Vampire Game, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

by Judal (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In an epic battle, King Phelios defeats the Vampire King Duzell, but both monarchs are mortally wounded. As the two lay dying, Duzell prophesies that the two will meet again after their death, and vows that he will be triumphant. At least half the prophesy is proven true when Duzell is resurrected 100 years later, as a baby wildcat who is rescued and adopted by Ishtar, who just happens to be the great-granddaughter of his nemesis, King Phelios. Ishtar is a playful girl with an iron will and a penchant for pranks, a trait that distresses her caretaker, Sir Keld, and the dashing, but often bumbling, imperial guard, Captain Darres. Ishtar is not, however, the reincarnation of Phelios, leaving the now feline Duzell to continue his quest for revenge...with the surprisingly cooperative Ishtar as his companion!

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (June 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591823692
• ISBN-13: 978-1591823698
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #672,770 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tokyopop brings us another winner!, June 12, 2003

By	ronaron (US) - See all my reviews

Magic, vampires, cuteness, comedy, shape-shifting, a touch of shounen-ai, and really cool hair -- "Vampire Game," a shoujo manga by Judal. I could just tell you "THIS MANGA ROCKS!!! BUY IT NOWWWW!!!!," and end the review right here, but I won't do that. Some of you may want a more well-rounded synopsis. I'll try to go into a little more detail:

Long ago in the land of Pheliosta, there was a titanic battle between the good king Phelios and Duzell, the Vampire King. By battle's end both rulers were mortally wounded, and before they died Duzell promised that in a hundred years both their souls would be reincarnated. When that time came, the Vampire King would exact his revenge on the one that slew him . . .

Well, it's a century later, and Duzell's back -- in the form of an adorable, fuzzy, big-eyed wildcat cub. Hardly the proper guise for the Fearsome Lord Of All Vampires. Now he has to figure out how to track Phelios' incarnation, and how to kill him. And when he's adopted by Ishtar, the great-granddaughter of his old enemy, the madness ensues.

I bought "Vampire Game" on a whim, and I was surprised at how entertaining it turned out to be. The art's cute. The plot's certainly original; who would've expected the Vampire King to return to battle as a mewling kitten? I didn't, and I'll bet Duzell didn't either. The characterization is solid, from Duzell's grim resignation to his fate, to moody Ishtar's self-indulgent contempt for . . . well, EVERYTHING, to royal guardsman Darres' longsuffering at the hands of Ishtar, with whom he's charged to keep out of trouble. Certain characters and situations leave openings for some intriguing back-story (such as one character's rumored dismissal from an old position due to a "questionable" love affair), and by the end you're already drooling for the next installment.

I don't think Judal, the author/artist, is very well-known here in the states, but she deserves recognition for a manga that's already showing great promise with just the first volume. Show her your support by buying this graphic novel! Show publisher Tokyopop your support too; if they know we're buying 'em, they'll keep on translating 'em.

Can I say it now?

THIS MANGA ROCKS!!! BUY IT NOWWWW!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The vampire and the princess, September 26, 2006

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It, August 11, 2003

By A Customer

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.