Book Description

The war between three armies of vampires, humans, and those in between is in full swing. The Hellsing organization is embattled as London is falling to Nazi vampire forces, turning the city's citizens into rivers of blood and a population of ghouls. It looks like it might be the end of Sir Integral Wingates Hellsing and her henchman, Walter. But what's this? The Vatican? But that means the Vatican is unprotected. If you haven't figured it out yet, Earth is in chaos of a World War like no other. New forces will rise up, surprises of undead power will surge forth, guns will blaze, and blades will sing. There's no telling how this will end, as Hellsing clamors forward with a seething wit and a frantic pace, and style that passes beyond gothic grace. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Has its own merits
Granted, there was a lot of setup going on in this volume, but I also thought that it had quite a bit in it that made it good on its own. There were several parts that I thought were absolutely hilarous, as well as parts that were awesome and others that were downright disturbing. There was some great action going on. I was sad that Alucard wasn't really in it much, but at the same time I think this allowed some space to develop the other characters. Alucard kicks some serious butt, but some of the other characters can be cool in their own ways, and Volume 6 really shows that. You have to keep in mind that this is part of a SERIES and that Volume Seven will undoubtedly continue what was begun in Volumes 5 and 6.

hopefully volume 7 will be better.
let me just get this out of the way, this volume was pretty much (at least, i sincerely hope), created just to set up volume 7. it doesn't really get interesting until the last couple chapters. the rest is just kind of meh. also, alucard is in this for about 5 pages. not even in a row, just spread out because he is still on the ship that he destroyed in volume 5. so overall, this book is merely ok. not the best, not the worst. i suggest this only to people who are fans of the series and want to know what happens to the hellsing crew. otherwise, this book won't interest you a whole lot. now, to count down the days until volume 7 arrives. ... Read more

Book Description

Back in the day, Guts the Black Swordsman was a top slayer for The Band of the Hawk, an elite mercenary unit led by Griffith, whose calm demeanor and callow beauty belied his fighting prowess and steel will. While in a king's employ, the attraction between the king's daughter and Griffith and the growing favor of the king towards the Hawk leader raises the hackles of the king's jealous son, who plots to have Griffith summarily assassinated. But if the plot fails, the king's son will likely have to deal with Guts and his titanic broadsword, and the results of such confrontations are rarely pretty... or easy to clean up. ... Read more

Book Description

The evil Count uses his dark powers to transform a defeated guard captain into an inhuman horror to combat Guts, the Black Swordsman. Puck, Guts' pint-sized fairy sidekick, is captured when he attempts to stop an old doctor's execution, and he is given as a gift to the count's daughter, a sweet girl in a gilded cage, imprisoned by her father in her own room. Guts, determined to make mincemeat of the Count, assaults the castle and carves a swath of blood-soaked destruction through the Count's minions. Face-to-face with the Black Swordsman at last, the Count reveals his true form, and even Guts' super-sized sword may not be big enough to contend with this demonic monstrosity! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A must read for any fan of manga
If you have seen the Berserk anime released by Media Blasters then you have only scratched the surface of this story. The anime only covers about a third of the manga (which is currently 27 volumes and growing). I do not recomend this manga for those faint of heart, or those that felt the anime was too violent. The manga is much, much more graphic than its anime counterpart.

Aside from a few very minor editing/spelling mistakes (In the first volume there is a minor spelling mistake in reference to a castle) I have no problem with Dark Horse's translation of Kentaro Miriua's Berserk.

Highly Recommended

GUTS - nuff said.
Wow. I LOVE this series. As we delve deeper into Guts' journey, the characterization is superb: Guts the Master Swordsman who's raw fury and power comes at the cost of his humanity(?). Plus, Puck the Elf is hilarious and never fails to get a laugh. He is a great balance to Guts' demeanor. Kenturo Miura's artwork is so effective in creating this chaotic world that you'd almost swear something moved in the background :) This continues to be a dark tale and I don't expect it to lighten up anytime soon - which is a good thing! The only bad thing was the cliffhanger ending....I want more BERSERK!!! PLUS, we haven't even gotten into where the anime took place.

