Dance In The Vampire Bund Omnibus three review

First allow me to say I hate the cover for this omnibus with a full on "cheesecake" portrait of "true form" Mina, it give off the impression of simply being a fan service heavy series, I realize this was one of the original covers of the three volumes. Which are contained in here and there is a heavy amount of nudity in the series but this just feels like a cheap marketing ploy. All that being said the three volumes inside further show what a rich morally gray universe, Nozomu Tamaki is able to create with his characters. From Akira shutting Mina out emotionally over past traumas, Mina's further bonding with Yuki (which I feel is some of the strongest character interaction in the series) to the introduction of Akira's and Angel's past the writing is quiet at times claustrophobic and has the tense masterful build up of the last half of Fullmetal Alchemist, in the final battle. While the battles and imagery are drawn in fast paced hyper detailed style with an emphasis on realism and fluid panel lay out that captures the sweat, blood, and breaking of bones to the crack of shot gun shells and the chaos of invasion. One of the few artistic sins of the series are the generic faces of the characters that all look the same except for hair or other distinguishing features like skin tone, this continues to be a series that makes for a thrilling action and relationship piece despite the often times fetishistic treatment of Mina in her true form and "child" form. Again that's a part that I had no real problem with because it made sense in the story even if I felt the element of almost tentacle rape was a bit much. Historical allusions to The Russian Revolution where a nice touch as well. This continues to be enthralling and the twists and turns left me breathless at the dizzying pace of action. While also showing the sometimes conflicted emotional lives of the characters in a way that was quiet understated and powerful. The relationship between Akira and his little brother Yuuhi, stands out showing the dark world of The Bund against the na ve innocence, of a child as Akira drives his little brother away for his "own good." Only finally to draw closer to his little brother and allow himself to feel after having to numb himself simply to function. While Mina is shown to be a queen I would proudly serve it's also tragic to see that even her simplest dreams lie unfulfilled due to, the machinations of the three clans and court intrigue. It's Mina's softer tender moments that made me like her even more as a character from stumbling over what to say to console Akira, trying to bolster a now mute Yuki's spirits or being reunited with the fangless children after the quarantine she was placed on due to the events of the last three volumes. Showing a leader with a heart full of love and concern but also an iron will to rule for the good of her people and defend them, these volumes are less Akira's story and more of Mina and her growth and trying to figure out life in it's complexities. These three volumes leave use with a amazing twist at the end that is subtle and insidious in it's implications, while also not feeling contrived.
Full Post