So far, there have only been 5 chapters of the first volume released. I approached it after having recently read Overlord and Re:Monster, wanting a bit more of telling the story of the other side, in Maou no Hajimekata I found a new refreshing take on the tale.

Where to begin, the start of this jumps right in to forging yon necessary 'make follower x server you' macguffin and the start of setting up his power base. So, spoilers incoming.

Loved the fact that we were treated to some actual xxx rated stuff in some of it's glory, without it going over the top complete hentai style, but instead actually helping to build up a bit of background for our protanganist. Though after a while you forget that he's actually alot older than he looks, he displays a rather refreshing level of cunning, as some of the rules of the world they live in get explain.

So, while this manga is in it's infancy, what I really like is how as the story develops and he create his harem, the way he goes about doing it. He forces people to give him tribute, in return his magic provides them with more bountiful harvests, he provides medicine, and his minions send off wolves and goblin raiders. A beneficial relationship is formed.

But when the first hero fails her task of killing him and he instead tricks her over to his side by revealing the rather harsh truth of what the villagers were thinking, and exposing the corruption of the human mind as well as how people try to get something for nothing, only to face the consequences. Or when the dark elves come to him because humans have hunted them, and he comments 'so having been killed by humans, you come here to rely on me, a human?', the break down of tropes is brilliant.

And yet, I don't find him hugely evil at all. He wants something, like loyalty or tribute, yet he gives something back as well, a bargain or deal or boon. He is only overly harsh to those that refuse or defy him (sort of like how I imagine life living under Doctor Dooms rule would be).

Characters are developing slowly, and I look forwards to where this is going to go.