Rosario+Vampire, Vol. 1 (v. 1) [Paperback]

Akihisa Ikeda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2008

All-around average teenager Tsukune can't get accepted to any high school save one...but on his first day he finds the rest of the student body doesn't appear average at all. Best of all, the cutest girl on campus can't wait to fling her arms around his neck! Wait a sec'--are those her teeth around his neck too...? Tsukune's going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster High! But does he have a chance in H E double hockey sticks of raising his grades at a school where the turf war isn't between the jocks and the nerds but the vampires and the werewolves?

 

LESSON ONE: VAMPIRES QUIZ 1 WHAT'S THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WHEN A PERT CLASSMATE ATTEMPTS TO SNACK ON YOUR JUGULAR?

 

a. Run for your life and the sanctity of your soul

b. Invite her out for a strawberry soda, heavy on the syrup

c. Scream like a boy and hide in the principal's office

d. Let her have a few sips while you check out her spectacular quadriceps

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Akihisa Ikeda was born in 1976 in Miyazaki. He debuted as a mangaka with the four-volume magical warrior fantasy series Kiruto in 2002, which was serialized in Monthly Shonen Jump. Rosario+Vampire debuted in Monthly Shonen Jump in March of 2004 and is continuing in the magazine Jump Square (Jump SQ) as Rosario+Vampire: Season II. In Japan, Rosario+Vampire is also available as a drama CD. In 2008, the story was first released as an anime. Season II is also available as an anime now. And in Japan, there is a Nintendo DS game based on the series. Ikeda has been a huge fan of vampires and monsters since he was a little kid. He says one of the perks of being a manga artist is being able to go for walks during the day when everybody else is stuck in the office.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421519038
• ISBN-13: 978-1421519036
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Akihisa Ikeda was born in 1976 in Miyazaki. He debuted as a mangaka with the four-volume magical warrior fantasy series Kiruto in　2002, which was serialized in Monthly　Shonen Jump.　Rosario+Vampire debuted in Monthly Shonen Jump in March of　2004 and is continuing in the magazine Jump Square (Jump SQ) as Rosario+Vampire: Season II.　In Japan, Rosario+Vampire is also available as a drama CD. In 2008, the story was first released as an anime.　Season II is also available as an anime now.　And in Japan, there is a Nintendo DS game based on the series.　Ikeda has been a huge fan of vampires and monsters since he was a little　kid. He says one of the perks of being a manga artist is being able to go for walks during the day when everybody else is stuck in the office.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm a vampire, January 7, 2009

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rosario+Vampire, Vol. 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

Poor Tsukune. Not only has he flunked out of every high school entrance exam, but the only one that would take him is for monsters.

That's the big dilemma in the first volume of "Rosario + Vampire," a high-school/romantic/harem manga focused on the eccentric love story between a lovely vampire and an intensely mediocre teen boy. The stories have a certain element of repetition, but the cute romance and imaginative monsters keep it interesting to the end.

Tsukune is horrified by the sight of Yokai Academy -- until a gorgeous girl named Moka appears, and starts sucking on his neck. She's a vampire, whose "true form" (and her nasty other personality) are kept restrained by a "rosario" (read: rosary) on her throat. Only Tsukune can remove the cross.

Unfortunately Moka is the most normal person Tsukune meets -- Yokai Academy is a school to teach young monsters and demons how to pass for human. If they find out Tsukune's true nature, they'll kill him. And Moka's adoration of Tsukune quickly makes him enemies.

First he's attacked by the school bad boy, then stalked by a sultry succubus who hates Moka. Joining the school's new swim club turns into a disaster when it's revealed that Moka can't touch water -- and that the beautiful girls are actually killer mermaids. And when they join the newspaper club, Tsukune finds he has a new rival -- a werewolf who is all too happy to resort to blackmail.

The first volume of any manga series is a bit of a bumpy ride, since the author has to introduce the characters and the concept. Fortunately "Rosario + Vampire's" introduction is a pretty smooth ride -- once Akihisa Ikeda introduces Yokai Academy and Moka's cutthroat, silver-haired other self, the series is ready to go.

And Ikeda does an excellent job balancing out the slapsticky humor (Moka constantly nipping Tsukune's neck), fanservice, and the usual high school problems filtered through a fantastical lens. And it's got some brilliant action scenes whenever Moka's rosario is removed, with her kicking, punching and generally wiping the floor with the most intimidating monsters in the school.

The biggest problem is that the stories get a bit repetitive -- every problem is solved by Tsukune removing the cross, and Moka kicking someone's butt.

Tsukune is your average harem-comedy guy, in the "Love Hina" mold -- utterly mediocre, but good hearted enough that girls adore him even if they're way smarter and prettier. And in a funny pre-"Twilight" twist, Moka initially adores Tsukune for his tasty-smelling blood -- but as the story goes on, her affection for him starts to mature a bit.

The first volume of "Rosario + Vampire" suffers from some rather deja-vuey climaxes, but it's a fun light read -- and promises to get better.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rosario + Vampire is a must for manga fans!, June 24, 2008

By 

Kyote Weregard (pineville, kentucky United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rosario+Vampire, Vol. 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

Rosario + Vampire is an excellent mix of comedy, suspense, high school angst and just a touch of romance. I say just a touch because although love and friendship is the major theme running behind each story the two main characters can never get close enough to actually admit their love for each other as all the supporting cast of girls are also in love with Tskune.

The series has great artwork, suspenseful stories, comedy and a bevy of beautiful girls all after the main character who is the only human in a school full of monsters. All in all a great manga and a great addition to any collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Twisty yet Fun Beginning., September 11, 2008

By 

Carol Nichols "Otaku moe!" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rosario+Vampire, Vol. 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

My third favorite Shonen Jump romance! I love the fact that Tsukune is human, as it creates the proof that Moka really loves him despite her past. It's tender, intense, a little short, but funny in a cute kind of way... My favorite character is Kurumu. She is like Satsuki from Strawberry 100%. Her race is cool and matches her wily and devious nature almost perfectly. It's nice how she is loyal to him after he spares him. Though something tells me she won't like him when she finds out he is really a human boy...

Rosario + Vampire is a little on the ecchi side, but it is more romance and comedy than anything. A cool story in and out.