Identity/Class: Human transformed by demonic possession
Occupation: School boy
Affiliations: The Devilman Army, Maki, Ryo Asuka
Enemies: Shirenu, Lord Zenon; Satan
Known Relatives: Unnamed father (deceased), Makimura family (foster parents), Miki (foster sister)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Japan
First Appearance: Devilman (1972)
Powers/Abilities: Devilman's powers include heightened physical and mental capabilities; electricity/laser beam which come from his antennae; some sort of mental control from his antennae; flight; regeneration from damage (his arm has been torn apart from his body before); and the ability to enlarge himself to a huge size.
History: (Devilman series, modified origin) Akira Fudo is a shy boy who is staying with his friend Miki Makimura while his parents are away on a business trip. One day another friend of his, Ryo Asuka (secretly the son of Satan), informs Akira of the existence of demons and how they once ruled the Earth. Ryo tells his friend that the only hope of defeating a demon is to bond with one, thus gaining its powers, and he convinces Akira that he should allow this to happen. The two go to a satanic nightclub, and Ryo launches into murderous assaults on the clubbers, hoping to draw a demon to them. As various party-goers transform into demons, Amon the Lord of Darkness turns up. He attempts to possess Akira, but the youth's pureness turns the tables, and Akira gains control rather than the other way around, becoming Devilman.
Devilman proceeds to battle and kill demons wherever he finds them, including Amon's former lover Shirenu. Eventually Devilman and Satan himself clash during Armageddon.
(Amon Devilman Revelation) Years later Akira has become the leader of the Devilman Army, dedicated to hunting down the demons which have by now turned the world into a post-apocalyptic nightmare.
This artwork © Steve Kyte 1992, used with artist's permission, all rights reserved
(Devilman, original version) Akira Fudo becomes the unwilling
host body of the recently awakened demon Devilman, after the creature and
two others of its kind awaken from a long sleep in the Himalayas. Orphaned
because his father, Devilman's original choice of host, died from fright,
Akira is adopted by the Makimura family. Their kindness and his growing love
for his foster sister Miki allow him to convince Devilman to drop his original
mission of death and destruction, but this displeases Zenon, the demon's
former boss, who sends others of his kind after Devilman. In order to survive,
Akira has to come to terms with his newfound demonic powers.