Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer

Plot

Yuuhi Amamiya, a misanthropic college student, wakes to find a lizard who tells him he is a Beast Knight meant to help a princess defeat a mage using a giant mallet in space called the Biscuit Hammer.

Characters

Yuuhi Amamiya is the Lizard Knight, a misanthropic college student who agrees to save Earth so Samidare can destroy it. Samidare Asahina is the princess and Anima's vessel who secretly wants to destroy the planet. Hangetsu Shinonome is the Dog Knight, a martial arts expert aspiring to be a hero. Mikazuki Shinonome, the Crow Knight and Hangetsu's younger brother, is friendly but becomes obsessed with fighting worthy opponents.

Souichirou Nagumo, the Horse Knight and former detective, acts as a father figure. Yayoi Hakudou, the Snake Knight, is kind, skilled with a sword, and develops feelings for Yuuhi after he rescues her. Taiyou Akane, the Owl Knight, is a withdrawn young boy.

Hyou Shimaki, the Cat Knight, is passionate about knowledge and creates golems. Subaru Hoshikawa, the Rooster Knight, is sensitive and has a crush on Mikazuki. Yukimachi Tsukishiro, the Turtle Knight, is boisterous and Subaru's best friend. Inachika Akitani, the Swordfish Knight, has lived over 500 years and is Subaru and Yukimachi's master.

Tarou Kusakabe, the Mouse Knight, is a kind high school student who wants to be a chef and loves his childhood friend Hanako. Hanako Sorano, the Mantis Knight, is reserved and rarely shows emotion. Noi is the lizard familiar assigned to Yuuhi.

Ludo is the dog familiar for Hangetsu. Muu is the crow familiar for Mikazuki. Dance is the horse familiar for Souichirou. Shea is the snake familiar for Yayoi.

Media

The manga was serialized in Young King OURs from 28 April 2005 to 30 August 2010, with ten tankōbon volumes released from 27 January 2006 to 30 November 2010. JManga began digital publication in North America in February 2012, releasing five volumes before shutting down in May 2013. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the series in November 2013 and published it in five two-in-one omnibus volumes. A spinoff manga, Sono Ato no Hero, written by Ichiri Seto and supervised by Satoshi Mizukami, was serialized in the November 2022 issue of Young King OURs.

The anime adaptation by NAZ aired from 9 July to 24 December 2022 on the Animeism block. Crunchyroll licensed the series and began streaming an English dub on 22 July 2022. Muse Communication licensed it in South and Southeast Asia.

Reception

The manga earned a 2011 Seiun Award nomination in the comics category. Anime News Network's Rebecca Silverman gave the first omnibus a B, saying its slow start gives way to a gripping story and that a dark narrative lurks beneath its silly surface. Charlie Jane Anders of io9 ranked it tenth on her list of prophecies that backfired on heroes.