Summary:

A lifetime ago, he was known as Count Vlad Dracula. Now he's been reborn again, this time in an alternate-history Europe, in the body of a young woman. Now she's fighting the good fight against many enemies—including a new one.

After saving a young girl (Clara), Dracula finds herself going up against an organization known as Cerberus. Their paths were doomed to cross eventually, given the organization's mission of hunting and studying monsters of the world.

Review:

Dracula as a sword master in the modern world? Well, color me curious. Blood Blade Vol. 1 is a dynamic beginning to a world where Dracula has been reborn, again as a vampire, but this time as a woman with katana skills.

It’s unique, to say the least. I know some people will hate the concept right off the bat, and that’s fair. These stories aren’t for everyone. Nor are they all equal. For example, I don’t hate the core concept, but I do feel like this one fell a little flat.

The concept of our leading lady having to protect Frakenstein’s monster from monster hunters is pretty fun, though. Again, this combination of elements is not going to be for everyone. These plots do better when the creators don’t take themselves (or the story) too seriously. That said, I don’t feel like Blood Blade Vol. 1 worked to push any boundaries with this mash-up, losing the potential it had.

Highlights:
Dracula retold in Manga
Rebirth & Vampirism
Female Dracula

Will I continue the series? No

Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-seen-before action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe.

This was decent. I was really hyped by the premise and a little let down by the execution, but it really wasn't too bad. The art is good and the ideas are great.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend and I can’t wait to read the next volume 🙂

Rating 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blood Blade

I absolutely love the art in this series! However, I’m not a fan of some panels where Count Vlad has basically the same expression/position with a different background.

In a world with monsters like vampires, werewolf, and other monsters; they are still feared. This series follows Count Vlad, her maid, and Clara so far. Clara attempts to get all the monsters to go to Monster Island where they will be safe from humans.

Thanks NetGalley and Kodansha for the opportunity to read.

I am obviously a fan of manga but I also adore horror and anything regarding vampires or Vlad the Impaler (but still prefer Werewolves!) so Blood Blade is right up my street. I adored the alternative history for Europe and the references to other ‘monsters’ be they literary or folkloric. The story is captivating and enjoyable with memorable and enjoyable characters. The artwork is amazing and I adored the style.

I also liked how we get enough information to hook us but not enough to spoil anything. I am guessing as the story progresses we will find out more about the characters and world they live in as well as backstory. Well I’m sure I find out when the volumes arrive since I have preordered all the ones available! If you enjoy horror manga or alternative history stories I would say give this one a chance you will not be disappointed.

First, Thanks to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher for this ARC.

I had expected the story to be dark, bloody and grim but I wasn't prepared on the "blackness" of the whole comic.
At times I had to really search the page to see what it was I was looking at.
The style of the drawings was nice however I did often wonder if I missed something because it did look like some scenes just reappeared out of nowhere.

The story has potential and I'm looking forward to read more.

Very interesting new storyline for manga. I'm a huge fan of mangas and the history behind Vlad the Impaler or just anything vampire/Dracula related. When I saw this, I just had to read and enjoy every bit of it. The storyline follows a resurrected Vlad the Impaler as a tiny female vampire with amazing powers and even better battle skills when it comes to fighting. The old former ruler of Transylvania has been hiding in his castle for years until he/she stumbles upon a Frankenstein modified girl being chased by a super monster creature. From there, Vlad learns that how the world has changed when a project taskforce called Cerberus, captures and experiments on monsters to create their own army of modified monsters. Forced to leave his homeland, Vlad journeys with Clara and his companion Nan to find out where Cerberus is and potential destroy them from harming other monsters.

The manga art was well-done but a bit dark to see certain things, but still worth reading overall. The storyline for me was a bit strange at first because I was wondering how Vlad went from being a man to a tiny girl and just how he got to where he is now. I guess the story about how he transformed will come around later in the series as it progresses. I cannot wait see where this series will go afterwards.

This tale begins in an alternate history of Europe near the fortress that once belonged to the infamous Vladislaus Draculesti (Vlad the Impaler). We cut to a chase scene where we see a girl running into a snowy forest away from a tall, menacing figure. As the girl finds herself at the edge of a steep hill, she unfortunately meets a quick end with a stab in the back from the menacing figure. As the man triumphs in his victory, a sudden explosion of snow is seen in the distance, with another figure appearing. Proclaiming that this man is in their territory, we see the two engage in swift combat.

