Manga Review: Vampire Knight(Vol.3) by Matsuri Hino

Vampire Knight, vol.3 by Matsuri Hino is Shōjo manga published by Viz Media, released October 2007  with a list price $8.99 and rated T for Teens (older teens). A brief recap of the story thus far: The Cross Academy, headed by Headmaster Cross, has two sets of classes: The Day Class and the Night Class. The Night class are made up of nocturnal creatures of the night and man’s natural enemy: vampires. The Day Class is completely unaware of the vampires that inhabit the academy with them. Pacifist Cross finds the co-existence between vampires and humans to be a educational bridge leading to peace. However, that peace is precarious at best at the Academy.

Disciplinary Committee member, Yuki Cross was adopted by Headmaster Cross after being attacked by a pureblood vampire 10 years ago. Her partner, Zero Kiryu, arrived at the Cross Academy after his family of vampire hunters were attacked and killed by a pureblood vampire. Zero was the only survivor and has sworn vengeance against all vampires. Zero since the attack, carries hatred of himself after learning that he was bitten by a pureblood vampire, a woman named Shizuka Hio, who we learn is still alive.

Night Class President, Kuname Kuran is the pureblood vampire who saved Yuki’s life on that fateful day ten years ago. Since then Yuki has been  infatuated with him. That is until she sees a different side to him. While Kuname is different and has a close relationship to Yuki, he still frightens her. Plus, Zero seems to be jealous of their relationship and often tries to make things difficult between them.

Zero’s self-loathing and hatred of all vampires causes Yuki much distress that is until she learns his secret(vol.1). Yuki made a promise to Zero, that if he ever were to turn against her that she would kill him. Later on in the second volume, Zero and Yuki commit a forbidden act: Zero drinks her blood since his body rejects the blood tablets. Blood tablets are supposed to help relieve him of his thirst for blood. It is in that act that Zero looses all power to fight his vampiric urges. In the latest volume (3), Zero is handed an assignment to track down a level E vampire: a serial killer whose been on a rampage. This directive is a test of Zero’s ability to see how successful he is as a vampire hunter.

In volume 3 we are introduced to a couple of new story arcs. First there’s the transfer student new to the academy that promises to make things interesting. A young girl named Maria Kurenai seems frail and demure but personality wise she comes off very robust. We also get to meet one of the oldest vampires on the Senate, Ichijo’s grandfather, who seems to have some ulterior purpose for his grandson. The whole Night Class is there to greet him at the Moon Dormitory and it is in that scene that we learn that Kuname has enemies.

I enjoyed this volume very much. The author decides to give readers a flashback of how Kuname and Yuki first met and to reveal to us the “change” in their relationship. Their relationship is perceived by everybody else as being “close” but Yuki sees things differently. She has vowed to be with Zero in his time of need yet she still yearns for Kuname. Plus there’s the little problem of Kuname being a pureblood vampire and that she’s terrified of him.

There seems to be a hierarchy in the vampire culture that plays a significant role in this series that I find compelling. Pureblood vampires are stronger and more powerful and I assume they are rare. Humans that are transformed into vampires are a bit lower on the totem pole and those vampires who cannot suppress their blood lust are eliminated by vampire hunters. There are secret organizations and societies that govern vampire law and only reveal themselves when something goes amiss. I love it when the author goes into the dynamics of this culture.

So far this series has been a lot of fun. I admit to not quite following the action sequences in certain scenes but the men drawn in here are quite beautiful. I love the complications that make up Zero and his life and maybe his attraction to Yuki? I love the quiet strength and dangerous temptation that is Kuname, a pureblood vampire who is left with obligations because of his lineage. Then there is Yuki in the middle of these two strong men. Kuname tells Zero that the only reason he is allowing him to live is so that he can  protect Yuki. Kuname knows of his secret and of his ”pretending” to be human.

Vampire Knight is available right now, in paperback and is still an ongoing series. I really enjoyed the storyline in here and look forward to the next volume. My grade, B+.

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