If you've seen this anime, get the manga...you won't regret it. For those who haven't, read if you dare...the Behelit awaits.... ... Read more

Book Description

Hellsing continues with more blood, guts, ghouls, and gothic murder. Created by Kohta Hirano, and making its way into an incredibly popular anime, Hellsing pushes the boundary of horror, yet looks so visually stunning and graphically cool that instead of being scary, it's super fun. Certainly not intended for younger readers, this series follows the Hellsing Organization, an old institution created by English royalty to squash the ghoulish undead of the world, as they face an insurgence of murderous monsters running rampant across the isles, fueled by...could it be...Nazi's? Watch the dark story unravel as Dark Horse Manga presents Hellsing volume 2. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Beautiful Art with an Original Storyline!
I first came along Hellsing in the anime series, and I absolutely loved it. It was interesting and original, with wonderful animation and drawings. So, naturally, when I heard that the anime was once first a manga, I went out and bought it. The money was well spent. The manga goes a little differently than the anime, but if you've never seen the anime, then there's no problem. Basically, if you like vampires, guns, and cold-hard fighting with no romance, this is definitely for you. It's fast-paced with an interesting storyline, so get comfy and enjoy.

If you liked the anime...
I saw the anime series recently,and liked it.BESIDES THE FACT I ORDERED A ---NEW--- BOX SET FROM THIS SITE AND THE DISKS CAME SCRATCHED UP,LOOSE,AND OBVIOUSLY USED.Thanks alot, Amazon. -_-0 Anyway,I decided to get the manga after listening to some of the interviews on a DVD.quite frankly,I like the manga as much as the anime.It lacks the character development of the anime,but it never takes itself too seriously.It has some details that the anime never goes into,such as what determines who's turned into a ghoul or vampire.
There's a neat bonus comic that's amusing in its own right.And the note from the author's kinda funny too.(cosmo guns that hold a billion rounds...)Nice job,Dark Horse.

Hellsing - a winner
HEllsing was the first anime video that I saw, it was the gateway to my anime viewing experience. Once I finished the series on DVD I was looking around for a "season 2" when I found out that there series was based on comic books. I went to a store and bought vol 1 and read through it really fast. It draws you in and entertains you, and keeps you in suspence with its great illustrations and dialog. The irish and germans in the story are noticed as their accents just jump of the page at you. COnsequently I bought vol 2 + 3 and I am eagerly waiting for volumes 4, 5,6 and however more there might be in the works

If you are new to manga comics this might be a bit of a learning curve (as it was for me) but I did not mind as I was quite entertained.

Kudos to the author and the team that brought it to us in english!

This series is great
When I first saw the Hellsing Anime I just had to get the Manga.
Boy was I right. The Manga is 100 times better then the anime and more violent too I might add.

I'm in love with this series. It's got action with style and of course, VAMPIRES! Alucard Rules!

This is one of those mangas that I'll probably read more then 3 times. This series is awesome.

Check it out.....

But first, the manga!
At first, I saw the Hellsing series on DVD. But when I heard it had originated from a mamga, I knew I'd be in for something good. And here's the first volume. It is a combination of funny, witty, bloody and definitely cool. I could stop talkin about it for weeks. Definetly one to buy. ... Read more

Book Description

What's the result when the Nazis hiding in South America engineer an army of vampires and mount an all-out campaign of deathly dominance? Well, one thing you get is a little unity - seems the Protestant Hellsing Organization and the Catholic Iscariot agency might just have to think about teaming up. Looks like the First World War of the undead is about to erupt in history's biggest battle of blood and fangs. Things are just beginning to heat up in the fourth volume of Hellsing! ... Read more

Book Description

Guts, the feared Black Swordsman, finishes his desperate battle with the monstrous Count, cutting and blasting him to gory scraps when the presence of the Count's daughter makes the monster hesitate. But Guts won't even have the time to clean his gigantic sword when the Count's dying pleas activate the Behelit, summoning the five God Hands, demon lords of immeasurable power. Guts' journey so far has been a long road of pain and death, but that's a walk in the park compared to fighting his way out of Hell itself! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolutely amazing!
Oh, how it pains me to read a volume of Berserk, each one leaving me pining even more so for the next one. For fans of the anime series, volume three is THE volume to own! Where the first two books started off showing a bit more of Guts life right at the moment, not much reference is really made to the part of the story shown to us in the anime, which was pretty much one giant flashback.

