Trinity Blood, Volume 1

By: Yoshida, Sunao

Book Overview

In a dark and distant future, Armageddon has given rise to the Second Moon - and a perpetual war between the vampires and the humans. When Esther, a nun in the city of Istavan, crosses paths with Abel Nightroad, a priest sent to combat the local order of vampires, the pair form a holy alliance to battle the most evil of threats.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1598166743
• ISBN13: 9781598166743
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: TokyoPop
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.4"
• Age Range: 16 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 11 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Trinity Blood Manga I

Trinity Blood Manga I opens with The Star of Sorrow (anime episodes 3-4). Even it you have seen the anime version of this story you should read the manga. If the anime had followed the manga The Star of Sorrow would have been a three part story. Sister Esther is more observant and inquisitive in the manga than she is in the anime. Tres is an undercover agent in Giula's army. Bishop Laura is still alive. Giula's late wife Maria seems to have been human. In the anime I got the impression she was a Methuselah. The manga presents a fuller, more detailed story with better developed characters than the anime version. I am not slamming the anime. I love it and am in the process of buying the series. However, few film versions ever show all or the same aspects of a story as it appears in print. One word about manga: If you've never read one before, the story starts at the back of the book and reads right to left. It takes a while to get the hang of it.

Vampire Apopcalypse

In its original form Trinity Blood was a series of science fiction novels by Sunao Yoshida who died before the series was concluded. From character designs by Thores Shibamoto, Kiyo Kyujo created the Trinity Blood series of Manga. I have not read the original novels but, given the themes and storylines, that is something I would definitely like to explore in the future. The story opens at essentially an unspecified time in our future after Armageddon during the Second Moon in a world of perpetual war between humans and vampires. The Vatican has assigned Father Abel Nightroad, a priest with a secret, to serve at the parish of St Mathias and battle Istavan's local vampire power, Lord Gyula Kadar. In short order, the church of St. Mathias is destroyed by Gyula and Father Nightroad befriends and aids a young nun, Esther, from the church and together they seek out the den of the vampire Lord only to discover a terrifying plan of Kadar's for his revenge on all humans. Trinity Blood is an excellent read and definitely will hold a well deserved place in any Manga or Vampire book collection. I have yet to view the anime based on the series but, it is definitely on my list now. Some books are destined to translate well to into animation and this is one. The characters are well written and the action does spark the imagination. Kiyo Kyujo's drawings are wall art worthy and very well done. The quality of art does not, however, overtake the telling of the story like many graphic novels and other books.

Just as good, if not better than the anime! Hooray!

I just got the first volume of the "Trinity Blood" manga. (And there was great rejoicing!) I'm so glad Tokyopop translated it into English for those of us who are Japanese language impared. The artwork is just as amazing as the anime's is, but with a style all it's own. It jumps right in with the introduction of Sister Esther to Father Abel Nightroad (a sweet if klutzy liason from the tumultuous Vatican), and keeps you going with pins and needles from then on! The vampires (or Methuselah, as they call themselves) are nearly all powerful in this post-apocalypitical earth. The only thing that stands in their way is the Holy Catholic Church and the operatives they utalize to bring down any "evil" vampire they can in the name of preserving the human race. Abel preaches peaceful co-exsistance between vampire and human, but his views are not widely received. But the Father has an ace up his sleeve that will leave even the all mighty vampries quaking. I highly recommend this manga series. As far as I have seen (and I am certainly no expert) reading the manga won't jaundice a fan for or against the anime. They are each just as good in their own way! There is plenty of action to the story, but don't think that fighting and vampire-slaying is the major plot-mover of this series. It's the characters and the socio/political twists and turns that keep you going! We haven't seen much of the Vatican, as yet, but the looming unrest of the holy heirarchy is ever-present, even when not directly addressed. Now I can't wait for volume 2!

GORGEOUS AND EXCITING! A GEM!

Trinity Blood is the hottest new Anime on Adult Swim and now comes the Manga from Tokyopop, the leader in great Manga. The gorgeous animation of the TV show is well represented by the stunning art in volume one drawn by Kiyo Kyujo and written by Sunao Yoshido. The book is set in the future although it's rather hard to tell that from the gothic look of the characters and scenery. The story opens as a mysterious man runs, literally into Sister Esther and her sworn protector Dietrich. The pair run into the man just a short time later at the Church of Saint Mathias and are surprised to find out the mysterious man is a priest named Father Abel Nightroad, a special agent sent by the Vatican to assist the church in their battle with a local cult of vampires. The Vampires are led by Lord Gyula who has sworn revenge on the Vatican for the death of his wife. He intends to use a powerful satellite called the Star of Sorrow to destroy the Vatican. We'll soon learn that Abel is not just another man of the cloth but a unique being called a Crusnik, a vampire who drinks only the blood of other vampires and gives him tremendous powers. Loyalties will be tested on both sides as both good and evil have secret allies within the other side's camp. The story is very well-paced, especially for an opening volume to a new Manga series which often can be a little on the slow side. Abel is one of the more unique heroes, not the brooding silent type like "D" nor a brash cocky hero like so many others. He's powerful yet compassionate. The art is some of the best I've seen in a long time. Remarkable detail and distinct line work and some of the most gorgeously rendered figures. The action flows extremely well in the action scenes. I am already anxiously awaiting volume two! Reviewed by Tim Janson

Trinity Blood Manga

Personally I have to say this is very good. I am a Trinity Blood fan myself and since I know the story line very well I didn't mind it jumping into the plot so quickly. It was easy for me to realize which episodes from the series on [adult swim] it was going over. I can see how someone who has just been introduced to the series may get confused and therefor may need further explaining than this manga offers. In addition, this manga is one of the most beautiful I have seen yet. The art on the back and front cover is amazind and I love how there is a lot of attention to detail, but at the same time there are those hilarious anime expressions we all know and love. This manga was also one of the funniest, I found my self going from giggling to bursting out in laughter as the characters communicated. I gave this manga a 5 out of 5 stars because of the beautiful art, how funny it is, and the storyline altogether. I will, however, warn you that if you are someone who is just going to read the mangas and not watch the shows or read the novels this may be hard to understand.