In Western media, depictions of demons and devils are colored by their origin in Christianity. Demons are symbols of sin, temptation, and the darkness of the human heart. They stalk in the dark, waiting for a chance to catch you in a moment of weakness and drag you down with them.
However, in Japan, Christianity is not a well-known religion. Perception of what makes a devil a devil is filtered through the lens of whatever Western depictions become popular. In spite of this, devils are commonly depicted in anime and manga, both as villains and occasionally even heroes.
Click a portrait below to read about some of my favorite manga devils. Spoilers abound!
