Cover of the 9th novel
The Disgaea novel series is an expanded universe of the Disgaea game series. It starts with an adaptation of the first game and continues with its own thing, and adaptations of the sequels were added to the universe as the games got released. The novels introduce Laharl’s aunt, uncle and cousins, Flonne’s family as well as Gordon and Jennifer’s daughter. For more information about them check out the Character Sheet. The novels are quite the fun read, but they have unfortunately not yet been released state side. Broccoli Books, who was going to release the novels, shut down before they even got to release the first one. The novels are written by Sow Kamashiro and illustrated by Keiji Yamamoto under the name Chou Niku.There are light novels adaptations of Phantom Brave and Makai Kingdom as well; they are set in the same universe as the Disgaea light novels. Disgaea characters appears in the Phantom Brave light novels, and there is a crossover novel between Disgaea and Makai Kingdom.
There are currently 17 novels in the series:
- Disgaea: Enter the Maoh - adaption of the 1st game.
- Disgaea: Revelations - beginning of expanded universe content; introduces Laharl’s aunt, uncle & cousins. An online translation can be found here.
- Disgaea: Returned - Lamington invites Laharl to Celestia. The novel introduces Flonnes parents and her sister. Jennifer’s villainous father returns. An online translation can be found here.
- Disgaea: On Love (Part 1) - Laharl & Flonne get stuck time traveling and meets his mother in the past. Meanwhile, forces in the Netherworld conspire against Laharl.
- Disgaea: On Love (Part 2) - the conclusion of the On Love storyline.
- Disgaea: Battle of the Maohs - crossover with Makai Kingdom.
- Disgaea 2: Mask of the Maoh (Part 1) - first part of the adaption of the 2nd game.
- Disgaea 2: Mask of the Maoh (Part 2) - second part of the adaption of the 2nd game.
- Disgaea: Heart of the Maoh - Laharl gets turned into a baby; Etna & Flonne travel through time to find a cure.
- Disgaea: School of the Maoh - a parody of High school themed anime with characters from Disgaea, Disgaea 2 and Makai Kingdom.
- Disgaea 3: Brave and the Maoh (Part 1) - first part of the adaption of the 3rd game.
- Disgaea 3: Brave and the Maoh (Part 2) - second part of the adaption of the 3rd game.
- Disgaea: Three Dash! - short stories with Disgaea, Disgaea 3 and Makai Kingdom characters.
- Disgaea: War of Prinny - a loose adaption of Prinny: CIBTH.
- Disgaea 4: Power of Iwashi - adaption of the 4th game.
- Disgaea: Maoh of the Dead - the Disgaea trio makes a zombie movie.
- Disgaea D2: Revisit - adaption of the direct sequel to Disgaea Hour Of Darkness..
In addition to the games series, the novel series provides examples of:
- Abusive Parents/Babysitter from Hell: Laharl’s aunt and uncle took care of him for a hundred years after his mother died. The abuse he received from his aunt is said to be the reason for his extreme fear of sexy women.
- Acquired Poison Immunity: Laharl survived being poisoned by Etna because he had been given the same poison by his aunt while he was in her care.
- All Love Is Unrequited: Lots of girls fall for Laharl. None of them will ever get what they want, of course, because status quo is gold, right?
- Art Evolution: Keiji Yamamoto's artwork has improved significantly over the course of the series. Scans of the artwork for the novels can be found here.
- Ascended Demon: Good old Vyers comes back from the dead as an angel.
- Bathe Her and Bring Her to Me: Sakura kidnaps Flonne and have her angel servants bath her in a hot spring.
- Bedmate Reveal: Jane attempts at snuggling up to Laharl when he sleeps.
- Betty and Veronica: Flonne and Etna, being Laharl’s primal love interests and now both in love with him. If only they could see the
light. - Clarke's Third Law: Stated almost word for word by the overseer of time and space magic. After a certain point, pure energy could substitute for magic incantations and power. The reverse also holds true, as seen when Laharl and Flonne power a time machine with magic.