However, in this volume, we get to see Griffith!! Already a proud member of the demonic Godhand (and loving it, may I add), the interaction between the two is absolutely fascination. And, there is a also a flashback to when Griffith and Guts used to fight battles together, back when Griffith was still Guts' Idol.

And, might I add, I really like Puck, a character unique to the manga alone. With the story being as graphically violent as it is, its kind of nice seeing a little compassion comeing from somewhere at least. This little Elf is pretty darn cute and he does add a bit of comic relief.

But best of all, in this volume, we get to see baby Guts!! He's so cute!! And 3 year old guts, and 6 year old guts, and 9 year old guts! (I'm sure you see a pattern here). After finishing the exciting story arc of the mad ruler turned demon slug type creature, we are shown a flashback of Guts' birth and past growing up. Most of this was depicted in the anime, but we see slight variations. His adopted father, while being depicted in the anime as being moderately cruel all throughout (not counting when he totally loses it at the end), he is shown here with a wider variety of personas, going from horribly cruel, to surprising moments of kindness.

However, the end leaves you hanging with a part of his past that wasn't in the anime at all, so I'm absolutely dying for the next volume. This is a series that you won't want to miss. Berserk is my all time favorite manga and anime ever! ... Read more

Book Description

Intense and full of psychotic action, Hellsing continues its fevered pitch into a dark chaos that defies human logic. Human? Well, there are only a few left in the storyline as the emerging Millennium Project, an army of Nazi undead, is unleashed upon the world. What will surely ensue is a war of blood and nostalgia, with a cool gothic style and increasingly frenetic pace. Envision the Hindenburg, old sharpshooter rifles, and throwback uniforms, mixed with new jet technology and incredibly bold vampires. Hellsing is packed to the gills with radical mysticism and scary apocalypse ... and it's fun as Hell! ... Read more

Book Description

America in the Roaring 20s. On the surface, it's a positive, peaceful time after the violence of the Great War. But lurking in the shadows is a dark element ready to snatch that peace away. Sister Rosette Christopher, an exorcist working as a part of the Magdala Order, has a duty to fight the demons which appear and cause destruction. But along with her companion Chrono, she usually ends up causing more destruction than the demons themselves! On one particular mission, they meet a young girl with a beautiful voice named Azmaria, who is being targeted by her own stepfather. As Rosette and Chrno work to save her, more is revealed about the relationship between them. There is more to these two than meets the eye. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simply one of the best manga series I've ever read
I really can't praise this wonderful series enough. The first volume serves as an introduction for a much darker, highly emotional series, yet is still excellent, full of action and lots of funny moments. The characters are very well written, three dimensional and each one with a very complicated past that gets revealed little by little in the following volumes. In this series nothing is what it seems, but you have to read it for yourself to fully appreciate it. I'm sure everyone is going to fall in love with the characters, most specially Rosette, a strong-willed, optimistic, cheerful person who never gives up, despite her tragic past and uncertain future; and Chrono, a kind and loyal person who supports Rosette in every way possible, keeping all his troubles and his dark past for himself. The story is also excellent, full of twists and very addictive. The artwork is also great. I highly recomend this series, I consider it as one of the best mangas I've read.

