Devil May Cry 3 (manga)

Lore & Background

Code 1: Dante follows Dante, a mercenary willing to take any job for a good reward, driven by a desire to avenge his mother's death. The story begins when Enzo offers Dante a job rescuing a girl named Alice for $4,000,000. Dante eventually accepts, enters a mansion, and encounters various demons including a Mad Hatter-like demon and a Cheshire Cat-like demon. Rabi, a possessed doll, reveals he gave Dante the job to see Sparda's heir in action. Dante refuses to sell his amulet and passes Vergil in a hall without noticing him. Vergil slays Rabi and leaves, meeting a sobbing Alice. Dante later dreams of the attack that killed his mother and separated him from his brother, then leaves with Rebellion, a sword from his father.

Code 2: Vergil follows Vergil and Arkham as they seek to unseal the Temen-ni-gru, a structure holding the door to the demonic realm. Arkham explains that demons sealed by Sparda were bound by rune-covered spikes; to release them, Vergil must give them their names. Vergil breaks seals on demons named Goumon (pride) and Sloth. Meanwhile, Dante investigates murders, encounters Alice who steals his amulet, and follows her to a church where he fights a sealed demon. His demonic powers begin awakening. Vergil arrives, releases another seal, and reveals his plan to raise the Temen-ni-gru. After a quick battle where Vergil trounces Dante, Vergil taunts him and throws back his half of the amulet. The chapter ends with Arkham preparing to start the ritual.

Code 3: Lady was hinted at the end of volume 2 but was never released for unknown reasons.

Reader's Guide

The Devil May Cry 3 manga serves as a direct prequel to the video game Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, establishing the backstory for the conflict between Dante and Vergil. It introduces key characters and explains how Vergil and Arkham meet and form an alliance. The manga is notable for its three-part structure, with the third part never being released. It provides insight into Dante's motivations as a mercenary seeking revenge for his mother's death and depicts the moment when Dante's demonic powers began awakening. The manga also explores the Temen-ni-gru and the process of unsealing the door to the demonic realm, setting the stage for the events of the game.