Customer Reviews

Vampire Game, Vol. 1

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Vampire manga are usually very angsty and gothically stylized, much like vampire fiction. But Judal tries a different tack in the entertaining, offbeat "Vampire Game," in which a legendary vampire king is reborn in a very, uh, unusual form. Humorous dialogue and amusing characters keep the plot moving, and promise more fun to come.

Long ago, the vampire king Duzell was destroyed by St. Phelios, by a spell that killed them both instantly -- and before Duzell died, he told Phelios that in a hundred years they would both be reborn, and then he would take his revenge.

Now, a hundred years have passed, and Phelios' reigning descendent is the irreverent, bratty Princess Ishtar. When news of vampiric attacks reach the castle, she disguises herself as a man and goes out to slay it, leaving her bodyguard Darres to chase after her. They find that a kyawl has been attacking people, seeking revenge for the death of her children -- and she can shapeshift.

Just before the kyawl dies, she gives birth to a single kitten, which Ishtar adopts and names Duzell -- not realizing that this is the reincarnated, shapeshifting vampire king, who is on the hunt for Phelios's reincarnation. What Duzell never expected was that Ishtar is not just a spoiled brat -- or that she would help him in his revenge.

The idea of a powerful vampire being reborn as a cuddly little kitten is hysterical enough, but Judal keeps the entertaining story going on more than one theme. Don't expect lots of sexy vampires gnawing on throats -- this is fantasy comedy, with mythical kingdoms, feuding royals, and a shapeshifting kitten in the middle of it all. No wonder Duzell's a bit confused.

Judal also knows how to keep things funny without making them slapstick, such as Duzell shapeshifting into a "perfect copy" of Ishtar and realizing that he can't change gender, or Ishtar's constant attempts to evade her tutor. Fans of action will get some taut swordplay scenes, and romantics will be rooting for Ishtar's chances with her handsome, long-suffering bodyguard Darres.

But Judal is also adept at making these characters likable. Ishtar seems annoying at first, until Judal reveals the treatment that has made her that way -- her relatives want her dead, and everyone else just sees her as a descendent of Phelios, not as her own person. Duzell is theoretically evil, but in this volume he seems more perplexed by Ishtar's odd behavior, as is the likable Darres.

An unusually solid start to a series, the first volme of "Vampire Game" introduces the characters and sets the stage for more strange, fantastical action to come.

This book is fun. Fruit juice sucking kitten is the reincarnation of the Vampire King :) The plot so far, King Phelios defeated Vampire King Duzell using a spell that killed them both. King Phelios is of course revered as a Saint by all except the Princess (his great-grandaughter) who says she would gladly kill King Phelios' reincarnation with a spoon :). Enter the kitten Duzzy(Duzell), the princess decides to help her cat Duzzy find King Phelios' reincarnation and kill him. Unfortunately she is not very helpful. The questions swirling in my mind are why did Duzell want to come back? He started the war with the humans because he was sick of living without love. So if he wanted to die I don't get why he was so mad when he got his wish, should be interesting to find out why? When will he shapeshift into some thing besides a male princess? She really doesn't like that, finds it upsetting to see her face on a naked guy. Note:Duzzy can only shape shift into those he has gotten blood from and he can't change sex.

No one I know, that's for sure. This is manga at its finest. The story has everything it should have: a wacky, humorous edge overlying a more serious and complex plot. The world's history is slowly being realized in this volume, and the characters are already showing glimpses of depth and genuineness. Those who love paranormal fiction/romance, gothic stuff, and urban fantasy will find pure bliss in this volume. And, of course, the stunning artwork is simply icing on the cake. Even if you didn't read a word, you'd be happy looking at the pictures. (Trust me, though--you'll be even happier if you do read it).

Remember Master of Mosquiton & Yu-Yu Hakusho? Well imagine if Inaho was a princess & Youko Kurama was reincarnated as a cat. Ishtar isn't as bossy, blamey, & greedy as Inaho, but she had a pet Vampire & knew how to keep him in line. You could also say she's like a bratty, mischevious Integral W. Hellsing. Duzzell is like Kurama because he was once a great powerful being who died & was reincarnated into someone more 'uke.' At first he's only a wild kitten, but then he takes on the male form of Ishtar, adding tons of humor & mischief to the series.

BL fans will enjoy the bishounen in flowing garments or nearly-nude with long flowing hair, there's a nugget of flirtation here & there & plentiful on occasions like...all of book 2, & there's more crossdressing!