- Celibate Hero: Laharl seems be aware of his female companions’ feelings, but is annoyed and really frustrated by their romantic antics and does not want to lead anyone on.
- Censor Steam: Used to cover Flonne and Etna’s breast and crotch when they are at a hot spring.
- Character Exaggeration: The traits of a stereotypical harem anime Clingy Jealous Girl gets tacked on Flonne’s personality, to the point she gets extremely angry seeing Laharl with another girl, and even calls him a pervert.
- The Chew Toy: The novels' main source of comedy is Laharl's suffering.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Every girl that falls for Laharl suffers this to a certain degree.
- Compressed Adaptation: Aramis was cut from the adaption of the 1st game.
- Creepy Twins: Laharl’s cousins, Kira and Shas. Kira is a junior manipulative bastard and Shas’s ideas of fun are deadly to those around her.
- Cuteness Overload: Then Flonne meet young Laharl in the 9th novel she give him a big loving hug.
- Evil Uncle: Laharl’s aunt wants him either off the throne or dead.
- Excalibur: The strongest sword in the novels' universe.
- Fantastic Racism: Demons seem to be much more obsessed with race compared to the games.
- Fear Is the Appropriate Response: Laharl freezes in fear when his aunt stares at him directly in the eyes.
- Gender Bender: Apparently, all angels can change their sex. Which sex they have is determined by which gender stereotype they fall under; feminine angels become female and masculine become male, though we never see a complete transformation take place.
- Hairstyle Inertia: Laharl had pretty much the same hairstyle then he was little, his antennae was just shorter.
- Half-Identical Twins: Laharl’s cousins, Kira and Shas, are practically identical twins, except Shas is a female and Kira is a male.
- Hidden Eyes: Pleinair gets these when Laharl and co. invades her index page in the first Disgaea 3 novel.
- Love Freak: Flonne's parents Terre and Elle are even bigger believers.
- Lover Tug of War: In book 5th Flonne, Ozonne, Sakura, Jane and Shas wreathes Laharl in this manner. Leaving him howling in agony.
- Luminescent Blush: Laharl does this when he sees Flonne naked by accident in the 4th novel. Whether this is embarrassment or arousal is unclear, but seeing her makes him sweat as well.
- Macho Camp: Laharls's uncle Vesuvius is a feminine macho muscle-man.
- Made a Slave: Gwen became Sakura's in the past, but escaped. Later Sakura tries to add Flonne and Etna to her to harem as well. Laharl did not like this.
-
No Export for You: Despite its popular demand, it doesn't look like NIS America will be publishing these novels anytime soon. However, they have been translated online. - Only in It for the Money: Ozonne is a money freak among love freaks though it's less that she's obsessed with money and more pragmatic when it comes to helping other people.
- Promoted to Love Interest:
- Both Flonne and Etna have crystal clear romantic feelings for Laharl in the novels.
- While Gordon and Jennifer is promoted to a Happily Married couple.
- And Rozalin and Adell is promoted from a BST couple to a lovey dovey◊ Official Couple.
- Recurring Extra: Pleinair appears on the index page of every single novel.
- Revive Kills Zombie: This is how the villain of the second novel is defeated.
- School Uniforms are the New Black: Jane always wears her school uniform in her appearances.
- Ship Tease: Laharl has A LOT with Flonne, a bit with Etna, and he and Ozonne hit it off a little better than the other girls in his Unwanted Harem.
- Shower of Awkward: Laharl accidentally walkes in on Flonne while she is in a hot spring. He blushes and quickly walkes out.
- Spell My Name With An S: Most of the new characters' names, since there are no official spelling for their names in English.
- Stalking Is Funny if It Is Female After Male: It does not matter what kind girl or women you are, stalking Laharl, or touching him anywhere above his waist, is apparently A-ok and Hilarious.
- Time Travel: Lots of time traveling; they are of the stable time loop variety.
- Too Kinky to Torture: Laharl's uncle, Vesuvius, is hinted to be a masochist.
- Torture Technician: Laharl's aunt, Yasurl, loves to torture people. Anyone will do: her husband, her nephew, her nephew's vassal (Etna), etc.
