I’ve never seen an analysis of The Laughing Vampire beyond how great Suehiro Maruo’s art work is but I had some thoughts about Luna the other night. I really related to her when I first read the manga and still do honestly. She’s disgusted by growing up and sex and her changing body. She wants to be a child forever. But then her childhood is ripped away from her in the worst way imaginable. Her interests grow darker, she becomes hallow, and gets put in a deadly situation. Then Mori saves her and she finds love. She takes violent revenge against those who hurt her. It’s cathartic. At the end Luna enters a much darker world but it’s her world and her choice.

Reading this story is like reading my own. I think that’s why the first volume is such a great stand alone work. I don’t think the violent and sexual imagery takes anything away from the story in fact I think it’s necessary in this case.

WINTER GHOSTS by Sean Fitzgerald.