Book Review: Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Vols. 1 & 2

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 1 story by Takaya Kagami and art by Yamato Yamamoto

In the not too distant future, humanity is decimated by a virus that they invented. The vampires come up from underground and kidnap children, hoping to get control of their food supply which has suddenly dwindled. The story starts with a group of orphans from Hyakuya Orphanage who are planning an escape. Mika is reluctant since he's been giving blood willingly to get favors, but that's a ruse to get access to maps and information to make the escape likely. His friend Yuichiro is a bit of a loner but goes along. The plan goes awry when the vampire Lord Ferid shows up just before they hit the exit. A battle ensues, leaving one of them to escape to the surface where all is not as it seems.

The story is an interesting and creative setup. The world is a lot more complicated than the initial premise that the orphans hear, which is a good thing. The story above ground builds a lot more structure to enable an interesting future for the series. I am hooked!

Recommended.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 2 story by Takaya Kagami and art by Yamato Yamamoto

Four years later, Yuichiro has joined the Japanese Imperial Demon Army. The army's purpose is to wipe out the vampires, something Yuichiro is ready and willing to do. To prove he's able, he has to go through academic classes and training, which is not what he wants. Worse, the teachers want him to learn teamwork, even setting him with Kimizuki, another kid who thinks he's ready and able to take out vampires. They have to pass a test to get Cursed Gear--weapons that will kill vampires. That training is a lot tougher than it seems. Meanwhile, Yuichiro's friend Mika, who supposedly died in their escape from the underground four years ago, is revealed to still be alive, though maybe not technically since he is now a vampire working against the humans.

I was a little disappointed with the story when it shifted into the typical manga school drama that's in so many other stories. By the end of this volume, it looks like they will pull out of that narrative and get back to more direct action. The developments around the Cursed Gear are interesting, since they are weapons that are possessed by demons, thus giving them enhanced power. I guess I am sticking around for more.

Mildly recommended.