Van Von Hunter vol. 1 (Paperback)

by Ron Kaulfersch (Author), Mike Schwark (Author) "In the dark ages long ago (or was it only three years ago?), in a war-torn land where tranquility and harmony once blossomed, tyranny ruled..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
There's a fine line between satirizing the conventions of the fantasy genre and justifying stereotypes and mediocrity by claiming comedic intent. Thankfully, the humorous adventure of Van Von Hunter falls into the former group. A breezy introduction sets the tone of this Ameri-manga parody, and a refusal to take anything seriously permeates the story. The hero doesn't know what's going on. The sidekick is an amnesiac barmaid. Everyone has to be told by convenient bystanders what to do next in order to stop the nemesis, an evil prince, from finding a magical artifact that will let him take over the kingdom. As is typical of American-influenced comic art, the panels are busier and more crowded than Japanese manga. The art doesn't always live up to the story demands, as when a "packed tavern" is rather sparsely populated, or mystical artifacts under discussion are never shown. It can be hard to follow the plot, but the figures are well-designed and likable. The creators were the winners of Tokyopop's first Rising Stars of Manga competition, and their creation is an amusing quick read. (May)
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Product Description
The forces of evil have returned to the Kingdom of Dikay! All hope is lost! There will be strife and clamorous discord! The people need a hero! Is there no one around who can vanquish the malevolent tyranny?! Uhm... Anyone... Anyone?Enter the legendary Van Von Hunter, the Hunter of Evil...

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop; illustrated edition edition (May 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595326928
• ISBN-13: 978-1595326928
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #963,802 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A PYTHON-ESQUE MANGA ADVENTURE, May 6, 2005

By	Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Mix a little Monty Python with a splash of Van Helsing and do it all in Manga style and you get an uproariously funny new book from TokyoPop. It was some 10,000 years ago...or maybe it was just three, that the Kingdom of Dikay was overrun by the demonic forces of evil until a champion arose to vanquish them and bring peace to the land. Now, the great champion, the hunter of evil, Van Von Hunter is ready to do battle again against the "evil one" and recruits an old comrade, his next door neighbor... "what's her name?" Well, no matter, fighting evil is her birthright even if she can't remember who she is.

Evil is afoot as the Dark Prince returns to the Land of Dikay, intent on retrieving an evil artifact and reclaiming his throne...if he can only remember where to find it. He's joined by what looks like Elsie the Cow on steroids and a decayed little jester who promises the Prince he can show him how to unleash darkness on the world. Van and...what is her name...are off on their quest as well because it says to do in the "Manual of Exposition." But before Van can retrieve the artifact he has to face the "trials of the sandwich" and that is one nasty piece of deli fare that he has to eat and has been putrefying since it was forged a thousand years ago. Van cleverly diverts the priests who guard the sandwich and hides it behind his back and the Priests now deem him worthy. Of course they neglected to tell him the artifact had been stolen centuries ago. And so Van and his comrade, ummm, well her, continue their journey onward, on a collision course with the Prince of Dikay and his forces which include a only a small band of peasants but hey...they're disgruntled peasants.

Van Von Hunter was one of the funniest, most entertaining books I've read in a long time. Filled with bad jokes, worse puns, and riotous slapstick, not everything always works but there's so much that you can't help but laugh out loud over and over again. It's not easy to do great comedy in a graphic format and this one succeeds on all counts Mike Schwark and Ron Kaulfersch, winners of TokyoPops Rising Stars of Manga, have fashioned a Mel Brooks-style Manga adventure with a great script and outstanding artwork. The note pages on each character in the back of the book are amusing as well. What a fun book this was to read. I'm anxiously awaiting the second volume.


Reviewed by Tim Janson

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A histerical read!, August 18, 2005

By	Mysterious Person - See all my reviews

Ever wondered what would happen if you got amnesia, you used to destroy evil, and the eccentric guy from next door wants you to come join him again... three years later? Well, honestly, probably no one in their right mind has wondered that. But that's what heppened to... well lets just say the sidekick!

Now she is helping Van Von Hunter (if that IS his real name) once again destroy the evil forces of yet another eccentric character. Nothing in the world could possibly make up for his stupidity and randomness. However, after attempting to take over the world who knows how many times, he must be stopped again!

Oh did we forget to mention there's a cute decaying little jestar? A lunatic maid who cleans with a knife? And a butler with a monicle and eye patch? (As VVH would say, "He's the ULTIMATE butler!")

5.0 out of 5 stars Grat Book, October 6, 2008

By	Glen Stubkjær (Ikast, Denmark) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I Must say this is the best way to make a joke about manga, in a book of manga, the story is like nothing Iv ever read.... BUY IT, so it can become a anime..... please