The Reformed [Paperback]

Christopher Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2008

“I cannot die. But I cannot live. Let me go.
Remove this curse of eternal life!”

Handsome, wealthy, respected, Giancarlo has lived for hundreds of years, surrounded by splendor, shrouded in darkness, and enslaved by the insatiable hunger lurking inside him. In the glittering ballrooms where the privileged gather, he moves with cool elegance. But in the desolate alleys where the undead feed, he preys with murderous intent. Immortality is his, but love never will be–only an eternity of loneliness, filled with the blood of innocent victims.

But Jenny won’t be one of them. Something about this beautiful young woman stirs feelings in Giancarlo that he hasn’t known for centuries. For her, he will defy his dark brethren and fight to be mortal again. But he is a marked man. Ghoulish murders plaguing the city have made him the target of a relentless homicide cop. And a far more dangerous enemy–one of unspeakable brutality and bloodlust–hovers even closer . . . determined to annihilate Giancarlo and his last chance for salvation.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up—Hart fuses the two genres of horror and crime noir in this original English-language manga. Giancarlo, an attractive, wealthy, and respected member of high society, is hiding a dark secret. Dinnertime does not take him to expensive restaurants or catered parties, but to dark areas of the city where prostitutes walk the streets, to satisfy his hunger for blood. When he rescues Jenny from a mugger, there is an instant attraction, and he fights his urge to feed. As their relationship develops, so does Giancarlo's desire to leave his dark world and become mortal again. With a relentless cop closing in on him for the slayings of prostitutes, and the brotherhood of darkness seeking to destroy him and other mortals, there is plenty of potential for an intense, fast-paced story. This is Hart's first manga effort, and while it shows promise for future stories, it falls short in providing enough suspense. Anzu's black-and-white illustrations are inconsistent in quality. Some fabulously portray the grittiness of the streets and succeed in setting atmosphere, but others lack depth. Some panels, especially the fight scenes, tend to be overdrawn, making them difficult to interpret. Despite its flaws, however, The Reformed will be an easy sell to teens who are attracted to vampire stories, and it may even leave them thirsty for a sequel.—Lara McAllister, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 16 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345496639
• ISBN-13: 978-0345496638
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,829,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thanks for taking a look at my books, and this "Author Bio." I'm a competent tennis player, who also enjoys playing computer chess while I'm watching TV at night (Hey, it prevents me from channel-surfing). I'm keenly interested in M-theory, although i have become skeptical of it of late, despite Brian's Green's full-body gushing... I love being with my family, and even my extremely evil dog, a Welsh Springer Spaniel named "Rusty." Oh, yes, he truly is that evil.

As for my work, I'm the author of many How-To-Draw books, published by Watson-Guptill,the art imprint of Random House. Thanks to a lot of the wonderful readers (and you know who you are!), I have sold over 3 million copies domestically, which have been translated into 20 languages worldwide.

I'm fortunate to also have had 26 of the Best-Selling art books in the country, according to Bookscan.(Bookscan is the publishing industry's rating system for books, which is owned by same company that does the Neislen TV ratings.)

I also have my own drawing show on the Comcast Network, called, "How To Draw Action Heroes With Chris Hart." It's on Comcast's "Activity TV." I hope you like my books, and find them a valuable adjunct to your own imagination.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After Reading, I'm a New, Happier Man!, June 7, 2008

By 

Larry "Larry" (Fairfield, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Reformed (Paperback)

I am new to Graphic Novels but certainly not new to Vampire based themes, crime stories, and the work of Christopher Hart. I can't spout enough praise for this book. The story line was gripping and unique. It worked on so many different levels. Hard to believe when the pictures are the main focus but TRUE. Speaking of the picture - the artwork by Anzu was incredibly riveting. The idea was brilliant, dialogue crisp, exutition flawless - but most important it was a great read. I can't wait to start this book again!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An attractive manga for your vampire collection, June 13, 2008

By 

Strobe (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Reformed (Paperback)

If you're like me, you probably hesitate to buy manga online sight-unseen without knowing what the art looks like first. Artwork can make or break any manga or graphic novel, so I thought I'd let others know that in the case of The Reformed, the artwork totally makes it.

If I had leafed through this manga in a bookstore, the refined interiors would have sold me immediately regardless of the story. The artwork follows the atmospheric style of more intricately rendered manga where the pages are meant to be savored rather than quickly breezed through. Every page is a feast fit for a vampire.

You can tell by the publisher's description that the story doesn't stray much from the usual formula, but the dialog is good, Jenny the heroine is easy to like, and the author doesn't take the kind of silly liberties with the vampire genre that only an otaku could love. The Reformed is a serious, mainstream story for anyone who likes graphic novels -- manga fan or not. And even if you don't care for the story, it's still worth owning just for the art, so you really can't lose.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I've read in a very long time, June 5, 2008

By 

G-Art (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Reformed (Paperback)

There are a few reasons you should read this book. First, it's a great story with a fascinating concept for a short story with an unusual twist.

Second, the graphics that go along with it are amazing & powerful - the kind that put you right in the scene and captures the mood.

I picked it up and could not put it down until I completely read it from start to finish which is unusual for me. Great read for both old-time comics thrill readers or anyone new to this genre.

Great work. Thank you, Chris & Anzu