I am talking, of course, about .
In the sprawling, messy, brilliant tapestry of Devilman , Amon serves as the engine of the apocalypse. He is the "Devil" in Devilman . Yet, his role is far more complex than just a standard monster possessing a boy. To understand the tragedy of Akira Fudo, you first have to understand the absolute horror of Amon. In the original 1972 manga, Amon isn't given a lengthy backstory. He is simply one of the most powerful demons residing in the frozen halls of Hell. His name, borrowed from the Goetic demon of the Ars Goetia (a Marquis of Hell who appears as a wolf with a serpent’s tail), implies ancient authority. devilman amon
He dies with Akira.
Go Nagai draws this beautifully. When Akira fights as himself, his movements are deliberate, almost pained. When Amon surfaces, the art becomes jagged, the shadows deepen, and Akira’s face twists into a rictus of pure hatred. For fans who want the deep dive, the 2000 OVA Amon: The Apocalypse of Devilman (often subtitled The Dark Side of Devilman ) is the definitive text. This 45-minute short film discards the human drama and psychological horror of the original in favor of a brutalist, Lynchian nightmare. I am talking, of course, about
But here is the crucial question that the manga constantly asks: Does the engine ever leak into the driver? Throughout the series, we see Akira losing control. When he fights Jinmen (the "Face" demon) or when he battles the militaristic General Zann, we see Akira’s eyes go cold. The cross-shaped scar on his forehead glows. His voice drops an octave. Yet, his role is far more complex than
In the lore, Amon was a general in the demon wars of antiquity, a creature of such unstoppable ferocity that even other demons feared him. He was sealed away for millions of years, hibernating in the ice until the modern era, waiting for a host weak enough to control but strong enough to contain him. The genius of Devilman lies in the possession scene. Akira Fudo, a gentle-hearted crybaby, doesn't fight Amon with brute force. He fights him with soul . His best friend, Ryo Asuka, takes Akira to a Sabbath—a demonic orgy of flesh and violence. There, Akira willingly allows the demon Amon to merge with his body.
Amon despises Akira. Imagine being the apex predator of Hell, a being who shattered armies, only to find yourself trapped inside a crying high school student who refuses to kill humans. Amon’s rage is the fuel for Devilman’s berserker states. Every time Akira tears a demon limb from limb with a feral scream, that is Amon’s ecstasy breaking through Akira’s restraint.