Mangakissa – Vampires

My dad is the most practical person I know. He is a retired Navy officer with two wars under his belt, a yard full of flowers he carefully tends, and two dogs who adore him. He predictably prefers action and adventure films to romantic comedies and sweeping sagas. He is absolutely crazy about vampires.

Yes. Vampires. One of his favorite films is The Lost Boys. It wasn’t long ago that he approached me to ask if I would be interested in taking in Twilight with him. I sat in the movie theatre with my very stereotypically masculine father, watching his expressions as the action waxed and waned, certain that he would be disappointed in the story, although I did warn him in advance that Twilight is a drama and romance about a teenage girl. Yes, there are vampires, and the girl in question falls for one of them, but that doesn’t mean the girl and her angst aren’t the primary interest. Werewolves? Oh, yes, but not in the first movie. He was waiting for that werewolf, and I thought I was going to catch some trouble for mentioning it, but he was surprisingly not too disappointed in the film. He suggested that perhaps we could watch the next one together. I believe I did stop breathing for a full minute when I realized he meant business.

Serious vampire lovers of all ages and persuasions seem to find something to like in Twilight. Some, like my dad, prefer the violence and action of vampire drama, and are able to wait out the lengthy romantic episodes that cater to the teen audience. Others are easily wrapped up in the psychological trauma that comes with the vampire package. Vampire fans of all preferences, Twilight fans included, can find a variety of vampire manga to suit their tastes while awaiting the next film.

The Record of a Fallen Vampire captures the desperate romance element of vampire lore. Artist Yuki Kimura writes that he hopes he “can capture their [the vampires’] anxieties and solitude, as they lurk there in the darkness.” He does just that. Vampire King Akbara, also known as the Red Rose, has spent a thousand years searching frantically for his lost love, Queen Adelheid, who was locked away by humans when her power spiraled out of control. The Black Swan, a “spiritual parasite,” takes a new human host every fifty years in order to destroy the Red Rose and prevent the discovery of his destructive bride. The insecurity that plagues Akbara, as well as his determination, is rendered carefully by Kimura in the character’s facial expressions. Power and guilt confuse and motivate him as he refuses to give up on his quest to save the woman he loves. Along the way, his capacity for empathy is tested when he finds an orphaned dhampire – a human with vampire blood – and easily accepts responsibility for her welfare. Akbara is a complicated character with a difficult path; writer Kyo Shirodaira, who was initially concerned about the difficulty in creating a unique vampire story, is attentive to dialogue and description as his hero struggles with inner conflict alongside the vicious battles met with a variety of creative weapons and abilities.

Another vampire king fights for control in Judal’s Vampire Game, which features a spoiled teenage girl who inherits a bloodline revered by others but disregarded by her. Lady Ishtar is the great-granddaughter of St. Phelios, a hero who defeated the vampire King Duzell years ago. Duzell is back and out for revenge, specifically on the one who is the descendant and reincarnation of Phelios. Ishtar could not care less about history or justice or whatever it is that seems to be such a big deal to everyone around her, including her teachers, who struggle to convince her to take her position seriously. When she takes a kywal, or cat, in as a pet, she discovers that he is a shapeshifter, and in fact, the fearsome King Duzell come to determine if she is the one he must destroy. Lady Ishtar finds the whole business rather amusing and is not frightened in the least. Will her assistance – or interference – help or hinder his mission?

Matsuri Hino’s Vampire Knight ventures into a boarding school separated by a night class and a day class; the night class is, of course, populated by vampire students. Cross Academy takes upon itself instruction of both groups in the matter of creating a bridge between humans and vampires in a peacemaking effort. Yuki, the headmaster’s adopted daughter, is a day class student who guards the secret of the night class; reluctant vampire Zero is her childhood friend and protector. Vampire hunters complicate the precarious position of the night students, and Kaname, the object of Yuki’s affection, in particular. Readers who feed on the dangerous romance in Twilight will enjoy the attention these dark and serious boys pay the innocent Yuki.

Readers with creepy-doll-phobia be warned; Anju of Chibi Vampire may be the younger sister and a secondary character to Karin, but while Karin is a strangely unique vampire, Anju is a traditionally scary and powerful creature with a disturbing hobby. Her dolls are eerily alive, and her favorite, Boogie, is a furious killer. When Boogie is taken by a classmate bent on bullying the sullen Anju, she and her family are attacked by the knife-wielding doll, who is the ghost of a serial killer nicknamed the “Striped-Shirt Slasher.” He has “urges,” Anju explains to her sister, as Boogie pleads his mistress for forgiveness. Meanwhile, Karin is dealing with her reverse vampire issues. Her blood level is empathetically responsive to others, so when she is around someone who is upset or anxious, it rises and she must find an outlet before she starts bleeding from her nose. Her older brother Ren seems to have a voracious need for women’s blood, and spends his time in ‘love hotels’ with prospective victims. Yuna Kagesaki creates the ultimate dysfunctional family in Chibi.

Dysfunctional families are the norm in manga, and the heart of most of the drama. In Oishinbo, which features food – rather than blood – fanaticism, a father and son share a love of fine Japanese cuisine but harbor a rivalry that keeps them apart. Kaibara Yuzan is the founder and director of The Gourmet Club, and his son, Yamaoka Shiro, is a journalist on assignment to develop the ‘Ultimate Menu’ of perfect Japanese food. Yamaoka, trained at his father’s knee, is as much an expert on food as Kaibara, who is also an acclaimed artist. When Kaibara enters upon a similar quest entitled ‘Supreme Menu,’ the enmity escalates. Tetsu Kariya’s writing as well as the illustration by Akira Hanasaki captures the details of food preparation along with the hostility between the men in this award winning series. Each volume features a recipe from the story, complete with full-color photographs of the preparation, and notes on the text at the end, both of which are very helpful for those of us who might not know exactly how to slice that seabream.

Bad news – Shojo Beat has been cancelled. The July issue will be its last, and should be available on June 16. I so look forward to finding the latest issue on my desk, taking my time turning the pages, and following the characters along with the features that are educational and entertaining. I have discovered quite a bit about Japanese culture through Shojo Beat. Although it is only three years old, it feels like an old friend. I will miss it.

_{Medora is a young adult librarian with an affection for Henry James, chinchillas, and water slides. You can visit her at Forging an Art.}