If you, by any chance, have seen the anime "Chrno Crusade", simply forget about it and read this manga instead, is at least a thousand times better in every way imaginable (no absurd plot holes or filler episodes), and also has a different, more fluid storyline. Can't go wrong with it! ... Read more

Book Description

As a young Demon Lord-in-training, Raenef has experienced it all--he's fought the good fight, made close friends and developed a deep bond with his tutor Eclipse. Despite his scattered nature, Raenef has learned everything there is to know...and now it's all gone! In this final volume, Raenef finds himself back on the street with holes in his memory, his wallet, and his heart. An unforgettable fate awaits the world's most lovable Demon Lord! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One of the best
Demon Diary has got to be one of the best manga I've ever read. Wait, scratch that. It's actually manwha, seeing it comes from Korea. ^^ The art is just beautiful, as the other reviewers have mentioned. The storyline is good, but having switched authors after the first book, the second author probably changed the storyline. It's a shame though. Most people would expect a big war between the angels and demons, but nope. It ended with a so-so ending. RAENEF AND ECLIPSE DIDN'T EVEN KISS! That's pure evil!! I'm fuming with anger because of that. Other than that, it's a great buy. It's a shame that it ended so soon. Bye bye Demon Diary! T.T

It's over?
I can't believe this series only went 7 volumes (and anyone who's reviewing the series as a whole here is mean because some of us haven't read vol 7 yet). As others have said, the artwork throughout has been amazing. Although there was some stylistic changes when the writers switched, I probably wouldn't have noticed if the intro hadn't highlighted it. What makes the short series even more of a disappointment is that I didn't think that the story warmed up until volumes 5 and 6 where the characters, especially Esclipse and Raenef showed tremendous growth...Very sad to see it end.

The answer to the question...
Okay, since one of the reviewers was confused as to why the ending of volume seven never featured the older Raenef in the first volume, I decided to go ahead and clear that up. *Ahem* You'll notice that Demon Diary had two authors in the series. The first was Lee Chi Hyong, who left shortly after the first book came out due to college entrance exams. When Lee Yun Hee came along, she didn't pick up on that part of the story, therefore, it was never featured. Maybe they believed it was better just to leave it out...Who knows? I'm not going to spoil the ending for the readers, but I must say, it could have been slightly better. It was very good, but I was expecting more...Eh, whatever. It still remains my favorite series still!!

Perfect ending to a perfect series!
It sure is a shock that demon diary is already over! Lets face it, this series was way too short. But of all the ways for a series to end, I love the way demon diary ended.
The series ended just the way it began, wonderfully. It ended with poor little Raenef finally gaining respect of the other demon lords, not to mention the fact that he also regained his memory.
The last book was mainly just a recap, and was tying up loose ends, but it was a great book. I really hope this isn't the end of the demon lord's story!! I hope to see more of these characters soon!
From the beginning i knew that demon diary had a lot of potential. But I never knew it would get so good so quickly! It had a complex plot, but still had enough room to jamm pack loads of hilarious and very cute moments in there. I just loved the story soo much, I'm sorry to see it end.
Demon Diary is one of the very few series' that held my attention long enough for me to read the last novel. I always enjoyed it, and I probably always will. So with that said... GOODBYE DEMON DIARY!!!!!!

Demon Diary, Book 7's fatal end
I have to admit. I love Demon Diary from the bottom of my heart. I love the artwork, I love the story, and everything else about it. Except for one thing, the ending. I'm sorry Lee Yun Hee, but that ending just sucked. I'm a big manga fanatic, so I know what I'm talking about. The first 6 books I absolutely loved and there's something that confuses me in the first book. (If you haven't read the first book, then you won't know what I'm talking about)You know how there's that part in there that shows Raenef as a few years older? Well, it has nothing to do with any of the other books and I thought it would be in the last book. But it wasn't, so that's a big let down. And what about the girl with bunny ears? Anyway, I'm not trying to descourage anyone from buying number 7(or the whole series) I'm just saying that it was a bad way to end the book and was kind of weird(in my opinion). If you haven't bought a book from Demon Diary, then I'm telling you to buy one now and drool over the Great Kara-san's artwork! So think happy thoughts, read lots of manga, and spend lots of money! (^-^;) ... Read more

Book Description

Can the Kirin, a mythical creature of good fortune, fulfill one man's ambition of becoming President of the United States? Mayhem ensues when Leon's younger brother, Christopher, spends a day with Count D. True horror occurs when Count D comes face to face with Leon's apartment! Also, Chris meets a mysterious emerald-eyed girl whose connection to Leon's latest case is an enigma. All wrapped up with an intricate tale of dance, dancers, and dreams. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Dark, complex, clever.
Artwork has evolved and improved in this volume, as have the quality of the stories. The series grows at once darker, more meaningful, convoluted and complex, but also shows greater irony and humor at the same time. Clever writing; nice storytelling. Character development matures in this volume, and we are allowed some insight into the main characters of the series along with the people whose lives they become involved with. I was satisfied overall.

