Vampire Princess Miyu, Vol. 2: Encounters

The first thing that you'll think upon opening this graphic novel is, "oooh...Pretty..." And it is. The flowing lines of the drawings make them seem like they really move. The characters all have pretty doll-like faces that are nothing but eye candy for the reader. The stories can get a little awkward if you don't read them closely, it may take a second reading to get everything straight, but just to look at the pictures is reason enough to buy this graphic novel. Even prettier than Yu Watase, and much darker and more surreal. Even those who aren't fans of the series will love this novel.

For the sake of clarity, the techies have decided to post my review of Volume one of Vampire Princess Miyu on all editions of the series. This review is specifically relevant to Volume II and should be read as such."In a world of dark cold night they are sleeping . . . a land which knows no time of peace. Beckoned by human shouls in chaos, they slip from the darkness. I hunt these stray Shinma. And I am the guardian of their sleep." Bittersweet and thought provoking, Vampire Miyu is not your typical gothic vampire. This eternally young girl is cursed by her destiny to send stray shinma (demons) back to the dark. To the humans on which she must feed she grants eternal happiness. Her only companion in this destiny is Larva, a shinma who is bound to her by blood as her servant.These graphic novels are like poetry, rich in imagery and metaphor, meant to be read several times over before the layers of meanings are grasped. The lush art style is darkly beautiful, and complements the story well. Ironcat studios has done English-speaking fans a great service by translating Miyu's story for a whole new set of readers.Having accepted her past in volume one, Volume two deals with Miyu's hunt of stray shinma. The title: Encounters, is appropriate, as Miyu encounters the bizarre and extraordinary, even in the universe of the vampire girl. These encounters will strike readers as right off the pages of a fairy tale, only these are dark fairy tales, and few have happy endings. Mermaids summon handsome young men down to a strange aquarium, the myth of the doll forest and Pinocchio come to life, and men with wings seek to keep their little birds in cages. I've reread this volume about four times and I've yet to discover all the layers at work.One complaint with Ironcat's production here, it seems like the artwork was not fit as exactly to page as the first Volume and at times the text and pictures are slightly cut off at the bottom of the page. It's a bit of a flaw in an otherwise shining work.Please note that this review is for the second book in the series: Vampire Princess Miyu: Encounters specifically.Happy reading! ^_^ shanshad