Chibi Vampire

By Yuna Kagesaki (TokyoPop)
ISBN: 1-59816-322-1

This supernatural teen comedy takes a few liberties with the traditional concept of vampires and some more genteel readers might have a few problems with the underlying metaphor in this tale of a family of immigrant Nosferatu whose middle daughter is a little different from most bloodsuckers.

Karin produces an excess of blood and about once a month is forced to expel it by biting someone. As well as injecting rather than draining her victims (which hyper-energises them) she is also able to move safely in daylight and sleep at night. Her peculiar life is disrupted when a new student Kenta Usui transfers to her High School – another thing most vampires can avoid.

Whenever he is near her condition manifests: She gets hot and dizzy, her blood pounds and the excess gushes out of her nose…

This gross-out horror comedy-romance has more charm than you’d expect from my description and as Karin discovers the meaning of her rare but not unique condition this nine volume tale really comes into its own. The comic strip, which originally appeared in Monthly Dragon Age between 2003 and 2006, spawned a series of Light Novels and an anime TV show.

Entitled simply Karin in Japan, the English version takes its name from the word “Chibi” which translates as “Short Person” or “Small Child”, but whatever you call it, you should also read it…

© 2003 Yuna Kagesaki. English text © 2006 Tokyopop Inc. All Rights Reserved.