Customer Reviews

Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

First, it has the best title from the last year this is a whiz bang europen comic which i love

Take Buffy, minus the angst and the smugness, add some more wood, and you get "Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer".

Like some of the commenters here, I had little idea of what this book would be about, other than my own preconceived notions based on the title alone (I'll admit, it had me rolling my eyes- I was ready for it to SUCK). But it was cheap and looked like it had good artwork, so I thought, what the heck and picked it up.

True, the story is simple, but that means the narrative never loses steam. There is actually a story here, despite what the title may simply suggest. It's not just panel after panel of action (that would be ironically boring). There are interesting characters (or takes on characters) and the hint of larger and more nefarious machinations, as well as slaying. Another highlight for me in the story is the use of humor peppered all throughout. If you like the silliness and darkness of say, Monty Python, you'll "get" and appreciate the laughs in this volume (thankfully, no real absurdist humor to make you scratch your brain).

Yes, the illustration is not like what you'd get out from your typical DC or Marvel release, but it's still quite good, and much like the simple narrative, gets the point across without getting too into itself. Don't let the deceptive simplicity of the artwork and narrative stop you from going through the illustrations again, as there is quite a lot of detail in them!

If you're into mainstream comics, you probably won't be impressed with this title, and if you're into "indie" comics, then this comic is a must buy. But don't let that factor alone affect your purchasing decision.

This is a dark, briskly paced and at times very funny fairy tale, which takes a well-trodden tale and runs with it, and is at least great fun if nothing else. And for the price, it's worth a shot!

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 (Lincoln, Pride and Prejudice, etc) and they all have their ups and downs. They all seem to hinge on one thing, however, and that is a comedy aspect that both laughs at the idea and also shows how the idea could play in a more serious manner. This, however, shoed me a good laugh and kept those laughs coming because lies never hurt anyone the way they could hurt a vampire.

For anyone thinking on this, think laughing a lot and thing about a good story. It isn't a big book and it is more pictures than dialog, but that doesn't hurt this any. If anything, it helps alot because visual humor is the best medicine in a case like this one. When you take a character that can break off his nose and grow a new one any time he wants - you can see how this would be better served with pictures. Still, he is given a reason, and the reason makes sense as does the hunting aspect. I really liked it alot.

Do you want it? Well, if you like your stuff to grow out of old tales and funderland experiences, then "yes." I personally thought I had a nice handle on some of the myths and legends, but I never expected it to go this way. I had low expectations, got good results, and was happy with it all. Perhaps, in thinking about this, you would be served by thinking this way and by reading other comments. You can also find pages of the book to look at and that could guide you better than comments made by people here and there. Regardless, if you are setting on the fence then jump off and fight the good fight. It is a nice one and isn't an expensive thing to own.

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 comic provides, in which you realize that Disney really just seemed to use a few characters and plot points to create their version, the concept is a little bit easier to understand.

The original tale of Pinocchio is much darker, like many of the fairy tales Disney retold, and the graphic novel focuses on this darkness throughout the entire piece. This is obvious from the very first image of Pinocchio we see, he has haunted and cautious eyes, and of course a sharp, gnarled, and deadly nose. The initial dialogue beautifully identifies him as the tortured vampire slayer that is fueled by his desire to avenge the death of his father, and yet, despite all this darkness, the authors use the premise to give us some much needed humor. The dark brooding of Pinocchio is exquisitely balanced with the wisecracking humor of Pinocchio's friends. The most memorable example of this for me, is that when bunnies give Pinocchio cryptic clues, by saying "Friends of yours. Attacked. Blood and Destruction. Are Near" which would not be overly helpful, Cricket is able to easily deduce what they are saying based on the process of elimination. So the exchange goes like this :

Pinocchio: What danger?

Cryptic Bunnies: Friends of yours. Attacked. Blood and Destruction. Are Near.

Pinocchio: Attack? Where? Who? Could you be a little less cryptic?

Cricket: Cherry's house.

Pinocchio: What? How d-.. How did you get Cherry's from all that?

Cricket: Come on. You don't exactly have a lot of friends.

For some odd reason, this had me laughing out loud....in a restaurant. This is but one example of the brilliance that this graphic novel holds. I highly suggest you get your copy today! If you enjoy it as much as I did, you'll probably be giving some people a copy as a holiday gift like I am. What better way to prove to the kiddies you're still cool and with it, than to give them something like this? I just hope Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins make another!

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 visually appealing as this....then, I'm in! Loooove it! I've already bought 3. One for me, and 2 for friends.

pinocchio kills monsters with his nose when lying.
yeah, thats it. one short joke made into a 128 pages novel.
pictures are simply/ugly looking - nothing to look at, you can read this "novel" under 15 minutes.
very simple minded book based on one joke, simple and bad pictures. a dud.

There wasn't much that was surprising here. Graphics are good but the story left me cold.

Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer should be amazing on all levels with such a brilliant premise. And the first 2/3 of the book are pretty good. But the ending is so cliche that I don't think it belongs in the story.

Let me back up. The authors preface their tale with a quick recap of the original Pinocchio story from Italy (not the Disney version) They make a big to-do about how this story is an expansion of the original work and that it is so important and then 2 pages later throw that all out the window by using lots of modern language. IMO Pinocchio doesn't say "Cool".

They also try to employ a twist that is revealed before the end but if you have ever read... any stories with twists, you should probably figure it out on or about page 4 of the book. My problem with a "twist" like this is that it is SO cliche that it seems cheap. It's the kind of cliche that every middle-schooler tires to use when they want to be edgy in Creative Writing class. Color me unimpressed.

My other problem with the end is that it happens pretty darn fast. Was there a publishing deadline they weren't going to meet? Did the editor cut a ton of stuff and give them this ending in place? I can't believe that their writing style changed so abruptly in so few panels.

So while the illustrations are great and the concept is top notch, the whole package falls short for me. If they serialize it and I get some sequels in the next year, maybe I can forgive this story's shortcomings.