Back in 2018, a webtoon series premiered that made such a splash it caused ripples in several ways. Mage & Demon Queen, by Color_LES, brought Yuri to a whole new group of readers who were more used web comics than previous generations, it pushed Yuri from the Philippines into the limelight and helped WEBTOON become the behemoth it is in the web comic space. I interviewed Color_LES here on Okazu, back in 2020. Now, 5 years after it began, the series has come to a close and, before it goes to a paid model on Webtoon of January 25, 2024, I wanted to take a moment to talk about it.
Put simply, Mage & Demon Queen is set in an RPG-style adventure game, where talented mage Malori is obsessed with the beautiful and powerful Demon Queen, Velverosa, not to defeat her, but to woo her. The story is a vast epic, with a number of twists and turns that lead characters through, in some cases, time and space…and ends with love. It’s a grand jest of goofy jokes, raunchy innuendo, sweet romance and dangerous sexy times and yet remains PG no matter how dark or emotional or bawdy it gets.
Like so many series I enjoy, the main selling point of the series is the characters themselves. Side and background characters are given depth, and then, when they come up again, that depth is given another wrinkle, keeping everyone more than just their one joke. Above all, the love Malori has for Vel is so sincere and guileless, that it’s impossible to dislike her. Velverosa likewise develops from the Big Bad TM to a formidable foe, to so much more.
The series also gives readers a chance to watch the artist’s skill develop over time. With a deadline work, there really kind of no way for the artist to not improve. Some chapters have musical backgrounds, and some of those were created by Ari North of Always Human, a comic that I will never stop recommending.
So, if you have not yet read and finished Mage & Demon Queen, do drop by WEBTOON and get on that. The ending is exactly right.
Ratings:
Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – Yes, but mostly by implication than actually portrayed.
Yuri – 10
Overall – Excellent. Go read the ending. Right now, shoo.
I made sure to read this when I first heard about it, probably from here. Absolutely loved the evolution of the story, characters, and world. A fabulous read.
M&DQ is one of the best webtoons I ever read, and the only one I went Patreon on. I like to re-read it because there is always something new to catch my attention. A true labor of love. BUT! The M&DQ website has been down for over a month, and I can’t seem to get any response from Les/Kuru as to what is going on. Anyone able to enlighten me?
The series is over, it has moved to a pay-only structure on Webtoons at the end of January, as I said. I’ve seen Color_LES write plenty of updates on her Facebook page about it. So it’s not down – the page is simply not available for free.
Hmmm, I am Patreon member so I would have thought I would be upgraded automatically; apparently not. Thank you for your prompt reply. I am sure this makes me sound primitive, but I have absolutely no experience with Facebook. Do you have a web address for Kuru’s facebook page? Sorry to keep bothering you but I am at a bit of a loss; everybody and their brother is on Facebook, I am sure, but not I.
I don’t think Color_LES updates Facebook more than, say Twitter or her own Patreon. I just happened to have seen updates there first. I am 100% sure if you follow her on her Twitter or her own Patreon, the same updates will be posted. Here is the Twitter announcement of M&DQ going pay-mode only: https://twitter.com/Color_LES/status/1746128882233979378
I understand you are not familiar with Facebook, but there are many tutorials so please understand that I am not interested in guiding you through how to search online for her on Facebook and explaining how to see those posts. You *already* have access to a place she makes announcements, i.e., her Patreon, so it’s up to you to read those announcements. I noted that you did not even read the sentence in the paragraph where I explained the comic was going pay-only, as well. My advice is to make sure you are signed up on Patreon for emails from the creators you follow, then read those posts by them.
I wish you the best of luck!