After seeing Geppetto die at the hands of vampires, Pinocchio swears revenge in this darkly funny graphic novel. As the vampires plot the enslavement of mankind, only a one-puppet army stands in their way. But will a wooden boy and his endless supply of stakes - courtesy of plenty of lies and his elongating nose - be enough to save the day?
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
This enjoyable reworking of Carlo Collodi's classic tale drops the magically animated puppet into a horror movie plot. After his maker/father Geppetto is killed by vampires, Pinocchio tries to protect the disbelieving inhabitants of his village, aided only by woodcarver Master Cherry, a greatly aged Blue Fairy and the ghost of the nagging cricket he squashed some time ago. As that last reference indicates, this is not the sentimentalized Disney version of the story; the protagonist of this book is one tough little puppet. Furthermore, although he's no Buffy Summers, as a vampire fighter Pinocchio has the advantage of a built-in wooden stake—as long as he remembers to tell lies at the right time. Jensen's script is clever, full of irreverent irony. But the highlight of the book is Higgins's b&w art that offers page after page of amazement. Swirling, whirling, jittery, skittery, the story dances gracefully from grin to grimace and back again. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
To think, the perfect vampire slayer would be that of a famous story about a wooden puppet who wanted to be a real boy. Why though? Why be a real boy? Life sucks, and you re handcrafted to kill vampires, ya dimwit! All he has to do is say, I m Batman. BAM! Wooden nose grows into a splintery stake, and SLAM! Right into the black, beating heart of a blood-sucking corpse. And that s about what PINOCCHIO: VAMPIRE SLAYER is, and with some good old-fashioned humor to it as well. One could argue it s a cross between BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and Disney s version of PINOCCHIO, edgy and full of attitude, but still traditional in the time period and character study. But it doesn t get too cute, as Pinocchio kills vamps good, and takes every humorous chance he gets in killing poor little Jiminy Cricket. To sum up the idea in a nutshell, I would say it s fun to look at, but cool to read. Intriguing idea, yes indeed. --Mike Fish - Fangoria.com
Even if you're rolling your eyes at the title, watching Pinocchio lie during battle to force his nose to grow so he can snap it off and stake vampires is just outstanding. And since the comic is set after the death of his creator Geppeto by vampires, and based on Carlo Collodi's original and very bizarre 1883 Pinocchio novel, it's much more than a one-joke story -- it's a weird mix of horror, comedy, action, and myth, and it's a great read. Indeed, Pinocchio's tell-tale lie detector makes for both some great comedy and some surprisingly poignant moments. --Topless Robot.com
Jensen and Higgins have crafted a sombre and thoughtful story that hopefully won t get overshadowed by the novelty ... --Pedro Cabezuelo - Rue Morgue Magazine
Even if you're rolling your eyes at the title, watching Pinocchio lie during battle to force his nose to grow so he can snap it off and stake vampires is just outstanding. And since the comic is set after the death of his creator Geppeto by vampires, and based on Carlo Collodi's original and very bizarre 1883 Pinocchio novel, it's much more than a one-joke story -- it's a weird mix of horror, comedy, action, and myth, and it's a great read. Indeed, Pinocchio's tell-tale lie detector makes for both some great comedy and some surprisingly poignant moments. --Topless Robot.com
Jensen and Higgins have crafted a sombre and thoughtful story that hopefully won t get overshadowed by the novelty ... --Pedro Cabezuelo - Rue Morgue Magazine
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More About the Author
A former newspaper crime reporter, Van Jensen is the author of the critically acclaimed Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer series of graphic novels and Snow White: Through a Glass, Darkly. He has been a guest of honor at Comic-Con International and has won several awards for nonfiction writing. Outside of comics, Jensen is a magazine editor.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By rjones2818
Format:Paperback
First, it has the best title from the last year. I caught my eye and my library (where I work) bought it just for the title. The recap of the Italian Pinocchio is quite fun, and the story keeps you going. While the twist was easy to see coming, it was carried off quite well. The very ending gives the chance for more volumes, and tells you the Pinocchio won't be killing all of the vampires.
All-in-all, quite enjoyable.
All-in-all, quite enjoyable.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Bren McAneny
Format:Paperback
Reviewers that were upset because they saw the twist coming need to RELAX. It's a book about a puppet, that makes fun of disney, vampire cliches and TV storyboarding. Fun on pretty much every page, the comic mines the rich weirdness of the original story for comedic silver... wait, silver is for werewolves... but you get the idea.
By Writer-type
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Traditional children's stories aren't for the faint of heart and Pinocchio is a perfect example. In this reworking of the original, the not-quite-real-boy finds a use both functional and funny for his ever-growing nose, as he seeks to protect his town and revenge his father's death. The series continues with even more storybook characters entering the fray. Aimed at fanboys, of course, the author and illustrator kept this reader chuckling.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Stuff
This is some Good Stuff. I dig the artwork in it, and the story has enough action in it to keep the fans interesting, but adds back story and comical antidotes to where is does not... Read more
Published 4 months ago by SinceForever
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great spin on a Classic.
Pinocchio Vampire hunter is a must buy if you are a fan of the following:
1. A good story that at times is dark but also at time is very humorous.
2. Read more
1. A good story that at times is dark but also at time is very humorous.
2. Read more
Published 5 months ago by James Neil Rickmond
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and Twisted with Humor
If this was how Pinocchio was really supposed to go, it would never be a Disney movie. The beginning part of the book gives you the history on how Pinocchio was originally written,... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Book Sake
5.0 out of 5 stars
Schlocky Premise, Fun execution!
Take Buffy, minus the angst and the smugness, add some more wood, and you get "Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer". Read more
Published on February 13, 2011 by Philip Kim
1.0 out of 5 stars
short and bad
pinocchio kills monsters with his nose when lying.
yeah, thats it. one short joke made into a 128 pages novel. Read more
yeah, thats it. one short joke made into a 128 pages novel. Read more
Published on December 4, 2010 by Evzenie Reitmayerova
3.0 out of 5 stars
so so
There wasn't much that was surprising here. Graphics are good but the story left me cold.
Published on June 28, 2010 by Margaret C. Cunningham
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wooden worlds, toys with things that can hurt, and comedy: all the...
I expected a little something from this title, but I really didn't know what I would get. There have been a lot of titles out there these days that have characters we know... Read more
Published on April 9, 2010 by TorridlyBoredShopper
5.0 out of 5 stars
An entertaining premise, but one with real substance
This graphic novel is not what you think. The idea sounds crazy right? Well...if you are willing to read the entertaining mini-review of the original version Pinocchio that the... Read more
Published on January 20, 2010 by Kyoske
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pinocchio Kicks Vampire Keister
I think the premise alone, is intriguing enough. I've never really read any graphic novels, but if they are all as simple (simple in the non-condescending sense), clever, and... Read more
Published on January 20, 2010 by E. Fox
2.0 out of 5 stars
If I said I liked it my nose would be growing
I didn't have much expectations going into this book, mostly because I pulled it from the shelf on a whim based on the title and a cursory flip through to see what the art would be... Read more
Published on January 19, 2010 by Steven Warfield
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