Customer Reviews

Vampire Knight, Vol. 2 (v. 2)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This story is, I think, a huge departure from "MeruPuri". In any event, there hasn't been any sex (actually no one has even really kissed) but the story is still erotic. Pretty boy vampires, bloodsucking, more pretty boy vampires; I guess those are the right ingredients for an erotic shojo manga. I've been following it in the Shojo Beat magazine because I am way too impatient to wait for the volumes to come out (look how far they've spaced out the releases!) and the story gets better and better. So even though I read the whole volumes in the monthly installments before the bound volumes were published, I still have to buy a copy (that is how hooked I am on this series).

I won't go into a synopsis because that has already been done but this is definitely worth a read. The story is surprising, intense, erotic, dark but very prettily drawn. Not a lot happens in each volume but that is not to say that each volume is boring. It is more like the manga-ka takes the time to convey so much without actions (or even words).

I think the manga-ka shows more depth than she did in "MeruPuri" (and I am not trying to insult "MeruPuri" because I actually enjoyed that story). But comparing "MeruPuri" to "Vampire Knight" is like comparing nonfat yogurt to devil's food cake.

Matsuri Hino, Vampire Knight, vol. 2 (ViZ, 2005)

The second volume concerning Yuki and her classmates shows Hino falling into a trap that maybe most folks don't mind, but that bugs the heck out of me-- an author's obsessive need to retell large sections of the story (leaving, of course, less room for new material). Do we need to be reminded in every chapter that the night class is made up of vampires? (And that's just the tip of the iceberg.) Still, when we do get new material, there's a good amount of character development and revelations of past events that have brought our main characters to where they are, so if you can overlook the retelling thing, this book's just as good as the last one; I'm going to keep going with the series and see where we're being taken, at least. ***

This volume of Vampire Knight shows us a bit more about the lifestyle of the Night Class and tons about the relationship between Yuki and Zero.

As it begins, Yuki and Zero encounter a berserk vampire on school ground, but are rescued by two Night Class students - Ichijo, who does most of the talking, and a gaminesque boy named Shiki. As Yuki is slightly wounded Ichijo and Shiki quicky depart so as not to trigger their bloodlust; but Ichijo calls after them that they should come to the Moon Dorm later that night once Yuki's wound has been looked to if they want to talk further about what just happened.

With a sense of foreboding but unable to resist the offer, Yuki arrives with Zero and they're met at the entranceway by Aido and Kain, who escort them into the menacing heart of Moon Dorm to witness the dark secrets of...

A birthday party.

It turns out that several members of the Night Class are partying the night away, as it happens to be Ichijo's big 18th, and he warmly invites both Yuki and Zero in and even offers them some slices of cake. As Ichijo is Kaname's Veep, he presumably got the second largest number of votes in the class elections, and it's not hard to see why. While Kaname seems to inspire sheer awe, Ichijo is genuinely friendly and likeable. In fact, under his auspices the celebration seems downright human, and fun seems to be being had by all in spite of some talk of the incident earlier in the evening. Even broody Kaname apparently thinks enough of him to make an appearance.

But of course, the Night Class are still vampires with all that implies, as good intentioned as some of them seem to be they're not in fact human, and a seemingly innocent incident triggers Zero's symptoms and he's forced to leave post haste with a worried Yuki in pursuit.

It's now that the full force of her commitment to Zero hits Yuki as she's faced with the reality of his condition being ongoing and not a one-shot deal, and exactly what it's going to take both physically and emotionally if she wants him to live. And just as they're grappling with this, Zero's former master, a vampire hunter who trained and looked after him at times when his parents were on duty, arrives to see if his services are required...

Nothing new under the sun, but for some slightly darker guilty pleasure reading fun enough to keep going for those who are inclined towards this type of story - and if you got past the first volume, you know who you are.

I love the Vampire Knight vol. 2 manga. It's an awesome 2nd volume with a twist. My favorite part of the book was Kaname forced Yuki to sit with him during Ichijo's birthday party. I know that Kaname is in love with Yuki. And when Toga Yagari reunites with Zero, after he shot him. He realized that Zero was turning into a vampire, when he was attacked by a vicious vampire 4 years ago. I like this volume of VK.

Vampire Knight has got to be one of the most AWESOME manga series ever. I absolutely looovveee it and would recommend it to anyone and everyone!! It's one of the few things I've bought that was actually worth the extra shipping lol!

The Day Class is unaware of Zero's secret--he is a vampire, and has been turning more and more so over the past four years. If they knew the truth, would they be so quick to embrace him as the rising star of their class? And how will the knowledge of what he is becoming affect his relationship with Yuki?

Yuki and Zero get an unexpected privilege--they get to run into town on an errand for the headmaster. Normally, leaving school grounds is rather restricted. Yuki is determined to have fun, even if Zero seems determined to be a killjoy. She wants them to crowd as much fun as they can into this day. He's concerned about returning by sunset, but she reminds him that the Night Class is off so they won't be coming out. No harm in living a little, right? They stop to eat at a café, but when one of the girls who works there mistakes Zero for a member of the Night Class, he becomes agitated, knowing that he smells like them now. He runs off, and Yuki must find him. Only in her search for him, she is found instead--by a vampire!

