Blood+ Volume 1 (Manga) (v. 1) [Paperback]

Asuka Katsura (Author), Camellia Nieh (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Blood+ | Publication Date: February 19, 2008

Set several decades after the events in the popular Blood: The Last Vampire anime film, an amnesiac Saya Otonashi lives as a seemingly normal high school student with her adoptive family in Okinawa. Horrible nightmares are the only hints at the violent life she once led, but her past is about to catch up with her and awaken the merciless warrior within. Chiropterans - powerful shape-changing creatures who need and crave blood - threaten humanity once more, and a mysterious organization called the Red Shield needs Saya's deadly sword skills and mysterious powers to aid in the fight against these beasts. As her submerged abilities begin to reawaken and as she seeks to regain her memories, Chiropteran warriors are guided by a mysterious leader to threaten Saya and her loved ones. Asuka Katsura's manga series successfully expands upon the original Production I.G./Aniplex feature, delivering moments of jarring violence and thrilling action in a tale that spans several centuries.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Blood+ is a little bit of everything for everyone. As a franchise, there are two video games, soundtracks, a cartoon series, three comics and two novel series. Likewise, this first volume of the graphic novel series is a mix of mystery, vampire horror, high school romance and government intervention. Saya is a high school girl suffering from amnesia. In this volume, she's recruited for a part in the school play, hunted down by a boyish vampire, hidden by a secret sector of the government and finds out that she is an immortal and the only one who can kill the demonic monsters that threaten them. She also realizes that she's forged a special bond with her adoptive bad-boy brother, Kai. There are many strands at work in this opener, each given equal weight, which may work for the different Blood+ products out on the market but weakens this story. With so much going on, the reader is pulled in too many directions at once and the overall reading experience distracts and detracts from the story. However, this could be a good book to have open while updating a MySpace page and IMing friends on the Nintendo DS Light. (Feb.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (February 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593078803
• ISBN-13: 978-1593078805
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not at All Like the Anime However..., March 18, 2008

By 

Lady Intomoe "Diva" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood+ Volume 1 (Manga) (v. 1) (Paperback)

Nevertheless of what the others have said about this particular manga, I do enjoy this version. There is definitely a different appeal to some of the characters (and the addition of some characters) but it is enjoyable. I have read the other books of this series (the four others) and I must say that personally, it does get much better later on. I do suggest this book to others. I must note that as the anime series itself is violent, so is the artwork of this book. There is also a bit of vulgar language as well.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new spin on a great series, April 4, 2008

By 

Dauboo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood+ Volume 1 (Manga) (v. 1) (Paperback)

True, it is pretty different from the anime, but I thought it was quite good. I would recommend it for anyone who is bummed that the series is over, and still cant get enough of blood plus. The basic plot elements are the same (Saya is an amnesiac Okinawa high schooler who finds out she's a monster slayer after meeting a mysterious cello player ect...) , only some of the particulars have been changed. It by no means just follows along with the episodes, it creates its own timeline that roughly coincides it. It has all the same basic plot twists, it just has a different way of getting to them. All the characters are basically the same in my opinion, with the exception of Carl, also known as the `phantom' in the anime. In the manga, he has the appearance of a bossy, sophisticated yet very foul-mouthed little boy, and seems to be less over-the-top-mentally-unbalanced than his anime alter ego, but more just straightforward evil. Van also appears as his lackey. Other than that, the characters are pretty similar to the anime.
If you are expecting a continuation of Blood: the Last Vampire and are not familiar with the canonical differences between it and Blood Plus, then you may be disappointed.
Personally, I recommend it to any fan of the anime. The art is well done and the translation isn't awkward, and specifically Okinawan or Japanese cultural references are usually explained. It is in right-to-left format, which I found to be a little annoying at first.
I enjoyed it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars different from the anime, but still great, July 4, 2008

By 

M. Vu (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood+ Volume 1 (Manga) (v. 1) (Paperback)

While quite different from the anime in characterizations of all characters (namely, Saya is less uncertain, Kai is more helpful, Hagi is more feeling, David is less caring) and various plot points, I honestly think it makes the whole Blood+ canon richer. The art is quite nice as well, with crisp lines and lots of beautiful contrast. Not to mention, the little 4comas at the end are totally precious :)