Honey Blood Vol. 1 TPPublisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Price: $9.99
Creator: Miko Mitsuki
Format: 192 pgs., B&W, Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9-781-4215-7337-3
Age Rating: 13+
ICv2 Rating: 3 stars out of 5
In this story from author Miko Mitsuki, the heroine is a girl named Hinata who attends a school where everyone is on edge due to mysterious attacks happening in the area which are seemingly being done by a vampire. Coincidentally, the author of a popular vampire book series named Junya Tokinaga moves in next door. As the two grow closer, Hinata begins to suspect that Junya is actually a vampire himself but could he be the attacker that everyone is looking for?
This is another book that I knew very little about before picking it up but once I started reading it was hard for me to put it down thanks to it having so many excellent points. The first thing that anyone would notice about this first volume is the beautiful character designs. While Hinata could be any girl walking down the street (which isn't to say that she looks plain or ordinary, far from it actually), Junya is drawn with loving detail that makes him pop off every page that he appears on. In particular pay close attention to the details that are crafted into each piece of art whenever there is a close up of his face and hair.
The story in this volume is also very good however if there are any flaws to be found, this is where people are going to find them. The first thing to note is that if you're the type to scoff at yet another story featuring an older vampire character going after an underage girl, Honey Blood is going to set your nerves on end. While never overtly graphic, Junya is a very sexual character who isn't afraid to get physical and intimate with the girl that he has set his eyes on.
Additionally this book suffers from poor pacing. Some people are going to enjoy the rapid pace at which the relationships in this book progress, personally I found that things moved a little too fast as within a hundred or so pages we go from the main characters hating each other to tearfully confessing their love for each other.
If you can get past and enjoy the sexuality presented within these pages, this is a solid first volume for yet another addition into the vampire genre. Mostly well done, Honey Blood will be difficult to put down for those with a little more maturity.
--L.B. Bryant