Headmaster Cross does his best to make mealtime for Yuki and Zero as normal as possible, but his idea of dishes is a bit odd. And bringing up the blood tablets that Zero needs to survive does not enhance that boy's mood any. Ichijo and Shiki of the Night Class invite them to come to the Moon Dorm after midnight for answers to their questions, and Yuki is determined to go, although not so sure Zero should, not in his present state of mind, when it seems as though he is dying to shoot someone. There she learns about the different classes of vampires - from the level A purebloods to the Level E, who are even below the former humans. E stands for End--former humans eventually fall into this category, and into insanity and thus reach their end, end standing for destruction. Something Zero undoubtedly knows, coming from a vampire hunting family. Kaname welcomes them, and insists that Yuki sit beside him. She resists, but not for long, being irresistibly drawn to him. With his touch, he heals her wounds.

When blood is deliberately let at the party, Zero flees in disgust, with Yuki right behind him, concerned about him. Yuki discovers the truth about Zero and blood tablets, and he is about to take blood from her instead when suddenly he finds himself at the wrong end of a gun being wielded by a vampire hunter who is none other than his former master! His name is Toga Yagari, and he is also an acquaintance of Headmaster Cross, whom he considers to be a twit. He sends Yuki to bed while he debates with himself on whether or not to kill Zero or to let him live.

The next day, Zero isn't in school and the vampire hunter is now lecturing on Ethics to the Night Class, in a curious turn of events. He reveals to Yuki where Zero is and she goes to him--to finish what was previously interrupted.

Bonus stories include Sometimes There are Lazy Days Too, in which Yuki and Zero are forced to take a supplementary class, and the teacher refuses to let them leave until they're done--even if it is sundown and time for them to take up their disciplinary committee duties! In I Must Have Been Born Under the Victim of Circumstances Star, we learn how Idol and Wild got their nicknames. And in Vampires Covered in Blood are Prohibited From Entering this Page, we get a brief glimpse into the past which will be explained in the future.

In a way this second volume of Vampire Knight reminds me of the second book of the Twilight saga where far too much attention went to Jacob instead of Edward. In this case, it's Zero over Kaname. Saying that, there's no doubt which team I'm on, right? But it's also necessary at this point, I think, to explain where Yuki's head is and why she does what she does, so I can understand why the mangaka did this. And when all is said and done, I don't see Yuki choosing Team Zero, but that remains to be seen. The introduction of the vampire hunter is interesting, a man Zero has history with, who knows and cares about him enough to contemplate killing him for what he has become. And the explanation of the vampire caste system is very revealing too, as well as what this potentially means for Zero, explaining why the blood tablets don't necessarily cut it for him, which Yuki realizes.

I think my biggest complaint about this volume was not near enough Kaname. But when he is on the scene, he is exerting an unmistakable pull on Yuki. The plot is advancing nicely, and there is enough foreshadowing to indicate that interesting things are in store. I liked the glimpse into the Moon Dorm, and the bonus stories too. Pretty artwork, and pretty characters, this series is doing well, and I'm curious to see where Matsuri Hino will be taking it in the future.

My daughter was impatiently waiting for this book and was delighted when it finally arrived. It got there within the started shipping time with lots of time to spare, she was just impatient. She loved the book! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

This volume really keeps me more and more interested in reading the rest of this series. Although there are both strengths and weaknesses.

First of all, I have to say that I like how the relationship between Yuki and Zero is starting to evolve. They trust themselves better than in the first volume. And Yuki is getting ready to do anything to calm down Zero's hunger. Though like Hino, I notice too that Zero is too much the hero of this story. Although it's not that bad really since it gives a very masculine tone to the series. Maybe Zero should have been the hero instead of Yuki. Also, it really becomes tiring that Hino-sensei keeps repeating to us the concept of the series at the start of several chapters. And no! I won't repeat what the author overstates again and again. I mean, if people who read the second volume already know the concept since the first volume, and also from the back cover, then there is no need to overstate it to them.

Visually, I like how Hino-sensei offers some very gorgeous drawings. Without the overbearing onomatopoeia that you can find in One Piece or in this volume of Vampire Knight. For a great example of this, check out the two pages in the Seventh Night chapter (there doesn't seem to be any page numbers, something that can confuse certain readers if they are looking for a specific page), where Zero pulls his gun at Kaname during the party and Seiren attacks Zero. She should really draw more pages without onomatopoeia as it overcharge the panels in their compositions.By removing them, it gives her story a more cinematographic presence. The author really knows how to draw great night atmosphere. Her screen tones and her aerosol spray are well applied and give great shadows to the panels and the characters. Don't know how her work was in Merupuri. But Vampire Knight really shows her capable of drawing a Gothic universe.

It's evident that there will be a forbidden relationship between Zero and Yuki. Let's see how it goes in the next volume.

If you love the whole vampire scene. If you love Twilight just go ahead and buy the whole series. It is so worth it and you can also watch the anime online at [...] You will love it!!!

Another great volume in this series. It just keeps getting better and better!

This one has Ichijou's birthday party, and the introduction of Zero's master shortly afterwards...