Yet another wonderful installment of a great series!
After the let-down of PSoH #4, I was pleasantly surprised to read this latest volume! Not only are the stories all interesting (and the art is noticably better and/or more dark in tone) but there are a few explainations as well. Also, the addition of Leon's kid brother is welcome ^_^. To me, there seems to be more malice and darkness in the stories, but ironically this is paired with more humor than usual on Count D's part.

All in all, a great continuation of the storyline as well as the one-shot "morality" stories that the series is famous for. ... Read more

Book Description

When Peruvian terrorists abduct Count D and Detective Orcot, they find themselves bound, gagged and held at gunpoint deep in the jungles of South America. With one chance at survival, Leon has no choice but to put his faith in Count D-- and as usual, Count D and his exotic pets have a way of changing a person's life for better or worse. Whether it's a boy's pet that delivers a Christmas surprise or a pet that provides a struggling musician with some off-key inspiration, you can be sure that the count's magic comes with a price. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

my favorite of all the volumes so far.
Okay, first a disclaimer: I'm not a die-hard manga or anime fan. I own a few volumes of CLAMP stuff, but I've never really gotten into the whole genre. So I'm no expert.

Having said that, I am absolutely crazy about this series. It's true that the art isn't the best -- yet. It improves drastically as the series goes on, and by volume 10 (not yet released in English) it just blows me away. But as of volume 2 it's still pretty darn good, so don't let that deter you.

The real reason to buy this manga, as far as I'm concerned, is the characters. Where else are you going to run across a character like Count D? Where else are you going to find such a great foil for him as Leon Orcot? The chemistry between them is beautiful, and this particular volume contains two of my very favorite episodes in the whole manga: "Dragon," at the beginning, and the eco-conscious "Destruction" at the end. Wonderful stuff. My highest recommendation. I can't wait until volume 5's release!

One of the best manga series ever.
At first I was a little worried about buying this manga in English from Tokyo Pop because they've had problems with translation in the past. But with the exception of Count D calling Leon officer instead of Detecive, this is one of the most accurately translated manga's I've seen. The stories are very original and have a haunting moral at the end of some (e.g. Daughter, Dream). But it can also be very funny at times (Count D and his sugar addicition). The art work is very unique and beautiful. Mari Akino puts so much detail into every pannel. This book is definately worth purchasing if you can find it.

It has captured me and refuses to let go...
Not that I want to be let go of course :) This manga drew me in from the very start of the first volume and has only continued to do so in this one as well. Covering the fascinating stories of Dragon, Dice, Delicious, and Destruction, this manga is one you'll have a hard time putting it down till you read it from cover to cover and even then it will pull you back for more (I've already read it at least twice).
I'll admit this manga does have some bloody portions as well as creepy parts (it does have the word horror in its title for a reason), but even if you are the overly sensitive type you should have no problem overlooking these. The story and the art are the main focus here, and Matsuri Akino has a wonderfully beautiful, yet mysterious way, of portraying both. You can't help but tingle in dreaded excitement as some of the more unlucky owners' fates unfold. The tales are sometimes heartwarming (such as in Dice), and yet sometimes there is a illfated case where you feel as if some type of justice has been served (such as in Delicious). It's hard to boil the stories down like this, as they are all such a wonderful mix. There's even some comedy thrown in (such as the conversations between Leon and Count D).
Plus where else can you see so many mythical creatures being interwoven into a story so smoothly? :) All in all it's a must read.

