Latest manga from Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa, Demons of the Shadow Realmwas a return to fantasy for the mangaka, but more than that, a return to many of the themes that made her previous hit series successful. Fans who were yearning for something like Fullmetal Alchemist You may be pleasantly surprised that, despite some significant differences, the two works have more in common than not.
Demons of the Shadow Realm follows Yuru, a boy from an isolated mountain village who has a twin sister, Asa, who is kept in a cell near the city center, presumably for her own good and the good of the city. The birth of the twins marked the beginning of the prophecy, setting off a series of events that would ultimately lead to the devastation of the village by an attack from the outside world - an attack led by a woman who claims to be the real Asa, who has long since fled the village.
Yura is embroiled in 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.
There's a lot to love about the series.
Very similar to Fullmetal Alchemist, Demons of the Shadow Realm puts two siblings at the center of the story, but does so by turning Ed and Al's relationship on its head. To Ed and Al, all they had was each other, but Yuru and Asa couldn't even be with each other for most of their lives. This gives the siblings a completely different type of relationship: Yuru cannot fully trust Asa the way Ed and Al could trust each other. Yuru is very sheltered due to his village upbringing, despite being an experienced hunter and survivalist, while Asa is familiar with the customs of the outside world.
Demons of the Shadow Realm The action takes place in a world very similar to the modern one, except for the existence of demons, spiritual beings that come in pairs and with whom you can make a contract. Demons take on much of the same role as Alchemy. Fullmetal Alchemist; it is a complex but understandable force that always acts in predictable ways.. Yuru makes a contract with the village's two guardian spirits, known only as Left and Right, who prove to be incredibly powerful. However, demons have their own personality, and sometimes even a will, which makes working with them much more difficult.
Another thing the new series does well is bring back that uncertainty of who is good and who is bad. Every time there seems to be a clear villainous side, new information is revealed that justifies their behavior, making the conflict very morally gray. Like Ed, who works as a state alchemist and "War Dog", Yuru and Asa must form alliances that do not entirely suit them.
The two stories are also quite different from each other
Of course, the two series are still different in many ways. Unlike Ed and Al, Asa and Yuru do not spend much time together; their sibling relationships are based on longing rather than dependence on each other. The situation is also completely different, since Demons of the Shadow Realm The setting is mostly modern, combined with the traditional rural setting of the village Yuru comes from. Much of the comedy is based on Yuru's ignorance of modern lifestyles.
The demons themselves are undoubtedly the biggest difference, as their presence affects the story in different ways. Left and Right are fully-fledged characters, even if their loyalty to Yuri is unwavering. The wide variety of demon types also ensures that the characters' abilities can be amazing, something that alchemy couldn't always do. Their presence really enhances the feeling of an urban fantasy world, with the twist being that the protagonist is as unfamiliar with the city as he is with the fantasy.
Connected
Other significant controversies revolve around the conflict at the center of the story, between the Kagemori family and the Higashi village. Bye Fullmetal Alchemist told a story concerning the destinies of nations, Demons of the Shadow Realm so far it has been a much more personal story, connected to this particular village and its relationship to the outside world. However, Asa and Yuru's power can certainly shake the world, so this may change as the story progresses.
Given the constant subversive discussions about who is good and who is bad, it is difficult to talk about this. Demons of the Shadow Realm without getting into spoiler territory. The unexpected twists and turns of the story are half the fun, so readers are advised to go into it with as little foresight as possible. There are now more than 30 chapters, Demons of the Shadow Realm is picking up steam, but it's still early enough that getting into the story doesn't take too long. Fans Fullmetal Alchemist must definitely give Demons of the Shadow Realm shot.
Demons of the Shadow Realm can be read in the manga Up! from Square Enix. Application.