Customer Reviews

Rosario+Vampire, Vol. 2 (v. 2)

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the second installment of Rosario Vampire is even better than the first. new characters are introduced without sacrificing anything from the originals. if you're looking for a good story with cute monster girls and panty shots you could do far worse than checking this series out.

Having introduced most of the cast of "Rosario+Vampire," Akihisa Ikeda has just one more to add -- and the second volume of this comedy/action/romance manga happily trips through a series of fluffy, mythical stories. But there are some distinct hints that Ikeda is getting into darker territory and more intense action.

Moka has a groupie -- a brilliant but immature little witch named Yukari, who uses her pranks to get attention. Unfortunately, Yukari decides to protect her idol from "icky boys"... including Tsukune, who is being tortured with voodoo dolls, attack brooms, and other fun tricks. But Yukari has her own problems -- including a bunch of witch-hating lizard-boys.

And Tsukune's romantic woes continue when Moka embarks on a weeklong modeling session, which means she'll miss his birthday. But to make matters worse, he soon realizes that the art teacher is somehow connected to a series of beautiful girls vanishing -- and Moka might be the next victim.

And Kurumu's succubus nature becomes a burden when she's stalked and blackmailed by a creepy little guy, who then takes the newspaper layout hostage. Then they run afoul of the gangsterlike Yokai Academy Protection Committee -- a seemingly unbeatable gang of monsters intent on destroying the newspaper club.

"Rosario + Vampire Volume 2" is where Akihisa Ikeda really gets into stride -- the monsters become more monstrous (the Medusa, the spider-woman) and creepier (the grotesque slug-boy), the action and comedy are nicely balanced, and we get some really villainous villains rather than redeemable-bully-of-the-week.

Some of the stories are still rather frothy -- in particular Yukari's childish pranks and poor Kurumu being forced to dress in sexy cosplay outfits. Plenty of fanservice, freak-outs, and some comic relief with poor Tsukune being forced to punch himself and grope girls, via voodoo doll. Not to mention the running joke about his blood ("Maybe it's because I haven't had a glass of Tsukune for days and days!").

But the last chapter has an unexpected dark twist, with a gang of very uncomic, very strong monsters attacking the newspaper club. And it ends with an unexpected cliffhanger, wherein the Committee finds potentially fatal info on the club.

Yukari is introduced in this volume, and frankly she's rather annoying -- both for her perky-witch attitude, her heart wand, and her vaguely bisexual crushes on Moka and Tsukune. Kurumu gets the most expansion in this volume, since the formerly shallow succubus is given new selflessness and direction in her life. And yeah, she figures out that sex appeal can be a problem.

The second volume of "Rosario + Vampire" is a better balanced piece of work than the first, and Akihisa Ikeda is obviously aiming at better storytelling heights. Just have the third on hand before reading this through.