This dark supernatural fiction starts with the question, “Why does Vlad the Impaler look like a young girl?” in chapter two. The first facetious and obvious response that comes to mind is “because Japan.” Vlad Tepes, the renowned warlord, voivode of Wallachia, and impaler of corpses, might certainly be reincarnated as an attractive young female if Oda Nobunaga could in many forms of Japanese media. Throughout Blood Blade’s past, Vlad was the loyal guardian of his little border region, purposefully turning into a terrifying figure to ward off potential attackers. He didn’t kill individuals to leave gory warnings on the sides of the road; rather, he took already-dead bodies from cemeteries and impaled them.
Vlad developed superhuman abilities over the course of his existence, but the fear and hate of other people twisted and changed his physical shape. His weakened essence somehow—and it’s not clear how or why—escapes the heap of decomposing flesh he had become and reincarnates as a lively adolescent manga girl. It must be much easier to sell manga featuring attractive young girls slaying monsters than it would be if the identical action were taken by an old, malformed blob.
The illustrations by author Oma Sei are incredibly detailed, with a liberal application of rich black inks appropriate for the gothic European backdrop and a light, scratchy look for the appealing characters. Sei’s backgrounds are largely taken from photographs, which creates an appropriately opulent, dismal vibe. But occasionally, the more simpler characters in the foregrounds seem a little out of place. Manga has a long history of using this method; simply take a look at the works of renowned artist Ryōichi Ikegami to see how well-versed in it Sei is. In general, their work appears to be quite accomplished.
The new female Vlad is largely mysterious; she appears driven by irrational impulses, as evidenced by her first choice to save Clara from her would-be killer. Vlad is impetuous, constantly reprimanded by her caregiver/maid Nan, and has particular eating preferences. Despite being a vampire now (it’s hinted that she was just human in her previous male form), she only feeds on Nan and not other people, and she despises carrots in addition to having a weakness for garlic. She seems to have some morality and a sense of duty to her people, far from the horrific demonic presence of other well-known Dracula incarnations. That and a ferocious desire to fight using her blade. She’s also a little behind the times, having spent years alone in her musty castle. She doesn’t know what gunpowder or firearms are.
Clara resembles the conventional lovely blonde “nice girl,” but she is actually a golem that was pieced together from dead people. She has been left to warn other “monsters” about the plans of the terrible organization Cerberus and its commander, the “Imperial Justiciar,” who is also heavily scarred, following the death of her adored grandfather and the man who created Dr. Frankenstein. Is he meant to be the first, nameless monster created by Frankenstein? Fans of The Case Study of Vanitas and Undead Girl Murder Farce will probably find a lot to like in this novella, which has tone and plot similarities to both films.
This comic, which follows the “monster of the week” style as our main trio makes their way to Monster Island’s seeming safety, was created with the intention of “bring the spotlight back onto these monsters of yore,” according to Sei. Nan, Vlad’s attendant, has the ability to shape-shift; she has appeared as a bear, a crow, and even a dragon that breathes fire. Due to Vlad “draining her,” she has transformed back into the adorable glasses-girl she was in the past, despite memories showing her as an older woman. Mmm-hmm. In addition to the half-werewolf guy with the goateed eyepatch, we also see a male and female couple in bandages in the first few chapters. I wonder whether they are meant to be mummies. Perhaps one of the most entertaining aspects of next chapters will be the game “Spot the classic monster reference.”
Regarding the deeper issues, Vlad remarks, “People are a bloodthirsty lot,” as she walks through a community that has been devastated by battle. It begs the question, “Who are the real vampires?” It’s already clear that humans are most likely the evil guys because of the presence of the human-run organization Cerberus and its unethical experiments conducted on the bodies of monsters. Though this is only the first book, the theme hasn’t been thoroughly or nuancedly addressed up to this point.
Blood Blade didn’t blow me away, but it’s still a good read, especially for fans of classic horror who want to see their beloved creatures given a contemporary Japanese manga twist. Although I don’t think it’s captivated my interest enough to make me want to read more, it’s a solid manga that should attract some readers.
