Blood Alone Vol.1 by Masayuki Takano was a very interesting and captivating read for me. One of the few manga titles that compelled me to run out and buy the second volume that’s out right now. Luckily for me, I did find it. Here is the description of the story:
Enter Misaki, perhaps the most innocent and most sincere young lady there ever was. It’s almost inconceivable that she could be a vampire. And with her powers as a vampire, she could easily entice any human to do her biding… but she chooses not to. Especially when it comes to Kuroe, a young author who has a deep running past with vampires.
Here is yet another love story that for me was very, very good. Misaki is a vampire who is forever trapped in the body of a young woman. Her partner is aspiring author Kuroe, who looks after Misaki and takes care her. Kuroe is human. However, he has a gift of “adivuarat kurai” which translates to “the eyes that see the truth.” A gift left over from a vampiric attack. The author doesn’t go into how they met. Only that they share a past that includes vampires.
There is a plot that was not exactly original but still pretty good. In “Soul Slave”, the story starts off with a lawyer visiting his condemned client who has been slated for execution. Upon this last visit, something happens behind closed doors. Something to do with a “last request” that the condemned murderer asks of his lawyer. Enter Ms. Sainome, from forensics who has the “gift” of seeing a dead person’s “memories” and uses this skill to track down a murderer who may have been on the loose for…centuries. How is that possible you ask? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Blood Alone’s artwork is pretty good. The text is pretty clear and legible. This manga reads left to right and it’s geared toward children +13 years and up. Misaki and Kuroe make a memorable couple. The way they treat each other, take care of each other was engaging. Misaki seems new to the vampire world in that she uses very little of her vampiric powers. There is a scene where such power used does cost Misaki a little of her humanity. Kuroe and Misaki do share a similar past in that both have had their run-ins with vampires. Their past is explore a tiny bit here but not very much is revealed which is why I ran out to get Volume 2.
Overall, Blood Alone was a 2006 release and it’s one series I’m very keen on right now. I see a third installment is slated for 2007. My grade, B+. Strongly recommend this title to all manga fans who enjoy horror stories. Infinity Studios is the publisher. Feb 2006 was the release date for this title.
Technorati Tags: Manga Review, Blood Alone (vol.1), Vampires, Romance
