Vampire Hunter D: Message From Mars: Review

Warning: potential spoilers ahead for Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars

For a generation, Vampire Hunter Dwas their entry point into Japanese animation, and this icon has returned in a new five-issue miniseries: Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars. The book, which recently blew past its crowdfunding goals on Kickstarter in record time, is a compelling and satisfying story that will satisfy fans longing for a return to the world of D and the Nobility. The book will be published by Stranger Comics and is available exclusively through Kickstarter.

Created by novelist Hideyuki Kicuchi, Vampire Hunter D began as a series of novels before being adapted to an animated film in 1985; it would spawn a sequel in 2000. Set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic future, the series follows D, a daywalker who hunts vampires, similar to Marvel’s Blade. Assisting D is Left Hand, a wise-cracking symbiote who lives in D’s left palm, hence the name. Vampire Hunter D is regarded as a classic of anime, and as mentioned earlier, helped introduce Western audiences to the medium. There have been a few attempts at adapting the character into comics including a manga version. Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars is the first Western adaptation of the material. Long in development, the series is finally ready and will be shipping soon and fans who have been patiently waiting for the series will not be disappointed.

Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars is based on a short story by D’s creator, which has never before appeared in English. The five-issue series is written by Brandon Easton, illustrated by Ryan Benjamin, inked by Richard Friend, and lettered by Emmalee Pearson. D detects a signal coming from a former human colony on Mars and sets out to investigate. Arriving on the planet, he must fight hordes of vampires and other horrifying monsters. D meets Cecile, a human, now turned into a vampire, and learns she sent the signal, but he soon discovers there is far more at stake than he initially thought—and finds himself on a collision course with one of his oldest enemies.

Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars has been in the works for years, with some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was totally worth the wait, as Easton’s script and Benjamin’s pencils perfectly capture the horror/action aesthetic that has become a hallmark of the franchise; Easton’s dialogue lovingly recreates the “odd couple” relationship between D and Left Hand. The story reaches deep into the character’s lore, showing how the vampires came to dominate Mars; it is also emotionally resonant, showing readers the toll vampirism can take on even the best and noblest of people.

The publication of Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars hopefully signals the beginning of new material involving the iconic character. Fans of the novels and/or the movies will find plenty to love in this stunning new adaptation, available exclusively through Kickstarter.

About The Author

Shaun Corley
(1378 Articles Published)

Shaun Corley is a pop culture enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest. After stints in both customer service and academia, he’s turned his attention to writing about comic books–his lifelong passion. He is a graduate of Radford University, with a degree in English. When not reading comics, he enjoys spending time with his fiance and their dog.

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