COMIC REVIEW | "Devil’s Candy" - Volume One
Realms based on the things that bump in the night isn’t new, but there’s always a creative twist that comes from each one. From the musical wonderment of The Nightmare Before Christmas to the kindheartedness of Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, there’s always a secondary draw to these creepy-yet-fantastical worlds. Devil’s Candy, a web comic series that’s getting a proper release from VIZ Media, has a big brain filled with amazing imagination. However, it does has a problem with its means of storytelling.
Created by writer Bikkuri and artist Rem, Devil’s Candy follows the student Kazu at Hemlock High School. He has created life Frankenstein-styled, in the form of female named Pandora. Originally built for homework, Kazu finds that there’s a lot of value to having Pandora at school. As such, the newly-living girl starts to experience high school life in the strangest of ways.
One of the things that makes Devil’s Candy eye-catching is its visuals. Rem’s artwork takes a lot of influence from the likes of Tim Burton and Guillermo Del Toro, with enough of a manga twist to give it its own uniqueness. The world that surrounds Hemlock High are stunning to look at, as it teeters between the creepy and the pretty. Character designs are rich with detail, be it how a cyclops decorates her eye or how Pandora’s scars add another depth of personality to her.
However, where this comic can stumble is in its narrative. While stories involving science tests, secret labs, and fashion show competitions can be fun, it doesn’t help when every moment is drowned out by exposition. There were times where I spent nearly five minutes looking at a page; not because I was drawn to the visuals, but rather due to the fact that there was so much to read! It wouldn’t be a problem if these factoids were scattered throughout each chapter, but these tidbits about the world, school, and characters are literally slammed into the eyes of the reader!
Because of this, it takes away a lot of the draw of what Devil’s Candy wishes to present. Kazu, Pandora, Hitomi, and Nemo are all filled with great personality, in ways that make them unique and relatable to readers. There are also some values that can be found when reading between the lines, especially when it comes to building self-esteem and overcoming certain adversities. And when it doesn’t want to build character, it wants to deliver a fight.
Devil’s Candy’s battle sequences are presented in an impressive light. It’s nice to see Pandora being the strong one, as the medium can be filled with one too many men-protecting-women tropes. These moments give Pandora a chance to not just shine as a growing individual, but also demonstrate the strength she already has. When a fight stirs, that’s where Rem’s art is at its best.
Volume One of Devil’s Candy showcases some potential. It’s got some good laughs, and its world will draw in any lover of unique art. However, its problem with not knowing when to keep quiet and let the story do its thing will make it a struggle to read on one too many occasion. While it doesn’t pull you in like Iruma-kun or The Underburbs right at the get-go, Devil’s Candy has the capacity to evolve and better its overall presentation. All it needs to do is tone down its exposition.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Gabrielle Dyer of VIZ Media
