In the original 1972 anime series, Episode 38 is titled " The Mysterious Red-Bearded Man " (or " The Mystery of the Red Bearded Man "). This episode is the penultimate entry of the series, airing originally on March 31, 1973. Episode Plot Summary
: Unlike the famously nihilistic and tragic ending of the original manga or the modern Devilman Crybaby adaptation (where the Earth is essentially destroyed and humanity goes extinct), this 1972 anime episode follows a more traditional "heroic" structure where Devilman fights to protect the planet from a specific villainous scheme. Devilman Episode 38
: It shifts the conflict from localized demon attacks to a planetary-level threat , signaling that the demons are no longer hiding but are actively attempting to terraform the Earth for themselves. In the original 1972 anime series, Episode 38
: Dremon uses his supernatural powers to pull the Earth closer to the Moon . This gravitational shift causes massive natural disasters across the globe, including catastrophic earthquakes and tidal waves. : It shifts the conflict from localized demon
The world is in a state of chaos as the demon army's final offensive nears. The episode introduces a bizarre character: , a powerful demon disguised as a man with a red beard.