The battle ends with our hooded figure decapitating the man in a nice double-page action sequence. We come to learn that the girl who was stabbed earlier isn't a human. And the man chasing the girl seems to be a mercenary/assassin sent to dispose of her. Intrigued by the circumstances of the situation, the hooded figure's eyes glow up with delight, imagining what future disasters may hold by bringing home the girl. As the girl wakes up, she finds herself in a mansion. She wonders around for a bit before she finds herself in a Victorian-era grand hall with a maid on the left and someone sitting menacingly on a throne. The figure on the throne is the hooded figure from before, who reveals herself as Vladislaus Draculesti, reborn into a new form, along with revealing that they are a vampire.


The girl introduces herself as Clara, and she explains that her grandfather told her to seek out a vampire. This is because her land is working on a research project to create a cross between human beings and monsters to build an army of human-hybrid monsters to take over the world. With vampires being the prime target of their research. Clara tells Vlad that the organization behind this is named Cerberus, and she exclaims that they've already taken other monsters. Vlad's maid seems unimpressed by this story and dismisses Clara's story. Shocked by this, Clara reveals herself to be a golem created by Doctor Frankstein, showcasing the infamous stitchwork. The man from before seemingly came back to life and broke into Vlad's castle, challenging them to a fight.

This high-octane introduction helps set the reader dive into this alternate take on European folklore and the monsters that we've grown to know, such as vampires and werewolves. I really like how the author was able to put a new spin on these already established figures to create something completely fresh. It's art is no joke either; each character's design is done with intent to stay true to the source material while giving it something new to make them stand out in the pages. To add to that, the background art is what's most striking to me. There will be times where I've done a double take because I cannot believe how almost photorealistic it looks. Here are a few examples.

It's action sequences are also really well choreographed, as we get to see how each of these different characters uses their abilities to execute attacks. For example, the man who breaks into Vlad's fortress is revealed to have a werewolf-arm transplant, which enables him to inhabit those abilities. With that in mind, Vlad has to come up with a way to overcome this obstacle, and again, the art really sells the intensity of this fight.

But it isn't all action; throughout the volume, we get to see moments of peace as we get to see more of the environment and your standard banter between a trio of characters. This helps give the story breathing room and helps flesh out these characters identities from the source material they're inspired by. And after reading all of Volume 1, I wasn't able to find anything I didn't like. From start to finish, I wasn't able to put it down.

Blood Blade is a really entertaining read as we get to see monster classics such as Dracula, Dr. Frankenstein, Werewolves, and more reimagined in this alternate-history European setting. The environmental art and monster design are absolutely jaw-droppingly good, and I was wondering how they made it look so good. The story and the character are well written, and the action scenes are well choreographed to create really tense moments throughout the volume. Oma Sei really knocked it out of the park with this one, and Kodansha USA did such a great job giving this creator the platform to flourish their ideas. I can't wait to see more, where the story goes for our characters, and what else Kodansha USA can bring from their new initiative, created in Japan and published in English First.

I have added a copy of this to my wishlist.
I like the cover of this book also.
The artwork of this is great also.

Amazing, detailed and capturing illustrations! The story was solid and really enjoyed the multiple monster concept, a good setup for a second volume. I am looking forward to the second volume. One of the more eye catching manga’s I have seen!

At first glance, I found this manga quite interesting. A version of Count Dracula, with Japanese samurai vibes, on a journey to find “the promised land”… yes, the plot seems intriguing.

But the execution is not very good, to say the least. It gives a little context about who Count Dracula is/was and how he went from being the feared Vlad the Impaler to a teenage vampire.

Without much preamble and out of nowhere, Clara appears, pursued by a mercenary, and that encounter is what begins Vlad's trip to the supposed island where all monsters can live in peace without the interference of humans.

The thing is that the development of the events is not entirely clear. Why does Vlad decide to leave his home in search of a supposed Paradise Island when she already lives in relative peace in her castle? Why does Vlad decide to abandon her territory, which she has been protecting for more than 400 years?

I understand that she wanted to help Clara, but why get more involved with her and the organization that is after her?

Perhaps it is that these questions will have answers in the following volumes, since this is the first and falls short in terms of explanation and development of the plot.

We'll see....

