Review: SERAPH OF THE END: VAMPIRE REIGN Volume 1

SERAPH OF THE END: VAMPIRE REIGN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Takaya Kagami
ART: Yamato Yamamoto
STORYBOARDS: Daisuke Furuya
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7150-8; paperback (June 2014), Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S. $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is the latest VIZ Media release under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” imprint.  The series focuses on a teen orphan who borrows demonic power so that he can battle the vampires that rule over the Earth.  The series is illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto with story by Takaya Kagami and storyboards by Daisuke Furuya.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is set on an Earth ruled by vampires.  The vampire reign began in 2012 after the trumpets of the apocalypse proclaimed the fall of humanity.  A mysterious virus kills almost all adult humans, sparing those younger than 13 years of age.  Vampires arise from the shadows to rule the earth and to enslave the children as livestock for food.  In 2016, the orphan Yuichiro “Yu” Hyakuya steps forward, determined to kill all vampires.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 3) opens in 2016.  It finds Yuichiro unhappy with his circumstances as an orphan, but his foster “brother,” Mikaela “Mika” Hyakuya, won’t let Yu be alone.  Together, Mika believes, the orphans will survive their world.

Four years later, Yu is a student at Shibuya High School #2, but he doesn’t want to be a student.  He wants to be a member of humanity’s most elite Vampire Extermination Unit, the Moon Demon Company.  But he will have to prove that he is willing to work in a team, which is the last thing he wants.

I am a big fan of vampire manga (although I generally have not really cared for American comic books featuring vampires).  The Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga is a thoroughly enjoyable read, although I did not think much of it when I received a review copy of the first volume from VIZ Media.

From what I can tell, it seems as if the vast majority of the series’ internal mythology is still unrevealed by the end of Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 1.  Apparently, “Seraph of the End” is an actual thing or entity that may not be revealed for several chapters (or volumes).

That aside, Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is like the television series, “The Walking Dead,” a post-apocalyptic character drama and soap opera set in a horror-fantasy scenario.  Both are filled with genre trappings or, to use new terminology, full of stuff from the horror-fantasy wheelhouse.  However, Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign works best when seen through the characters’ hopes, dreams, desires, motivations, and conflicts.  So far, all of that seems genuine and honest – in a fantasy context, of course.  Judging by this first volume, I would call Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign a success.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Claymore: Army of the Underworld

I read Claymore, Vol. 24

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Hunter x Hunter: Crushing Defeat

I read Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 32


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Blue Exorcist: Mephisto's Ramblings

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 11

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Review: D.GRAY-MAN 3-in-1 Edition Volume 1

D.GRAY-MAN 3-IN-1 EDITION, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Katsura Hoshino
TRANSLATION: Mayumi Kobayashi, Toshifumi Yoshida
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Mayumi Kobayashi, Lance Caselman
LETTERS: Elizabeth Watasin
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5567-6; paperback (July 2013); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
576pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $16.99 CAN, £9.99 UK

Debuting in 2004 in Japan’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine, D.Gray-man is a manga (comic) series written and illustrated by Katsura Hoshino.  The series stars a boy named Allen Walker, who becomes a member of the Black Order, an organization of Exorcists.  These Exorcists make use of an ancient substance called “Innocence,” which they use as weapons to combat the Millennium Earl and his army of demons, the akuma.

Allen lives in a fictional version of 19th century Earth, where he searches for Innocence.  Some Innocence has bonded with his left arm to form an anti-akuma, bladed weapon.  Allen is also a very special Exorcist, and the Earl knows that.

VIZ Media is currently republishing D.Gray-man in its 3-in-1 editions.  This is a kind of mini-omnibus paperback that collects three volumes of a manga series as a single graphic novel.  D.Gray-man: 3-in-1 Edition Volume 1 reprints D.Gray-man, Volumes 1 to 3

D.Gray-man, Vol. 1 (entitled Opening; Chapters 1 to 7) introduces Allen Walker, a boy who hunts akuma.  They prey on the weak and grieving, so Allan finds the akuma in the middle of a tragic tale of a priest and his wife.  Then, there is the story of John, who wants to be an exorcist, and his friend, Leo, who is seduced by the Earl.  Later, Allen is recruited by the Black Order, which allows him to learn about Innocence and its history.

D.Gray-man, Vol. 2 (entitled Old Man of the Land and Aria of the Night Sky; Chapters 8 to 16) finds Allen and fellow Exorcist, Yu Kanda, on a mission.  They travel to the city of Mater, in southern Italy, to retrieve Innocence, but what they find is a Level 2 akuma that can copy other beings’ powers.  The mission is complicated by the fact that Kanda does not like Allen, especially after the new exorcist befriends a man named Guzol and the singing doll, Lala.

D.Gray-man, Vol. 3 (entitled The Rewinding City; Chapters 17 to 26) opens with the attack of Komlin, a labor-saving robot that takes its programming too seriously and incorrectly.  Then, Allen and fellow Exorcist, Lenalee, find themselves trapped in “The Rewinding City.  The encounter Miranda Lotto, a woman connected to the mystery of the city, and also Master Record, a surprising adversary.

