Danica Davidson
October 24, 2024 
Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite, the new manga from Kamisama Kiss creator Julietta Suzuki, opens with Hina, a vampire shut-in living in Romania. Her father, worried about her, gives her an anime to watch. And Hina, in true otaku fashion, becomes absolutely obsessed with the anime Vampire Cross. So obsessed that she not only comes out of her room, but she gets herself an apartment in Japan to really experience the fandom.
Hina’s favorite character in Vampire Cross is Mao, and she collects everything she can about him. (Something relatable to many otaku.) Then, stepping out of her apartment, she meets her neighbor: Mao himself!
No, wait, actually, it’s just a guy who looks like Mao. He’s never watched Vampire Cross, and he thinks Hina’s otakudom is weird. But the two start being around each other more, and though the guy doesn’t figure out right away that Hina is a vampire, he’s been dealing with some vampire problems of his own. Why are all these vampires obsessed with him, and why does he look so much like Mao? He sure doesn’t act like Mao, though, as Hina bitterly complains.
Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite is out in time for Halloween, and while it deals with vampires, it never gets scary or creepy. Instead, it’s more humorous, romantic and quirky. Hina’s otaku interests are both spoofs of real-life otaku, as well as sympathetically showing how getting an interest in an anime can turn someone’s life around. So in that sense, the story is self-aware and loving—even as it pokes fun at itself. The manga is fast-paced, escapist reading, and while we know that Hina and the boy are going to have to end up together somehow, there are enough mysteries going on that it keeps the situation interesting. This is a fun read for fans of shojo, particularly if they’re already fans of the manga or anime Kamisama Kiss.
Story & Art: Julietta Suzuki
Publisher: VIZ Media
Translator: Tomo Kimura
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