& anyone tired of sickeningly weak heroines with sickening sweetness will enjoy the biting attitude & tough demenor of the spiled princess, who thinks that destroying everything her grandfather worked for sounds like a fun way to pass the time.

Her partner in crime is a shapeshifting vampire kitty (originally, all Japanese vampires were cats) who can take on the princesses form in male figure, which is one of the funnest aspects of the story.

If you enjoy this, I reccoment Demon Diary, Genju no Seiza, Master of Mosquiton, & Petshop of Horros. Anyone who likes the princess should try Gokusen, Happy Lesson, Slayers, Hellsing (the one more loosely based on the manga), Master of Mosquiton, & Full Metal Panic fumoffu.

This manga is terrific! Plenty of humor, romance possiblities, and pretty boys. lol.

And for the shounen ai lover, there are a few hints (and sometimes more). But there is also het romance.

I definatly suggest everyone try this manga.

vampire game is the coolest anime ever. it has romance, horror, fighting and comedy. i'm a huge anime fan and once i read it i just had to share it. my boyfriend nick hates anime but i forced him to read it and he's in love with anime as much as me. this is a great manga for starters or for already anime fans. this manga will get you hooked from the moment you pick it up. if you love gothic vampire mangas or if you just love fighting and cute things, this manga is just for you. if you are a mom buying this for your child and your not into vampires and stuff, well, this manga isn't really as bad as it seems. if it was as bad as it seems then it wouldn't be a comedy. this book is for all ages and you'll love it no matter if your into this stuff or not.

-ishtar

This is the best! I didn't expect much from it (I just picked it up at Borders on vacation, one of those buy two get one free things) but I really loved it. Probably my favorite manga I've read thus far. I'll just say this... VAMPIRE CATS ROCK!!! Luv my widdle Duzzy... And Darres...drool...

This is my absolute favorite manga!!! At first I was a little wary about buying it; I'm not really into vampires. But I bought it on a whim anyway. I couldn't stop reading- I couldn't stop laughing either. ^_^ Duzie, the vampire-reincarnated-as-a-cat, is hilarious. Princess Ishtar is fun too, with her carefree-lets-wreck-havoc-on-the-palace attitude. This manga is definitely worth the buy (the next two are as well!). After reading it all in one go, I just had to go get the next two!
*runs off to buy volume 4*

At first i was kinda iffy on buying it, from reading the description from tokyopop but then i saw the comedy part (my fav) and decided to pick it up, I am SO glad I did! It is my favorite manga to date and the art is wonderful! Ishtar isn't your normal 'damsal in distress' princess and adding Duzell, The Vampire King reincarnated as a kitty is even more fun! I want Istar and Duzell to get together ^_~ I love this manga so much I bought the 13 japanese volumes already and I can't wait for 14! I hope Tokyopop or some other company translates Judals other work Carbuncle (also Night Eyes but I want Carbuncle more ^.^ kawaii griffin in it, Night Eyes has demon kitties! both would rock!)! I already sent in a suggestion to Tokyopop ^^v if you loved Vampire Game as much as I then do so now as well! Long live Judal!

If Garfield were a reincarnated vampire lord leaving in a midevil castle, I think it might go something like this. From shounen-ai expert Judal comes this tale of fun, intrigue, and fantasy with sparks of Samurai Deeper Kyo and Bastard.

Set in an alternate past, the Vampire King Duzell waged a war against the human kingdom of the great saint Phelios. Duzell was defeated by means of a spell that would kill the caster as well as the person it was used on, but he swore to be reborn a century later, and kill the reincarnation of Phelios.

A hundred years later, the great grandaughter of Phelios, Princess Ishtar, is now the regining head of the kingdom. She is constantly being lectured by her bodyguard and captain of the guard, Darres, as well as the court wizard, Keld. After hearing reports of a mad creature in a neighboring village, Ishtar heads out to confront it. Darres follows her and kills the beast which is a tiger-like animal called a kyawl, but not before it gives birth to its son. Ishtar takes the cub home with her as her pet cat and jokingly names it Duzell after her family's long dead enemy, What she or no one else knows, is that the cat houses the spirit of the actual Duzell, who has also used some of the blood he tasted from Ishtar in their first meeting to be able to take on a human form, looking like a male version of Ishtar.

Ishtar discovers her pets weird ability to assume her shape after he is confused with being an assassin, but she keeps it a secret, still unaware that it is still the reborn vampire king. Duzell continues to play the part of Ishtar's cat while he searches for King Phelio's reincarnation within the extended members of Ishtar's family.

Vampire Game is visually a great manga. The character designs rival those of Clamp, and has very interesting sequential movement. Better make room on your bookshelf!