One of the good things about VIZ Media’s 3-in-1 editions is that they allow readers to get a look at the early chapters of manga series in what amounts to 500-page chunks.  Early in the series, D.Gray-man resembles an amateur comic (doujinshi).  At that point, series creator Katsura Hoshino is still obviously discovering her creation and getting a feel for it (or “feeling it out”).  With each chapter, the narrative gradually becomes more polished.  By the end of Vol. 3, the story is not only stronger, but it is also more self-assured, as Hoshino reveals more back story and mythology.  Even the art is stronger compositionally, and the graphic design more practical, even if it remains flashy and stylish.

The D.Gray-man manga has some similarities to various Batman and X-Men comic books.  Its fight scenes remind me of superhero fight comic books, resembling in spirit and tone what readers will find in The Avengers or a Justice League comic book.  I highly recommend D.Gray-man, and I think D.Gray-man: 3-in-1 Edition Volume 1 is the best place to start.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Ultimo: Absorption-Evolution Battle

I read Ultimo, Vol. 9

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Claymore: Mark of the Warrior

I read Claymore, Vol. 23

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Blue Exorcist: Dinner with Mephisto

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 10 I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Claymore: Claws and Fangs of the Abyss

I read Claymore, Vol. 22

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Hunter x Hunter: Answer

I read Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 30

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Rosario+Vampire: Season II - Tsukune vs. Kuyo the Spirit Fox

I read Rosario+Vampire: Season II, Vol. 11

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Karakauri Dôji Ultimo: Theory of Good and Evil

I read Ultimo, Vol. 8

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Hunter x Hunter: Memory

I read Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 29

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I Reads You Review: HUNTER X HUNTER, VOL. 25

Creators: Yoshihiro Togashi; Lillian Olsen (Translation and English Adaptation)
Publishing Information: VIZ Media – @VIZMedia, B&W, paperback, 208 pages, $7.99 (US), $9.50 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-2588-4 (ISBN-13); 1-4215-2588-7 (ISBN-10)

Rating: “T+” for “Older Teen”

Hunter × Hunter is a shonen manga (comics for teen boys) from writer/artist Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator of Yu Yu Hakusho. An adventure and fantasy comic book, Hunter × Hunter debuted in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump (March 3, 1998).

The main character in Hunter × Hunter is Gon Freecss. Gon discovers that his father, Ging Freecss, whom he thought to be dead, is actually alive and well. Gon dedicates himself to being what his father is – a great Hunter. Hunters devote themselves to tracking down priceless items and treasures, mystical places, magical beasts, and even other people. Those who pass the grueling qualification exam to become a Hunter also get access to restricted areas and amazing stores of information.

Hunter × Hunter, Vol. 25 (entitled Charge) continues the “Chimera Ant Story Arc.” As the midnight hour approaches, the Hunters are ready to make their charge against The King, brutal ruler of the Chimera Ants. The heroes have snuck into the capitol of East Gorteau. Shoot, Meleoron, and Knuckle will lead the first charge. Gon and his best pal, Killua Zoldyck, will lead the second charge, while Ikalgo will be the third charge and Morel the fourth. Chairman Netero and Zeno will sneak into the thrown room to assassinate the King. The narrative also offers revelations about Netero’s origins.

Outside the royal palace, Neferpitou, one of the elite Royal Guards, makes the first stand against the invading Hunters. Inside, the shape-shifting Youpi awaits. However, something reveals a surprising side of the King that no one could have predicted.

It has been over four years since I last read a Hunter × Hunter graphic novel. In an earlier review, I described the series as a “‘Bizarro’ Naruto,” filled with weird characters. What really makes Hunter × Hunter look unusual is the quirky style of the art, which looks like the kind of art one might find in an American indie or alternative comic book or even a small press superhero or fantasy genre series.

The page design and also the graphic design of the composition in each panel are also unique. That peculiar visual aspect draws the reader into the action, rather than freeze them out, the way a style, inappropriate for a genre, might. There is a kooky, surreal aspect that made me more interested in the story the deeper I got into it, while early into this volume, I was not at all interested.

Hunter × Hunter is rated for “older teens” (T+), but its strange character will make it appealing to shonen readers of all ages.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

D.Gray-man: Searching for Allen Walker

I read D.Gray-man, Vol. 23

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Rosario+Vampire: Season II - Fortress Fairy Tale

I read Rosario+Vampire: Season II, Vol. 10

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Karakuri Doji ULTIMO: Funeral's Eve

I read Ultimo, Vol. 7

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Rosaro+Vampire: Season II - Tsukune's Transformation

I read Rosario+Vampire: Season II, Vol. 9

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D.Gray-man: Fate

I read D.Gray-man, Vol. 22


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Claymore: Remains of the Demon Claw

I read Claymore, Vol. 20

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