longing for something like Full metal alchemist You may be pleasantly surprised that despite some major differences, the two works have more in common than not.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Follows Yuru, a young boy from an isolated mountain village who has a twin sister, Asa, who is kept in a cell near the center of town, allegedly for her own good and the good of the town. The birth of the twins was the beginning of a prophecy, kicking off a series of events that eventually lead to the village being devastated by an attack from the outside world – an attack led by a woman who claims to be the Real Asa, who ran away from the village long ago.
Euro is dragged into a massive conflict over who will control the prophesied power that the twins will inherit, but all he really wants is to be reunited with his long-lost family.
This series has a lot to love about it
Much like Full metal alchemist, Daemons of the Shadow Realm puts two siblings at the center of the story, but it does so by turning Ed and Al’s relationship on its head. For Ed and Al, all they had was each other, but Euro and Asa didn’t even get to have each other for most of their lives. This gives the siblings a very different kind of relationship, with Euro unable to fully trust Asa the way Ed and Al can trust each other. Yuru is very sheltered as a result of his village upbringing, despite being a skilled hunter and survivalist, while Asa is familiar with the ways of the outside world.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Is set in a world much like the modern day, but for the existence of daemons, spiritual beings that come in pairs and can be contracted with. Daemons largely take the role that alchemy has in Full metal alchemist; It is a power that is complex, but can be understood, and always works in predictable ways. Euro contracts with the village’s two guardian spirits, known only as Left and Right, who prove to be incredibly powerful. Daemons, however, have their own personalities, and sometimes even desires, which makes them much easier to work with.
Another thing the new series does well is to bring back the uncertainty of who is good and who is bad. Every time it looks like there is a clear evil party, new information is revealed that justifies their behavior, making the conflict very morally gray. Similar to Ed working as a state alchemist and “Dog of the Army,” Euro and Asa must make alliances they are not entirely comfortable with.
The two stories are also quite different from one another
Of course, the two series are still quite different in a number of ways. Unlike Ed and Al, Asa and Yuru don’t get to spend much time together; Their sibling relationship is one of longing, rather than dependence on one another. The setting is also quite different, viz Daemons of the Shadow Realm Largely features a modern-day setting, juxtaposed with the traditional rural setting of the village that Euro comes from. Much of the comedy stems from Euro’s unfamiliarity with modern ways of life.
The Daemons themselves are undoubtedly the biggest difference, as their presence affects the story in a variety of ways. Left and right are full characters, even if their loyalty to Euro is unwavering. The wide variety of demon types also ensures that character powers can be surprising in ways that alchemy isn’t always able to do. Their presence really enforces the feeling of this being an urban fantasy kind of world, with the twist is that the protagonist is as unfamiliar with the urban as he is with the fantasy.
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Other significant differences revolve around the conflict at the center of the story, that between the Kagemori family and Higashi village. While Full metal alchemist tells a story involving the fate of nations, Daemons of the Shadow Realm So far there has been a much more personal story around this one particular village and its attitude to the outside world. Asa and Yuru’s power certainly has the potential to be world-shaking, so that could change as the story continues to develop.
Given the constant subversion of what is good and what is bad, it is difficult to talk about Daemons of the Shadow Realm Without getting into spoiler territory. The twists and turns of the story are half the fun, so it is recommended that readers go into it with as little foreknowledge as possible. Over 30 chapters in now, Daemons of the Shadow Realm Has been picking up steam, but it’s still early enough that diving into the story isn’t a major time commitment. fans of Full metal alchemist Should absolutely give Daemons of the Shadow Realm A shot.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm can be read on Square Enix’s Manga Up! App.