Terribly exciting!
My little sis kept bribing me to read some trigun and that sort, but I read about one small manga and thought, 'this has no real story plot'... i am known to be a biased person, and yesterday i was in florida with my friend on spring break and we went to the mall. well, it was quite early because we had to catch a flight that afternoon and wed never been there before. nothing was open but the bookstore. well, we went in and i was looking through the graphic novels for my little sister and i found these PSoH books that grabbed my attention. being an old good charlotte fan, i thought that the instant that i picked up this books that the man on the cover, soon discovered to be the notorious 'count d' looked alot like good charlotte bass player billy martin, who i have been nuts over for as long as i can remember... so beautiful, but off topic. so, i read the back and bought it out of sheer curiosity to read on the plane and give to my little sister later. so we went to the airport and got to our terminal a lot earlier than expected and i decided to pull out the book, ten minutes till flight. well, i finished PSoH before my flight and was so excited about telling my little sister to get more! instead of ever giving my little sis a chance to read it, i read it over and over and over, all day yesterday and tonight, i went to the local Borders and bought all the ones i could find to read! so these books are A++++ and i reccomend them to anyone, fun-filled, gory, and beautiful artwork. keep up the good work!

A wonderfully diverse manga
I can say that I'm biased from the get-go because PSoH is my second-favorite manga of all time. BUT, this is not without foundation. PSoH is the *only* manga that I've found that can suck in anybody of all ages (not that manga isn't appealing to all ages), including the most difficult subject of all: my mother.
That said, there is something about the characters, the emotions, and the mysterious storyline that makes PSoH one of those manga you simply must buy. Each story, while possible to stand on its own, is also part of a much larger plotline and all have little hidden clues within that merit multiple reads. This particular volume I have read about four times, and it doesn't get old. The art, in my opinion, is exquisite, and as said in one of the other reviews, it only gets better as the series progresses. This is true in any manga you find (Oh My Goddess! comes to mind). If only they would print the forepages in color as they were originally in the digest run!

This issue in particular is very very well-written and entertaining. Worth the cover price and more. ^_^ ... Read more

Book Description

Motorcycle mania has gotten the best of Megumi, college student (and Goddess roommate) Keiichi Morisato's little sister. Driven to be the best biker around, she decides to test her skill against the Phantom Racer, a ghostly apparition that sometimes appears on a dark stretch of country road. Keiichi and his earthbound-goddess girlfriend, Belldandy, aren't far behind to keep an eye on her, but Megumi better watch the road, because racing phantoms could get her killed! Meanwhile, at Keiichi's technical school, the cybernetic creations of a nutty professor nicknamed "Dr. Moreau" are trouble waiting to happen. Can Keiichi and Belldandy stop the crazed Doctor from unleashing mechanized mayhem on the unsuspecting college campus? ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Is thins manga worth getting?
Very Scary!!! This manga tells the story of a cursed video, in which after you watch it you die in seven days. It is similar to the american movie, but keeps with the japanese movie series more. It can be very scary if your reading it at night! Definately worth getting!!

Is this book worth getting??
The Ring is definately worth getting. Some of the drawings can be a little better, but that is basically the only bad part. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. It is very creepy and mysterious, especially if your reading it late at night. It is similar to the movie, but keeps to the Japanese series.

A must-read horror manga!!
Wow...Well I first hard about this awsome manga in a magazine called "NEWTYPE" as some of you probably hard of. This manga is great!(...I just orderd the novel today XD) It`s alot better from the movie. The movie adds alot of extra stuff, and takes away some of the main idea...or atleast that`s my opinoin. This manga is long, thought if you get into it, like I did, you should enjoy the read(I loved it soo much I just read it all day though XD) What I think the message of the manga is that you would do anything for love...Yes I know that it apears very vague in the manga. But I think that that is the message because that`s (or so I think) the whole idea behind Reiko looks for how her son to not die. Because I thought it seemed like she didn`t care if she died aslong as her son didn`t die. But anyway...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................JUST READ THIS GREAT MANGA!!

