Have you ever wanted me to make a grand reentrance? If so, then fear not, good citizen, because I'm bringing you all a late Christmas gift for my four-month absence: seven new spotlights back to back (repeat five more times). And I thought the best way to kick it was by introducing Love Advice from the Great Duel of Hell by unfins.
Summary
Paul was your average-day teenager. He lives with a protective sister and calm dad, reads books at the library, and helps people with his hand. However, once the boy gets a good old case of the love bug, average starts to get thrown out the window. Realizing he'll do anything just so his love can even notice him, he does the natural thing and summons a Great Duke of Hell: Astaroth, to be exact, or ass for short.
Once he completes the summon and forms the contract with him, Paul sets off a chain reaction of supernatural madness that'll shake both hell and Earth apart. One that will seemingly put his body, heart, and soul on the line. Oh, and dignity, never forget pride.
Characters
Paul: Our main dumbass, Paul, is a good-natured teenage boy who, for the most part, tries his best to help those in need. However, he can be uncharacteristically possessive and intimidating regarding matters regarding Elena. Beneath that Achilles heel is a man who constantly sweats the small stuff while sacrificing everything to help people in his dumbass way.
Juliet: Paul's younger sister, Juliet, is far more observant and intelligent than her brother. As such, she tries to care an eye on him, so much so she's willing to go to hell and back for him, literally. This protectiveness goes so far she's ready to also pair up with holier forces to regain Astaroth's abilities.
Astaroth: Paul's demon, Astaroth, is the closest this series has to a straight man. Every bit of what his titular title presents, Ass is a ruthless, domineering, aggressive, and stoic creature. He gets a sick satisfaction from murder, conquest, and trickery. While he actively hates Paul's existence, a genuine soft spot is hidden underneath his neverending embarrassment.
Elena: The apple of Paul's eye, "Elena," is a calm, playful, and calculating waitress in a nearby store. Much like Astaroth, there's more than meets the look of her quiet smile.
Overview
Great Duke is hard to describe, and I don't even think it's because I'm a little rusty. This series joins hands with Tower of God, God of Highschool, My Deepest Secret, and fucking Room of Swords for bananas of twists at the end of their first halves, a comparison I don't mean likely.
This is one series you reread right after you finish, so you can fully appreciate the subtle foreshadowing. I can't believe I'm saying this about a series with ass and fart jokes, but holy fuck does the story of this webtoon genuinely rock. But since I can't go into the most in detail on that might as well talk about everything else.
Right off the bat, Great Duke is one of my favorite art evolutions. Throughout the series, there's a clear direction for more muted colors, drab color palettes, and heavy outlines on the character's eyes and faces. Paired up with the comedic tone, you can probably make a whole ass compilation of memeable faces, which are the status of shitpost legend.
I've never seen a series so perfectly encapsulate the utter embarrassment and cringe that my anxious-riddled ass feels daily quite like this. Of course, it should be illegal to create cringe comedy and dramatic irony this good, but Great Duke pulls it off excellently every time.
Though if you don't like Paul's shenanigans, you might fall in love with the series' other characters. Sporting a pretty meaty mid-level cast of characters, we get to see a lot of unique subplots from other characters, which naturally interweave with Paul. Each of them not only adds some incredible worldbuilding and genuinely funny moment. Cap it off with fight scenes that kind of slap, and we got a freshly completed classic.
Epilogue
Overall, Great Duke was a blast to read from beginning to end. It's a story that serves your time to read and reread, and I hope you enjoy it. Unfortunately, with this spotlight over, we must press on and find where it will lead us next.