Title: Akuma Bengoshi Kukabara
Author: Youn In-Wan
Artist: Yang Kyung-Il
Chapter: 1 (One Shot)
Summary
When someone dies, their afterlife will be spent either in Heaven or Hell. But what happens when Hell awaits you in the afterlife? Jake Watson is the latest soul that will experience an eternity in Hell, unless he signs a contract to the devil advocate. The devil advocate will agree to defend Jake in exchange for the devil essence that surrounds his soul when he died. He now has a choice: to make a contract with the devil advocate D. Lorian Kukabara, or have his soul taken to the fiery depths of hell.
The Good
Story
There is something I find interesting when combining religion, or religious themes, with fiction. It’s probably because many people see it as taboo, but I think it should be used. Here, the concept of suicide as an ultimate sin is looked at. It questions where a child should be held accountable as a sinner for committing suicide. If this was the real world our view would be “no,” but this is another realm. A realm that is untouchable and ruled by one being. I guess I just spoiled my second “good” about the manga.
Setting
The story is set on God’s turf, but then again what isn’t God’s turf (unless your belief is different). It’s a helpless setting, something a mere human can’t overcome. I like stories about super-human beings, but I also like stories where unfamiliar places have a weakening effect on the “super” human race. God’s cruel like that.
The Bad
Short
The story could have been a great series to explore if it got serialized. There was enough of an interest built in the first chapter that could have taken it further than just a one shot. Sadly, it doesn’t seem like that will happen.
God Sucks (the Manga Version)
I couldn’t help but be baffled by this lousy God. There are a few reasons to this:
***Spoiler Alert***
God has a chick, known by as the death bringer, carry his orders. She follows his laws by the book. She tries to take Jake to hell and fails to carry out her orders. Afterwards Jake goes to heaven…
Doesn’t this make God a) an imperfect being and b) contradict the reason to why he/she/it made suicide a sin? There are multiple reasons as to why suicide is a sin, though from my point of view it is a sin because humans were meant to live in peace and suffering on Earth. Committing suicide meant the person wanted to a) join God in heaven on purpose or b) to ease their suffering or both. I maybe wrong, but I don’t think I’m wrong about the interpretation on the almighty in the manga. Then again, I may be thinking too much into it.
Overall
I should point out I’m not offended by the manga’s interpretation of God. I actually found it quite fascinating, but flawed through reasoning (sounds contradictory, don’t it). Though if the manga were serialized, I could have explored more into its notion of God and his/her/its mind set. It’s an interesting read, so check it out. I give it a four out of five.
Rating:
Note: There is a full series based on this one shot, though the name has changed to Defense Devil.
