Trinity Blood - Rage Against the Moons Volume 1: From the Empire (v. 1) (Paperback)

by Sunao Yoshida (Author), Thores Shibamoto (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–In a postapocalyptic Europe, the Vatican creates a crack AX squad to combat the growing New Human Empire, an entire country of vampires–or, as they call themselves, Methuselahs. The affable, bumbling Father Abel Nightroad is one of the AX agents. He fights bloodsucking dukes, rescues genetic witches, and protects the preteen pope from an assassination attempt. This novel jump-started the manga and anime of the same title, and the sheer number of ideas it thrusts at readers is intriguing, but the follow-through is haphazard at best. Gender segregation, lost technology, and international affairs are all teased at, but ultimately fall by the wayside as buckets of blood and mass decapitations become the focus of the action. But most damning is that the plots and circumstances don't pass the logic test of making consistent sense. A notable example happens when an android executioner spares the life of one person because he's out of ammunition, only to reload and execute a different threat only seconds later. The dialogue is littered with bizarre idioms that jolt readers out of the incomplete world-building, and the sporadic black-and-white illustrations do little to solidify the atmosphere or provide key visuals for the action.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
Political turmoil, terrorist plots, and the relentless desire for personal revenge threaten to escalate the conflict between humans and vampires into a full-blown war. Special Ops Team AX will use every brutal weapon on hand--including a Crusnik, a vampire that preys upon other vampires--to save mankind. Packed with action, emotion, and artistry, this first volume of Rage Against the Moons contains tales of heroism, sacrifice, and retribution, as the AX agents strive to protect the innocent and keep the peace.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159816953X
• ISBN-13: 978-1598169539
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #457,999 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, April 4, 2007

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

Vampires. Powerful, eternal, virtually indestructible, they are at the highest level of evolution. Aren't they awfully cocky, thinking like that? What if you knew there was something stronger, more powerful, older? What if you were that thing? Well, then you would be AX Special Agent Crusnik. Traveling in the guise of a simple poor priest, which he actually is, Agent Crusnik aids the Vatican in a constant, post-apocalyptic, political battle. Often throwing direct orders out the window, and taking his partners along for the ride, Crusnik battles his enemies to the bitter end. Until the next one appears. Exposing more plots and evils than he expunges, he and the other agents must continue to be a virtually unbeatable force. And that is quite a big shoe to fill.

Don't be put off by the religious references before you read this. This is literally post-apocalypse. Rome is one of the few major powers left, and the Vatican is not at all what you would expect.

Of all of the pop fiction that I've read, which isn't exactly a ton, but is a fair amount, this book comes the closest to anime. So, if you're a fan of anime, this is the book for you.

Amidst the non-stop action, Agent Crusnik is hilariously witty, a little bit bitter, and still manages to remain concerned about everyone else. He's definitely someone I'd want on my side. Just not around all the time, what with the constant death, destruction, and mayhem.

I want more, please. Pleasantly, there are five more stories on the way, as well as DVDs!

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons I; From the Empire, April 21, 2007

By	D. V. Wasson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first book of the Trinity Bood graphic novels series. The series is divided into two parts: Rage Against the Moons and Reborn on Mars.
This book contains four stories.
Flight Night(anime episode 1) After completing an assignmentin Londonium, Father Abel Nightroad is returning to Rome aboard the Abionese airship Tristan. It is highjacked by Count Alfredo and it is up to Abel to regain control of the ship.
Witch Hunt(anine episode 2) A genetically altered girl, who has the power of touch telepathy is wanted by the Rosenkruetz Order and the Vatican. Her power to scramble and alter memories causes people to slaughter each otehr and themsealves. She finds her only friend is Father Abel Nightroad.
From the Empire (anime episode 7) Endre, a Methuselah serial killer exiled from the Empire contiues his murderous ways in Venice.Allied with the Rosenkruetz Order he helps them set in motion a plan to start a war between the Methuselah Empire and the Vatican. Temporarily partnered with Astoroche, Duchess of Odessa, Abel Nightroad works to preserve the current peace.
Sword Dancer(aninem Episode 6) Father Hugue, another Vatican AX agent investigates the mass murder of the priests and nuns of Oude Kerk. The Vaitcan thinks it is the work of the local vampire lord. The vampire lord is just as in the dark as the Vatican. Father Hugue has his own personal agenda. The key to everything is the surviving nun Sister Agnes.
The anime keeps the manga's ligher comic tone. The graphic novel is a darker, more interesting rendition of Trinity Blood. The graphic novel has strong sense of horror. Characters who are annoying in the anime, are cold-blooded,insane killers. Abel, Tres, and Caterina are stronger, darker characters than in the anime. In many ways this book is a Cold War intrigue book, excep this cold war is set in a post-apocolyptic 31st century.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable reading, July 18, 2007

By	Richard G. "Fantasy Aficionado" (USA) - See all my reviews

Go get them Father Nightroad and Tres! This novella was fund light reading. I was already familiar with some of the storyline, having viewed the episode on the Adult Swim cartoon.