After years of bloodshed and war, Count Dracula dies and is reincarnated as a young katana wielding female vampire, entering a long era of peace and quiet. After saving a young woman who claims to have ties to Frankenstein, our main character becomes the target of a monster-hunting organization known as Cerebrus. Classic monsters like werewolves, vampires, and Frankenstein are reimagined in this alternate-history Europe. This action-horror manga is a great choice for fans of Hellsing, Blood+ and Vampire Hunter D.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the advanced reader copy.

3.5/5

It was a fun fantasy about Count Vladimir the Impaler if he reincarnated into a small girl’s body as a vampire and then met one of Frankenstein’s monster on her way to Monster Island.
Yes. Yes I did just write that.

This manga took me on a wild ride where legends are true and monsters are real. Vlad’s personality as a small girl (yes really, a small girl) was really fun. Their maid friend/source of blood was also a fun designed side character.

I really liked the art of Clara (Frankie’s monster). The reveal of her body was very body horror.

The art itself was beautiful. Very crisp and clean. It had a good balance between realism and little anime girl style.

Definitely don’t read this if you are a little faint of heart, or if gore isn’t your thing, as this book is jam-packed with nightmare fuel scenes. Definitely do read this if you like anything about vampires, classic monsters, and Count Vlad lore.

This was interesting and I am trying to get in more anime titles to add to the smaller anime section we have

a big thank you to netgalley and kodansha comics for an arc of this manga. all thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.


I've come across numerous reviews criticizing both the artwork and the storyline, which surprised me, as I personally found the artwork captivating. It exudes a haunting and unsettling vibe, especially during action-packed sequences, which are intricately detailed and a delight to behold. While some of the dialogue felt a bit lackluster and disjointed, I still found the story engaging and see great potential in future volumes. I particularly enjoyed the plot reminiscent of Vinland Saga, where characters seek refuge on a distant island away from war. Although I acknowledge the repetition of certain panels, it didn't detract from my enjoyment to much since I was deeply engrossed in the narrative and the action. Exploring the emotional backgrounds of characters like Grace and Gramps was a highlight for me, as it added depth to their motivations, while also laying the groundwork for various themes in the future. Overall, I'm eagerly anticipating the continuation of the story and where it will lead.

Blood Blade is a retelling of your favorite monsters. For the most part I enjoyed it. But by the end I had a hard time caring for what was to come, and the stakes were very little. The action is a step above some Manga's I've read recently but there's not enough story. It's too rapid and not clearly defined.

I did think while reading it, damn that would be a good Anime, so maybe one day it could be adapted. I personally think a lot of my problems would be solved.

This was not what I expected but it was light and fun with lots of monsters, not all of whom are bad. I liked that most of the characters deemed "monsters" are redeemable and really just became what their environment and circumstances made them into. Whereas the humans are considered the most dangerous of all, which is a pretty common theme but one I always enjoy to read and see how it's portrayed. Blood Blade is a quick, fast paced, adventure that introduces us to some new characters that will likely be important down the line. I also like that Vlad the Impaler has been reborn as a young girl and Dr. Frankenstein created a girl golem so it's kind of a feminist look at some old classics. It's a gritty horror fantasy but with humor and some softness. I will definitely continue the series to see what happens next and I look forward to getting more background on some of the characters.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the eARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This manga is basically what if Vlad Dracula was actually a terrifying beautiful girl and I loved that. This rode the line of being gritty and cute at the same time and it’s definitely a anime plot line that is serious, but doesn’t take itself too seriously. This is a girl that has a ton of power and should not be messed with.

This was definitely the intro of something that will go much deeper and I feel as though even though they are looking for an island of peaceful monsters there is going to be so much bloodshed along the way. This book does not shy away from violence and the fight scenes while short are very visceral.

There is obviously so much more to come in this series and it’s hard to be too critical when it’s very much a set up of the tone and what’s to come. This first manga was there to show who Vlad is and how powerful she is and to set up a war that’s going to be very bloody and how it’ll all be tied up later is unknown yet. I’m intrigued by this first volume and I look forward to more soon.

Rating: 3.17 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 4/5
-Cover (+art): 4/5
-Story: 5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
-Fantasy: 5/5
-Horror: 1/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: YES

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

Didn't think I would like it and the art threw me off for a bit but I enjoyed it a lot. Another manga I will need to continue.

A great manga for anyone looking for a new grim series to get into!

Blood blade is an ultimate book rec for lovers of fast paced, filled to the brim with action and dark details manga! The art style is so beautiful, the plot moving so quickly, the characters so interesting and mysterious I was simply obsessed!