In this case, a picture is worth more than 1000 words.
Waiting around at a Borders two days ago, I pulled up a stool near their modest collection of manga. Usually, I thumb through a copy of Sailor Moon manga, but my eyes were drawn away and towards The Ring, which had not been there during my last visit several weeks ago.

I had originally intended for only a quick read, but I ended up spending 40 minutes going on a mental and emotional thrill ride. Awesome must-read, with an exceptionally creepy ending (which I will NOT share here).

Like the book, it has NOTHING to do with the "before you die, you see the ring" theme of the Hollywood movie. The horror is more intangible than obvious, with much of it left to the imagination.

I don't usually like horror-related books or anything else (besides Castlevania), but I LOVED this manga, and I really want to get the book.

An EXELLENT manga!
This is a story about Reiko, a Japanese journalist. After her neice dies a gruesome death, she starts investigating an urban legend. The legend is that if you see a cursed video tape, you'll die in exactly seven days. Reiko watches the movie, and, enlisting the help of her ex-husband, finds out how to break the curse. During her research, her young son Yoichi accidentally watches the movie, as well. Can't tell ya how it ends, though! ^_~ This is an exellent manga, and I highly reccomend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Ji Ye is a Korean art student who comes to Europe to study. Her brushstrokes aren't going as well as she would like, but she’s determined to make it as an artist. One evening her friend brings a drunk man over to crash at her pad. That night she has bad dreams that the drunk is really a blood-sucking vampire. But when she wakes up, she realizes it wasn't a dream! Unafraid, she's suddenly bitten by the creative bug, and starts to paint his portrait. His beauty and alluring preternatural energy lets Ji Ye's artistic juices flow, and the two strike a deal: Ji Ye will allow the vampire to feed on her, and in return he will pose for her. This could be exactly what Ji Ye needs to finally succeed as a painter-- but at what price? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Kyaaaah! MODEL! *dazed by the beuty*
A modern vampire story with a classic, sensual edge! "Model," having the bold lines and eloquent finish characteristic of good Korean manhwa, met elegance as well as drama with the sexiest vampire to grace the pages of a manhwa. This first volume was a little slow in my opinion, not really hinting at the storyline the rest of the volumes would until the very end. Nonetheless, the gorgeous art was more than enough to compensate for the slow developement. Also the INCREDIBLY HOT GUYS didn't hurt much either! *drool*. . . yummy vampire and son. ^__^

Beautiful!
Oh, I really wanted to review this manhwa first....Anyhoo.... Yeah, I went to go snag this baby the first day it came out at BORDERS! (Ask the people in Oakbrook, they know me there TOO well, ha ha ^^) Okay, I'm a freak for manga/manhwa...So what are you gonna do? This book features very wonderfully drawn artwork. Lee So Young is a very talented manga ka, and every page of this book will get you drooling. Are you people all clear with the concept that this is a manHWA and therefore indicates it is NOT Japanese?! (Excuse me, but I am Korean and we are so sick of people giving the Japanese too much credit for what's ours.) No, I'm NOT racist!! Just....mad!!! ERAAAARGGH!!! *Eclipse is holding Lady Sephiroth down as she prepares to launch Dark Arrow* If you folks haven't read this, you don't know what you're missing!!! *Eclipse lets her go* And check out Demon Diary! It's a scream!! Eclipse is so hot!!! (MINE!!!) Mwahahaha!
READ "MODEL", VERMIN!!!!

Is her art worth dying for?
Desperately seeking bishounen? You might want to check out this series! Lee So-Young has crafted a gothic-style vampire series that is likely to appeal to many of the shoujo audience who enjoy a blend of horror and fantasy with plenty of sexy anime guys appearing on the pages. While the story is not particularly new or fresh, the art treatment is excellent and the overall presentation is bound to attract fans of manga who also like such shows as Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and anime like Night Walker.

