Moonphase 1-6 impressions
Some mangas age better as others. I’m not sure how Moonphase was received in 2000, but now it definitely seems bland next to the sleuth of Vampire manga now available, especially the extremely similar Rosario Vampire. Still, Moonphase is still fun in a sort of campy sort of way.
The story follows Kouhei, a photographer, who free Hazuki from her imprisonment in a caste, and ends up with the 14-year old vampire as a companion. Things get complicated as the vampires previously watching over her attempt to take her back, and Hazuki goes on a search to find her mother.
The first few volumes are actually pretty good, story wise, as well as pretty intense. Kouhei ends up hospitalized, and nearly dies, as well as a torture scene. The characters, while not original by any means, are not shallow, and are pretty entertaining to watch mesh together. The storyline gets wilder as the series continues, past the point of reason, but the characters continue to be fun to read about.
The one thing I really didn’t like is the constant jokes about Kouhei taking advantage oh Hazuki. Hazuki is 14 years old, and looks younger. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, it was actually downright creepy, and just gets creepier as it continues.
Moonphase has been released up to volume 13. Currently, Tokyopop has put it on hold.
Though she is awfully cute...
