Fantasy; Rated “T” for “Teen-Age 13+”

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (published as Akumajo Dorakyura: Yami no Juin) is TOKYOPOP’s publication of the manga adaptation of Konami’s identically-titled videogame.  Apparently Castlevania: Curse of Darkness takes place after the events in the game, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, and also fills in some left over story.

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Vol. 1 (of 2) has several settings, but the main action takes place in a tiny village on the border of Romania, a nation under the boot of Count Dracula and his demon army.  A pre-teen boy, Ted, and a nun, Sister Rosalee, find themselves at the mercy of a ravenous werewolf, but the two are actually in the middle of a bigger conflict: one between two of the Count’s most powerful generals, the alchemists Isaac and Hector.

THE LOWDOWN:  I find Castlevania: Curse of Darkness to be a nicely drawn manga.  Manga-ka (creator) Kou Sasakura’s flowing line work and fluid brushstrokes dress the art in a cascade of shimmering shadows and blacks that create the pitch perfect mood for this dark fantasy – one that would be right for just about any Dracula comic.  The story has the feel of the Vampire Hunter “D” manga, but is not quite as clear.  Still, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is easy to read, even for someone unfamiliar with the game (like me).

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  As a fairly well done vampire comic book, this should appeal to many fans of gothic horror comics.

B