adult graphic novel, immortal demons final battle (end of series)

don't let the cute illustrations fool you, there is always a lot of shock value packed into the pages of Shiga's Demon series. And when all the main characters are demons, you can be sure that the plot will be twisty.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Scott

Picking up where Volume 3 left off, Jason Shiga’s tour de force The Demon ends in Volume 4 of this seminal series. Almost starting as a what if? in Volume 1, Shiga has shown the versatility of the comics medium in capturing an idea and a plot and showing the viewer the precise picture they had in mind. What a mind that could explore the depths of The Demon. Picking up from volume 3’s closure, there is no time wasted in picking up the pace as Volume 4 pins you to your seat and doesn’t let up until the ride is over.

The dialogue Is punchy – to the point. Gone are the philosophical waxing of the 3rd volume and born are the fruits and labors of 100 and so years that have passed. The sheer shrewdness and diabolical twists bring an almost wry smile from the reader as Jimmy Lee and Sweet Pea plot their revenge. Everything is either shown or said. The dialogue is true to form (whatever the form may be at any given moment) and lingers on well after the last page in which the demon is no more.

If Volume 3 was Shiga at his finest then Volume 4 is Shiga’s tour de force. The plot is incredibly well orchestrated, and no panel is wasted. The pacing is frenetic and over the top in some places. Plotting intricate and uncannily devious machinations, Shiga proves that he is not out of ideas yet – everything has been thought through. The tiniest detail has been given credence to, and everything plays out in a panel or two. By far the most ambitious of the Volumes this one does not pull any punches as the plot dive bombs into an explosive ending.

Complementing the hard-hitting prose is the artwork, once again proving that more can be said with less. The artwork displays often vulgar and over the top violent pieces, but they are mitigated by the simplicity of form and function. It bears repeating – no panel is wasted. Each drawing brings the reader on a thrill ride through the racing plot and all the detail needed in the panel is there for the reader to absorb. There is not a single piece of information that muddies the water in this graphic novel.The Demon’s audience is, shall we say, discerning. In toto, the four volumes of the Demon will appeal to those who like their bread toasted. That crunch is what makes the Demon. Without fail, past readers of the Demon Volumes 1 through 3 will find the transition into Volume 4 to be par for course and maybe a bit surprising. I highly recommend The Demon, by Jason Shiga to be given a once through, especially if you are a graphic novel fanatic who wants to give a new story a spin. Let it be The Demon Volumes 1 through 4, you will either laud it or despise it. The lasting question is what part of your inner Demon are you despising?

A gloriously gory bloodbath of an ending. At this point, it's way too complicated to get into the plot. However, Jimmy and Sweetpea have their final battle of carnage with Hunter. Who really wins in the end??

Demon Volume 4 was slightly less satisfying than I expected. Demon is a series built on outdoing itself at every opportunity, increasing shock value at every turn. The final volume didn't seem to manage anything new or surprising, instead the focus was on wrapping up the story. I enjoyed the way the narrative played with the idea of villains and heroes, Jimmy and Sweetpea are saving the world from becoming a Utopia by destroying it. This series was interesting and definitely a journey into a dark imagination, I would recommend this to individuals who appreciate a very dark and creative world.

I bought the first three volumes of Demon after seeing that it won an Eisner, thinking it would probably be okay for our teen collection. Not so much...which is totally my fault! That being said, we have this fourth volume pre-ordered already and I was glad to be able to read it ahead of time to check content. This series is crazy! In an excellent way! I love how much the main character, Jimmy, is like Light from Death Note, with his conniving mind. Without spoiling too much for those who have yet to read it, the dopplegangers blew my mind; definitely was not expecting that to be where the series went! Nor was I expecting the series ending, which is the mark of a good book to me; I read so much that most things are predictable now, so when something surprises me, I absolutely love it! Definitely a purchase for libraries who have the first three volumes, though I would be wary suggesting it to libraries in more conservative communities, because it is so bloody (and also the camel sex).

This book is a very fitting continuation to the series! It's irreverent, gratuitous, bloody, and kind of genius. There are some....not time travel, really, but maybe 4th-dimensional shifts, that really make this book fun. The all out war is really something to behold.

Jason Shiga finishes off his unusual graphic novel series, <em>Demon</em>, with this, the fourth issue.

Jimmy Yee is a man cursed(?)/blessed(?) with a power that prevents him from dying. He discovers this fact when, about as far down on his luck as a man can get, he tries to kill himself. The essence of Jimmy is then transferred to the nearest human. One man seems to understand what Jimmy is and what he can do, but despite his best efforts to capture Jimmy, Agent Hunter isn't able to contain Jimmy since Jimmy simply kills himself when trapped so that he can take over another body.

Now, over the course of nearly 400 years, Agent Hunter shows that he, too, is a Demon possessed and has spent the last century planning and preparing for the one way to eliminate Jimmy. And Hunter uses Jimmy's Demon daughter, Sweetpea, as the bait.

But whereas Hunter has used the centuries to build the perfect fortress, Jimmy and Sweetpea have used the same hundred years to prepare a way into the fortress and exact revenge on Hunter.

The first two issues of this series were tremendous. Shiga walked the reader into a strange situation without explaining what he was doing, letting the reader figure it out. There was quite a story to unravel and the books took the reader on a roller-coaster journey with plenty of death and destruction along the way.

But these last two issues changed it up. There's less story, more death and destruction and depravity, and all mostly without purpose. This volume steps it back up a step, with each of our three main characters driven by a goal, but the book still feels as though it's padded with filler, boring me for the most part.

The story does wrap up, which was a nice surprise, but I had stopped caring. I was interested initially because I wanted to know what was happening and why. Once those questions were answered, the series became a story about a cat and mouse game between Jimmy and Hunter (want to guess what role 'Hunter' played?) and this was much less interesting because really there wasn't much to describe except the constant evisceration or decapitation of a few billion people. The entire planet became a breeding ground for slaughter for a couple of people who were trying to best one another.

If Shiga's 'point' behind this book was to show just how much we've become inured to violence and depravity, then he's succeeded. If he's simply trying to entertain ... mmmm, he's succeeded only to a point, and then passed us by.

I was glad to have read this series, but have been left unimpressed.

Looking for a good book? <em>Demon, Volume 4</em> by Jason Shiga finishes off the series, and humanity as well. It's worth reading if you've started the series, but not recommended.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting resolution to the previous story lines. I'm glad that the concept of redemption is being suggested because the complete lack of ethics of the characters has been bothering me. Shiga is still full of the incredible theoretical science that keeps me coming back though, like the way they build their army, so brilliant!

Demon is an excellent series and Volume 4 doesn't disappoint. Gory violent fun that makes you think what would you if you had these abilities?

These books are addictive. At first I wasn't a huge fan, but by the second volume, I found myself looking forward to the continued absurd adventures of Jimmy and Sweet Pea.

Hilarious in parts. Got a little convoluted, though.

Oh wow - the finale really takes it over the top and ties it all together (I didn't even realize I wanted/needed it to be tied together, but I did). Some questions left, but those are mostly moral that are good leads to leave with readers. Really sold series.

This comic never ceases to amuse me. This book will definitely appeal to a very specific group of readers who appreciate the raunchy and dark humor found in Demon. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of these book and will continue to sing of their praises.