wormcat

ryokira (Amon Apocalypse OVA)

I think she don't like dress 🥲

I think with the whole Ryo is forreal intersex debacle I totally get why people might want to read him as actually intersex and it's amazing if readers find empowerment in that connection but at the same time it's worth understanding that in 1972 Go Nagai was definitely not focused on representing anything than a fantastical idealized fusion of masculine/feminine traits as a symbolic or like mythological concept with zero reflection of the social realities of being intersex, and unfortunately "hermaphroditism" as a mythologized concept overall was the best word to describe this. I want to emphasize that it doesn't make anyone's personal reading invalid but I wish more people understood that the original purpose for that design is not at all tied to real world connection. Take away what resonates with you but understand like, applying real conditions like Klinefelter syndrome or PAIS to him is a headcanon

I don’t think it makes sense to assume writing him that way was built-in hostility or "fetishization " toward queer people or identities over this cus 1.) It is not intended to reflect something realistic whatsoever 2.) considering when it was created Devilman explored some surprisingly bold themes ?!

But overall I think its a good convo opener about a bigger problem regarding subjectivity in art LOL I feel like When audiences try to force every creative choice into socially responsible or objectively realistic takeaways it can miss the point or worse deeply punish what the author is actually intending and then force others to repeat the same incorrect takeaway because that's the most "real world" application or understanding, it's a "fix" and you should not explore anything else. I'm glad to see people have so many varying takes recently. Yes do whatever you want!!!!! this is the best direction

People using the word intersex to refer to Satan and being wildly misinformed of actual intersex variations. Intersex nowadays is a term most commonly used for humans with differences in their biological sex. Satan is an otherworldly being. JUST SAYING.

The hermaphrodite part in the English translation always read to me as the mythological concept (I’m pretty sure he’s inspired by the Greek Hermaphroditus) and not Go Nagai literally saying that he has a DSD lol. (I’m pretty sure that the japanese word used originally has the same meaning) I often see people using these words interchangeably when talking about Satan, and it feels a bit weird since it also is an outdated term to refer to people that are intersex and can have an offensive connotation….People referring to him as intersex and then also calling him a hermaphrodite in the same breath….not the best choice.

Also the amount of people that act upset about people viewing him as anything else but an intersex boy/man is a bit concerning, to say the least. Like that’s a cool headcanon, and I like that headcanon too. To me it adds nuance and relatability to Ryo‘s character, and it’s also especially awesome because intersex representation sadly is very sparse in media.……But some people seem to act as though Satan was explicitly written to be an intersex man, and that interpreting Satan as anything else, l've seen plenty of people who view Satan as a girl or use she/her pronouns, is somehow "erasing intersex representation" or erasing representation for men with breasts. Also I just want to state the fact that very often trans fems find comfort in Satan too. I think everyone is allowed to view him as what correlates to them but we also shouldn’t forget that his characters initial purpose was not being a man or a woman.

Then there are people getting mad at Go Nagai‘s choice of depicting Satan with breasts and therefore claim that it ungays their Ryokira. That complaint is as ancient as time and I honestly have nothing to say to that beyond why do you care so much?? and also think about what a weird mindset that is. A) You're completely free to interpret Satan as a man if that's how you wish to see him, and B) why do you have to limit a ship based on the sexuality or gender you assign to the characters involved? I personally don’t understand that way of thinking.