Blood Plus GN (2008 Dark Horse) comic books 2007-2009

Volume 1 - 1st printing. Story and art by Asuka Katsura. Set several decades after the events in the popular Blood: The Last Vampire anime film, an amnesiac Saya Otonashi lives as a seemingly normal high school student with her adoptive family in Okinawa. Horrible nightmares are the only hints at the violent life she once led, but her past is about to catch up with her and awaken the merciless warrior within. Chiropterans - powerful shape-changing creatures who need and crave blood - threaten humanity once more, and a mysterious organization called the Red Shield needs Saya's deadly sword skills and mysterious powers to aid in the fight against these beasts. As her submerged abilities begin to reawaken and as she seeks to regain her memories, Chiropteran warriors are guided by a mysterious leader to threaten Saya and her loved ones. Asuka Katsura's manga series successfully expands upon the original Production I.G/Aniplex feature, delivering moments of jarring violence and thrilling action in a tale that spans several centuries. * BLOOD+ is a multimedia sensation, with an animated series now airing on Adult Swim! Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 212 pages, B&W. NOTE: These are Japanese manga-style GNs and are meant to be read right-to-left. Cover price $10.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. Story and art by Asuka Katsura. Filling in details and expanding upon events in the Blood+ mythos, the Blood+ manga series is the official adaptation and companion to the popular Blood+ anime series that's been running on Adult Swim--and to the Dark Horse novels of the same name! In this manga volume, the deranged Charles takes center stage--and traumatizes Riku, Saya's sweet, adoptive brother. With only vague moments and memories slowly returning to her after a year as an amnesiac, Saya's still not sure why the confident, one-armed Charles is tormenting her. What she does know is that she's determined to hold her own against a small army of blood-craving Chiropteran beasts when they threaten her and her loved ones. She also learns an important lesson in Chiropteran physiology! Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 196 pages, B&W. NOTE: These are Japanese manga-style GNs and are meant to be read right-to-left. Cover price $10.95.

Volume 3 - 1st printing. Story and art by Asuka Katsura. This third, pivotal volume reveals one of the biggest secrets in the Blood+ mythos-but you'll have to wade through plenty of violence, betrayal, and sacrifice before you get there. Hagi shows just how resilient he can be, Kai is as stubborn and reckless as ever, and confused, sweet Riku is once again in the wrong place at the wrong time. Speaking of time, this volume also features a longer flashback sequence that takes us to the 1800's and another violent episode in Saya's curious, catastrophic life! A brutal skirmish, eye-popping gore, and some enlightening flashbacks open this central volume to the Blood+ manga series, as Saya faces her brutal tormentor Charles head on. Asuka Katsura's Blood+ manga series is the official adaptation and companion to the popular Production I.G/Aniplex anime series that became a hit on Adult Swim. Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 200 pages, B&W. NOTE: These are Japanese manga-style GNs and are meant to be read right-to-left. Cover price $10.95.

Volume 4 - 1st printing. Story and art by Asuka Katsura. In this volume, the dreadful Diva sends her Chevalier to kidnap Riku, Saya's adoptive brother, from the Red Shield's ocean-liner headquarters. New secrets from Saya's and Hagi's past lives are revealed, as their present situation gets more complicated. Finding a way to make Saya go berserk and turn into a nearly unstoppable killing machine, Diva intends to pit her against her own friends and those she seeks shelter with . . . and this is just the first step in Diva's ultimate plan to turn all humans into Chiropteran monsters! With Kai and Hagi at her side, Saya fights Diva's forces as well as her own bloodlust. While the mysteries surrounding the Red Shield have come to light, more questions and villains arise when the Cinq Fléche organization unleashes its disturbing Corpse Corps. Dark Horse Manga's Blood+ series heads into its violent, pulse-pounding home stretch! Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 198 pages, B&W. NOTE: These are Japanese manga-style GNs and are meant to be read right-to-left. Cover price $10.95.

Volume 5 - 1st printing. Story and art by Asuka Katsura. Chiropterans run wild-and Saya comes into her own as a single-minded killing machine! Three months after the demolition of Red Shield headquarters, Saya is more intent than ever to rid the globe of all Chiropterans, and she travels to New York for a bloody showdown with Diva. When Diva sings, her supernatural sounds turn humans into hellish, bloodthirsty beasts . . . and what better place to start a Chiropteran apocalypse than Carnegie Hall? Desperate to kill these monsters and put a stop to the Chiropteran threat once and for all, Saya's willing to kill her loved ones and herself to achieve this goal, and her rage will not be quenched by Hagi's presence or Kai's pleas-or by a strange declaration of love. Asuka Katsura's thrilling finale to the Blood+ manga series races to a violent and heartbreaking conclusion, with her rapid-fire adaptation successfully expanding upon the original Production I.G/Aniplex anime hit! The first Dark Horse volume of Blood+ manga has sold over 20,000 copies in less than four months! Look for the Blood and Blood+ novels-also released by Dark Horse! Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 208 pages, B&W. NOTE: These are Japanese manga-style GNs and are meant to be read right-to-left. Cover price $10.95.