Before you go into this series, it is important to note that this is a sequel to the Demonbane visual novel series, taking place right after Zanma Taisen Demonbane and Nitro+ Blasterz. D.Y.N. Freaks does not try to explain much of the world, and the manga fully expects you to have prior knowledge of the gods and motives behind the characters from playing, at the minimum, Deus Machina Demonbane, Kishin Hishou Demonbane, and Zanma Taisen Demonbane.

D.Y.N. Freaks is a very fun and interesting read. However, THIS SERIES IS NOT STAND ALONE. You MUST have prior knowledge of the Demonbane franchise and visual novels to even remotely understand this manga.

If you have ample knowledge of the Demonbane story and characters but want to jump the shark without playing Zanma Taisen Demonbane, then I will provide a basic summary of what leads to the D.Y.N. Freaks universe:

During Zanma Taisen, Kuzaku (Elder God Daijuuji Kurou and Elder God Al-Azif's son) wanders the infinite universes with Another Blood (A female and alternate dimension counterpart of Kuzaku brought into existence by Nyarlathotep) to stop a Demonbane known as the Vortex Blaster. Much like its other counterparts across the infinite worlds, it spends the eternities fighting the Outer Gods. However, it grows to become too powerful and kills nearly every outer god, eventually the omnipotent Azathoth as well, causing the destruction of all creation, save for itself, the Elder Gods, and Yog Sothoth, who now takes the human form of Mugen Yoguruma.

Under the guise of Mugen, Yog Sothoth pieces together the shattered pieces of the infinite universes destroyed by the Vortex Blaster and the death of Azathoth to create makeshift universes into existence, where she hopes to revive and incubate the soul of Azathoth and bring all of creation back into its original form.

... Last updated on February 10th, 2016, 12:51am

Speaking as someone who has actually read Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos, I was still confused when the manga started delving into all the Lovecraftian references.

But let's start with the pros. The art is pretty terrific, and the mangaka has a really great sense of movement and action. It's a fairly easy and nice read because of that, and I appreciate it. I also really like the character designs, especially for the main female lead. They're simple but unique.

What this manga really fails at, however, is its worldbuilding and exposition. I have no idea who most of these characters are, nor is there any understandable explanation of the world they inhabit. Especially once it hits the midway point, the series begins introducing a slew of enemies and frenemies and allies that I ultimately have no idea who any of them are. Even with the main characters, character development is sparse, and it feels like they change based on what the plot requires of them, rather than through any organic way. (The chemistry between Azana and Narukami is nonexistent; the one between Azana and Yogoruma is slightly better but still stilted.)

Overall, this really isn't a series I can recommend to, well, anyone. The art is nice, and the opening chapters seem to promise something unique and exciting, but it fails to deliver, and it fails badly.

(And, yeah, this series is really, painfully chuuni.)

... Last updated on August 7th, 2015, 11:49pm

Whats there to say?

Not much other than the medium (manga) is a terrible choice. With only 3 volumes, the story doesn't amount to anything other than a crude primer to the Lovecraft universe.