Detroit Metal City is a black comedymanga series by Kiminori Wakasugi, serialized in Young Animal from 2005 to 2010. An animeOVA series, twelve episodes of approximately 13 minutes each, was released on August 8, 2008. A live film adaptation directed by Toshio Lee appeared in Japanese theaters on August 23, 2008. The series takes its name from the Kiss single "Detroit Rock City".
Plot
Soichi Negishi is a shy young musician who dreams of a career in pop. Dreams don't pay the bills, so he's ended up as the lead singer and guitarist of a blackened death metal band, "Detroit Metal City." In his stage costume, he is Johannes Krauser II, rumored to be a terrorist demon from hell, to have killed and raped his parents, to wield his giant death penis with abandon, and other menacing tales being told about him after each public performance. The songs of DMC often encourage the audience to engage in immoral and illegal behavior, such as rape or murder, or tell of Krauser's exploits with similar actions, in a parody of the genre. Negishi despises DMC and all that it stands for, but he can't walk away from his role as the band's psychotic frontman. Under his meager exterior, Negishi is a rageaholic and also is very skilled at guitar playing. Furthermore, he feels obligation to the rest of the band and his label and is always roped back in by the manager of the band's label. The Krauser persona also functions as an outlet to vent his frustration over his failing personal career, which has not advanced beyond being a street musician. Playing his music in the street earns him nothing but the disapproval of bystanders for his cheesy pop songs. Negishi is envious of the popularity DMC and his Krauser persona enjoy in contrast to the music he actually wants to play being ridiculed; His Krauser persona begins to emerge more often, which leads to Krauser's popularity growing. The series explores the futile attempts of Negishi to break this vicious circle, escape his DMC persona, and become a successful pop musician.
Characters
Soichi Negishi: The main protagonist. A calm and peaceful musician from Inukai, Ōita, he is a fan of Swedish pop and Shibuya-kei who is the exact opposite of his alter-ego Johannes Krauser II, leader of the Visual death metal band DMC. Ashamed of his true job, Negishi must cope with DMC's rising fame while keeping it a secret from friends and family. Even though Negishi despises Krauser so much, he can never resist the temptation of invoking his demonic ego every time he feels irritated or in trouble. While performing as Krauser, Negishi proves to be a skilled guitarist, able to play just with his teeth.
Yuri Aikawa: Negishi's friend from his college times and his main love interest. She loves Negishi's calm nature and songs, but dislikes DMC's music and its vocalist Krauser, unaware that they are the same person.
Terumichi Nishida: Curry-loving, overweight, and taciturn. An otaku, he is a fan of ecchi anime. Nishida is Camus, DMC's drummer. Perhaps the most dedicated in the group; not even fire or snakes will stop his drumming.
Masayuki Wada: Plays the part of Alexander Jagi, DMC's bassist and a ladies' man from Saitama. He would like to leave DMC to perform in a visual kei band, but like the rest of the band, he is reluctant to go on his own path, mostly in fear of their manager.
Keisuke Nashimoto: A masochistic middle-aged man hired to perform during DMC's concerts as the "Capitalist Pig", whose role is to let himself be abused by Krauser. He works part-time at a convenience store.
Jack ill Dark: Also known as "The Emperor", he is a legendary Death Metal guitarist from the United States who chose to crush DMC during his farewell concert in Japan. But after inadvertently bringing out Negishi's anger, he ends up being upstaged by Krauser, and thus entrusts him his trademark guitar and title.
The manga was originally serialized in of the Japanese manga magazine Young Animal published by Hakusensha from September 2005 to April 2010. Hakusensha has compiled the 113 chapters into 10 volumes from May 29, 2006 to July 29, 2010 under its Jets Comics imprint. Viz Media licensed the manga in North America and published it from June 9, 2009 to September 13, 2011. The manga has sold at least 2 million copies.
Anime
A DVD box set of 12 OVA episodes of D.M.C was released on August 8, 2008.
1-A – PV
1-B – SICK MURDERER
2-A – REAL LEGEND
2-B – SATAN
3-A – PIG
3-B – DRUG
4-A – FRUSTRATION
4-B – GOOD SONG
5-A – MASOCHIST
5-B – FAMILY
6-A – PUNK.1
6-B – PUNK.2
7-A – TOWER
7-B – CONFESSION
8-A – PROMISE
8-B – ALTERNATION
9-A – CINEMA.1
9-B – CINEMA.2
10-A – FAKE
10-B – DETROIT-MOE-CITY
11-A – HIP-HOP.1
11-B – HIP-HOP.2
12-A – EMPEROR.1
12-B – EMPEROR.2
Film
The live action film adaptation of the series, directed by Toshio Lee and written by Mika Ōmori, was released on August 23, 2008 by Toho. It features performances by Kenichi Matsuyama, Rosa Kato, Kazuma Suzuki, Rumi Hiiragi, Yasuko Matsuyuki and a cameo appearance by Gene Simmons. It has been watched by more than 1 million people. d-rights, Dentsu, Hakusensha, Horipro, Nippon Shuppan Hanbai, Inc., Parco, Stardust Pictures, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Toho, Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Tsutaya and Yahoo! Japan were involved in the production of the film. The film was licensed in North America by Viz Pictures in July 2010 and released in November 2010. It has been reported that several offers have been made from United States and Hong Kong based companies to remake the film. Detroit Metal City was selected as a part of the 33rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness Program on September 5, 2008. It was also shown for the first time in the United Kingdom on November 2008 in Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds. It was also shown as part of the 13thJapanese Film Festival in November and December in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia in 2009. The toy companyBanpresto created a set of four plush dolls based on the characters and figurine company Kaiyodo created action figures for the North American market.
Music
Prior to the theatrical release and the OVA release, an album titled Detroit Metal City: Tribute to Krauser II the metal mix was released featuring many popular Japanese recording artists covering their own songs in a metal style. The album has songs by:
Beat Crusaders
Kaela Kimura
Scha Dara Parr
Midori
YUKI
monobright
Tommy February6
Mucc
King Giddra
Electric Eel Shock
ANA
Wagdug Futuristic Unity
Kahimi Karie
As a fictional band, Detroit Metal City has released several real records for both the film and the OVA series. Singles titled "SATSUGAI/Amai Koibito ~for the movie~" were released for the film, sung by Tetsuya Kanmuri as Johannes Krauser II and Hideki Kaji as Soichi Negishi. Another single titled "Maoh/Raspberry Kiss ~for the movie~" was released with Kanmuri and Kaji in character on vocals for their respective songs. The film's D.M.C also released an album titled Makai Yūgi ~for the movie~ featuring "SATSUGAI", "Maoh", and other songs featured in the film and manga sung by Kanmuri. Singles were also released for the fictional bands depicted in the movie:
"Detarame Mothe-com Cherry Boy ~for the movie~" by anti-sexism punk band Kintama Girls
"From New York City ~for the movie~" by rapper MC KIVA
"Sally my Love ~for the movie~" by Tetra-pot Melon Tea
Video game
was producing a game based on DMC for the Nintendo DS titled Detroit Metal City DS: Death Shout that would feature multiple modes of play, including an Elite Beat Agents-inspired rhythm game and a Final Fantasy-inspired RPG mode. It was later cancelled.