Ji Ye is an artist studying Europe when the unexpected happens. She winds up with a drunken vampire in her apartment that drinks her blood. Rather than freaking out at this, Ji's dedication to her pursuit of art makes her decide that the beautiful male vampire is her perfect model for a portrait. The two strike a deal. Ji will allow the vampire to have her blood, if he will allow her to paint him. Of course, Ji's in for a dangerous time of it, the vampire's inscrutable motives for allowing her to live and paint him are puzzling. The complicated characters of the vampire, Michael, and his mysterious servants leave a mystery that is too irresistible for Ji Ye to leave alone. Ji is perhaps the most refreshing character in this story, her obsession and fascination with painting tempered by a stubborn curiosity and a refusal to simply give in to the moody and threatening vampire. I enjoyed the overall story, although at times the plot was a bit too predictable or cliché for my liking.

The artwork shows the true strength of Lee So-Young's craft. She creates rich, textured backgrounds that evoke the mood and themes of this story beautifully. Old castle-like mansions, elegant clothing, and atmospheric touches all pay homage to the traditional vampire stories. The two main male characters featured in this first volume are extreme examples of bishounen art. Both extremely effeminate in appearance-too much for my personal taste-they do convey an air of unworldly beauty and alien motivations; separate from the world of Ji Ye and her peers.

Overall, this series will probably fit best with those readers who like paranormal romances, with overly romanticized vampires. There is little violence or nudity to contend with, but the subject matter and relationships are not necessarily appropriate to younger preteen audiences. A good manga with a decent storyline and creative, stylized art work that melds well with its chosen subject. A definite recommend to the shoujo vampire fan!

Happy reading! ^_^ Shanshad

A great vampire manga.
Jea has graduated and moved to Europe to pursue her dream to become an artist. She's been living there for four years and one day her boy-magnet girlfriend Melissa comes knocking at her door with the most beautiful, drunken young man you could ever see begging her to let him stay the night at her house as he has passed out. She gets totally pissed off at her for leaving him there to go see her boyfriend, especially considering she was flirting with him all night beforehand.

She's unable to sleep that night on behalf of there being a complete stranger in her house and then has a dream of him pinning her to the bed and biting into her neck. She wakes to believe it was all a dream and when she steps out of bed to go get a glass of water, already feeling paranoid enough as it is, steps on his arm outstratched from underneath her bed to realize he actually had bitten her, and after stepping on his arm he gets up on her bed and bites her neck again still drunken all this time.

After waking up from having passed out she finds herself inspired and begining to sketch him...until he wakes up and detests it! He blows his top about her having undressed his upper have for the purpose of the sketch. He's mad that a mear mortal dared to touch his body.(*cough Narcissist.*cough, damn those allergies!)

She goes on to tell him that she considered them even for him haven drank her blood, and not having realized he had drank her blood from being intoxicated, he throws up. Although realizing her blood isn't "Tainted", he admits to liking her "Type" of blood and they strike a deal. "Quid Pro Quo", he poses as her model in return for her blood and the story begins.

I'm still reading through this first book of it that I got earlier today, but I find it to have quite beautiful artwork and a very interesting story so far. If you like vampires (*cough He's hot too.*cough) as much as I do, you should definitly buy this first book. If you do I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! ... Read more

Book Description

In 2002, The Ring came to American silver screens and brought a whole new style of horror and suspense to the States. Based on a series of novels by Suzuki Koji, The Ring became a media franchise in Japan with its fascinatingly creepy, yet scientific and otherworldly subject matter. Not to mention its very scary "monster," the spirit of a girl whose body was dropped in a well many years past. As you'll find reading through Dark Horse's series of Ring manga, this story is rich with an undergrowth of science and hatred, of strong will behind the murderous ghost of Sadako. Birthday, the fourth in a series of five Ring manga, is a trilogy of stories, each enriching the main storyline of The Ring series. "The Casket Floating in the Sky" centers on Mai Takano, and how she becomes wrapped deeper into Sadako's grasp. "Lemon Heart" tells of one of Sadako's early loves, and eerily wraps itself back into the plotline of Mai Takano. The "Sadako" story goes into the depths of both Sadako's death and her rebirth. Slowly, the details of how The Ring truly works are trickling out into the daylight. ... Read more