Mark of the Succubus, Volume 1 (v. 1) [Comic]

Ashly Raiti (Author), Irene Flores (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2005

For a succubus, love can be a real nightmare...Maeve, a succubus-in-training, is sent to the human world to learn how to hone her skills of seduction. But things get a bit complicated when she sets her sights on Aiden, a smart but unmotivated student at her new high school. Meanwhile, the head succubus of the Demon World has sent a spy to make sure Maeve doesn't step out of line. But between Aiden's witchy girlfriend, his nutty best friend, biology class, and Demon World conspiracies, Maeve is going to be lucky to make it out of high school alive!Finalists in TOKYOPOP's national Rising Stars of Manga competition, Ashly Raiti and Irene Flores have created a Gothic romantic fantasy set in one of the most menacing worlds known to humans: high school.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Unmotivated high school student Aiden meets Maeve, a succubus-in-training sent from the demon homeland to learn about humans in this OEL manga. Just when the situation is getting interesting, with Maeve being told to target Aiden, the book ends with a promise of more to come next volume. Aiden's got a neglectful father who wants him to ignore his music and go to law school. Aiden's best friend, Devin, hates his pushy girlfriend (who's more demonic than Maeve and jealous of her). Maeve's being spied on by a former teacher, convinced she'll break the rules by becoming attached to a human. Too many elements like these are raised but not sufficiently dealt with. The character design varies from panel to panel—classical fantasy, cartoony exaggeration, thick-outlined oversimplification, old-fashioned big-eyed manga—but somehow it all hangs together, even though the artist hasn't yet synthesized all of her many visible influences into her own style. She also can't pull off sexy well enough for the subject matter; instead of looking seductive, her scantily dressed Maeve resembles an overstuffed sausage bursting from her clothes. (It doesn't help that she looks about 12.) The boy's very cute, though, and very realistic in his attitudes and poses. (Dec.)
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From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–In this OEL manga, readers meet sweet and stunning Maeve, a succubus-in-training. (A succubus is a demon who seduces men and then kills them.) Hailing from the Demon World, she is sent to the human world to fine-tune her skills. She enters high school and meets Aiden, a handsome young slacker with a demanding father and a shrew for a girlfriend. The two become friends, and there is an underlying attraction between them. Their awkward romance builds to a crescendo until Maeve completes her training and is instructed to kill her first human, which happens to be Aiden. Though the sexual innuendo is kept to a minimum, and the relationship ventures no further than flirting, there is some fairly strong language. The characters are well crafted and likable. The plot is fresh and will appeal to most teens with its elements of high school drama combined with fantasy. These facets of the writing blended with Floress gothic manga-inspired art will make this book fly off the shelves.–Jennifer Feigelman, Plattekill Public Library, Modena, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Comic: 208 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598162667
• ISBN-13: 978-1598162660
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth a look, and a start..., November 11, 2005

By 

M. Watson "Lady Ashura" (TX, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mark of the Succubus, Volume 1 (v. 1) (Comic)

I had actually been interested in this book before its release, so when I finally found it, I grabbed it up. I must say it is not bad, especially for two very new authors. The story follows a young and pretty succubus-in-training named Maeve(think a non-water-walking Siren from myth) as she makes her first foray into the human world and ends up meeting our main male, Aiden, a less than motivated student, but pretty talented musician. His problem? A very witchy girlfriend and a cute but drama-king best friend. Her problem? A demonic nemesis, NO sense of direction... oh, and she has to kill him (i.e. Aiden). Interested yet?
The series progresses somewhat slowly, but if you're not in a rush or want great climaxes and action all at once, it'll keep your interest pretty well. So review: 3 stars for interest so far, 4 stars for potential, 4 stars for art, 3.5 stars for overall character development= 4 stars. Enjoy!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic new manga, November 16, 2005

By 

Snarking - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mark of the Succubus, Volume 1 (v. 1) (Comic)

I've been waiting for this book to come out for quite awhile now, ever since I read Raiti and Flores' winning entry in Tokyopop's 'Rising Stars of Manga' contest. All the promise that they showed in that brief excerpt has been fulfilled in this, their first full-length manga.

Mark of the Succubus mixes the familiar reality of high school with the fantastic elements of life in the demon world, and does so with a deftness that had me hooked from the beginning. Although this book is classified as gothic fantasy, the author and artist have done their best to ensure that this book has a little bit of everything - action, romance, and magic blends easily with the more conventional drama of high school life.

Between the gorgeous character design and detail inherent in the artwork as well as the sharp dialogue and well-paced storyline, this manga is definitely one of the best that I've ever read. For anyone who is looking for a fantastic, beautifully illustrated story with the makings of a plot that will leave you wanting more, I can't recommend 'Mark of the Succubus' enough.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very imaginative and funny ^_^, December 23, 2006

By 

Alice in Mangaland - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mark of the Succubus, Volume 1 (v. 1) (Comic)

MotS is a great story about Maeve, and Succubus-in-training who is send into the human world to work on her suduction skills. As dark as this seems, it is actully very relaxed and fun. The characters are believeable and have distinct personalties. The art is, while a little shaky at times (the artist finds more of a style for her characters in the 2nd volume) has wonderful detail and cuuute chibi's. All in all, this is a good start to an awsome series. Be sure to read it!
PS To those who say this isn't manga, it is too. The art is in the manga style, and, while not from Japan an increasing amount of manga isn't. Think of RE: Play, Dramacon, Van Von Hunter, The Dreaming etc... Manga is a style, not something that MUST come from Japan to be manga. And even if it isn't manga it's still a darn good book!