Have you ever noticed the similarities between reclusive otaku culture and vampire lore? Me neither, but Julietta Suzuki brilliantly makes the connection in her newest romantic comedy, Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite.
[This review covers volumes 1 and 2 / Content Warnings: discussion of consent, bodily autonomy, creepy vampires, blood, alcohol, obsession, dominance / Spoilers for volume 1 and brief reference to volume 2]
When the joys of anime and fandom catch the eye of a Romanian vampire, she moves to Japan to live out her dreams as a die-hard otaku. Much to her father’s dismay, Hina is a “modern” vampire. Biting a human is the last thing she wants to do, and instead she gets her sustenance from blood bags. Hina has little interest in living a stereotypical vampire existence and is far happier going to anime-themed cafes, fangirling online, and amassing a hoard of collectibles. When she befriends her neighbor, a guy who looks nearly identical to her favorite anime character, he might just make her dreams come true.
The Story:
Many vampire stories explore issues around obsession, isolation, and consent, and these topics are certainly at play in this series. It’s especially interesting how Suzuki connects these themes to otaku and fandom culture. As a writer it gives her a lot of room to explore.
The story centers on Hina and her neighbor, a college-aged boy, Kyuta who bears a startling resemblance to her favorite anime character, Mao (and let’s be real, he’s her husbando). Hina does a fairly good job at distinguishing Kyuta as his own person and not as a fictional character to be objectified by her, but that doesn’t stop her from trying desperately to get him to become just as obsessed with Mao as she is, much to his annoyance.
Early on we find out that for some mysterious reason, Kyuta is a vampire magnet. Much like Sookie Stackhouse or Bella Swan, vampires can’t get enough of Kyuta which puts him at risk constantly. Although to some this might come off as a little Mary-Sue-ish, Kyuta isn’t lacking in the personality department, and it’s through this lens that the narrative starts to explore issues surrounding consent. That coupled with Hina’s adventures to a bar and later her run in with an aggressive otaku who wants to treat her like a servant at a maid cafe, we see this theme come up again and again.
Whether or not this story has some greater message for the anime/manga community, or is simply a fun exploration remains unseen as of volume 2, but it’s a fun ride nonetheless. And so far, the story balances darker themes with comedy, while not undermining itself.
Like Kamisama Kiss, there is a wide cast of characters who bring so much life and hi-jinx to the series. The budding relationship between our two main characters is also fun to witness, as Suzuki reminds us that she is a master at writing the opposites-attract trope. It’s also refreshing to see a vampire/human pairing that has a female vampire with a male human. It’s far too common for it to be the other way around. I feel like the genderswap allows for a lot of nuance in the writing, especially around the portrayal of femininity.
In the anime that Hina is obsessed with, her favorite character is noble and princely, and she longs to be rescued and swept up by him. Too bad she is an all-powerful vampire and is anything but a damsel. It’s interesting to see Hina balance her romantic fantasies with her true vampiric nature. She clearly wants to tap into a soft, feminine side of herself, despite her obvious power. I’m just hoping that somewhere along the way, she realizes that she can have it both ways. And maybe Kyuta will allow her to see that.
The Art:
As always, Suzuki has wonderful character designs. So prepare to be delighted by all the beautifully flowing hair, the mixture of comical and whimsical expressions. And if you happen to be into fashion, the outfits in this series are certain to end up on your mood board. Almost every panel in these 2 volumes is filled to the brim with lovely artwork, leaving very little blank space on the page without feeling cluttered or overwhelming. There is a clean flow of action and the character’s expressiveness brings the work to life.
Overall these first two volumes are enjoyable, funny, and relatable. Especially for those of us who spend a lot of time hanging out in fandom. You’ve either witnessed these types of people at your local anime convention or you are one. Either way, you’re sure to have a good time with this read.
Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite is an ongoing series in Japan. There are 7 volumes currently out, with 2 volumes available in English by Viz Media. Volume 3 is set to release in English on April 1st.
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