Hideyuki Kikuchi
Author of Vampire Hunter D
About the Author
Disambiguation Notice:
Please DO NOT combine the manga and novel versions of Vampire Hunter D. They are entirely different entities. Thank you!
Series
Works by Hideyuki Kikuchi
Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D Manga Volume 6 (Vampire Hunter D Graphic Novel) (2012) 24 copies
Vampire Hunter D Reader's Guide: The Essential Companion to the World of Vampire Hunter D! (2001) 13 copies
Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D Volume 8 (manga) (Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D, 8) (2023) 4 copies
ãƒãƒ³ãƒ‘イアãƒãƒ³ã‚¿ãƒ¼D 8 北海é”è¡Œ 下巻 (MFコミックス フラッパーシリーズ) 3 copies
Razor of Gales 1 copy
The Legend of Demon-King(1) 1 copy
The Legend of Demon-King(3) 1 copy
Alien: Magic Beast Border(1) 1 copy
新・é”界行 天é”é™è‡¨ç·¨â€•æ–°ãƒã‚¤ã‚ªãƒ‹ãƒƒã‚¯ãƒ»ã‚½ãƒ«ã‚¸ãƒ£ãƒ¼ãƒ»ã‚·ãƒªãƒ¼ã‚ºã€ˆ3〉 (ノン・ノベル) (2006) 1 copy
Demon City Shinjuku 1 copy
妖é”æ·«ç„〈兇闘編〉 1 copy
Two-Faced Demon 1 copy
Youth Demon 1 copy
The Vampire Hunter 2 - "D" has been falling wind (Asahi Paperback - sonorama Selection 18-2 Yellow ()) (2007) ISBN:… (2007) 1 copy
D, a vámpÃrvadász 1. 1 copy
Doctor Mephistopheles, Tom 1 1 copy
D, a vámpÃrvadász 2. 1 copy
D, a vámpÃrvadász 3. 1 copy
D, a vámpÃrvadász 4. 1 copy
Mountain People 1 copy
鬼ç£ä¼ (角å·æ–‡åº«) 1 copy
D―蒼白ãå •å¤©ä½¿ã€ˆ1〉 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- èŠåœ°ç§€è¡Œ
- Birthdate
- 1949-09-25
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Japan
- Places of residence
- Chiba, Japan
- Education
- Aoyama Gakuin University
- Occupations
- novelist
- Disambiguation notice
- Please DO NOT combine the manga and novel versions of Vampire Hunter D. They are entirely different entities. Thank you!
Members
Reviews
Lists
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 183
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 5,034
- Popularity
- #4,970
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 57
- ISBNs
- 267
- Languages
- 10
- Favorited
- 6
The appeal for me is largely in the combination of world-building, the unique character of D, and Kickuchi's endearing blend of multiple classic genres. The setting is just wonderful: a sort of post-post apocalypse. Initially, a nuclear war sets man back hundreds of years, at which point the vampires of legend rise out of the shadows and take advantage of a wounded world. They rule over the now archaic human civilisation as "Nobility" and, picking up where man has let off, develop a highly advanced technological society. Over the course of time, they reach out to the stars and colonise planets; there are wars with extra-terrestrials, mankind finds its spine and rebels, which eventually leads to an even more chaotic and broken world. The "Capital" is a remnant of this technological society that now remains clean of and protected from the Nobility, but everything outside of this is "the frontier", which functions much like the lawless West. Bloodthirsty nobles are presented as a dying aristocracy that get what they can take, but are prevented from regaining total control by the presence of skilled bounty/vampire hunters. D, the main character, is a half-breed and therefore an outcast to both Nobility and humanity. Nevertheless, he is one such skilled hunter who people will call on when convenient. Along with a left hand infected with a sentient parasite, D's cold demeanour and hinted origins make for a unique and mysterious protagonist.
This first book was never really a highlight for me in the series, and it looks like that's still the case. Regardless of the role which translation plays here, Kickuchi's prose comes across very, very bad in English. I don't remember it being quite this bad - I'm hoping it gets better. It's a bizarre mix of gothic atmosphere, flowery description, laughable dialogue and messy, chaotic action. It's sometimes effective, but more often childish, clunky and confusing. At its best, it can be accepted as fun, pulpy schlock, which sits right at home with its origins. Kikuchi wears his influences on his sleeve, dedicating the book to Terrence Fisher of Hammer Horror fame, and Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, notable in their roles as Dracula and Van Helsing, respectably. Shane, a quintessential Western, makes its presence known here also. The young boy in that is much like little Dan here, who idolises and looks up to D. Like the stranger, Shane, D waltzes into the lives of a family one day and acts as a mentor, protector, and even a farm hand. But he's only there for a season, and once he's saved the day, "off to the dusty trails" he goes.
Vampire Hunter D is pulpy because its influences are pulpy, but, if anything, it is elevated by its attempt to expand on its treading of cliches with big ideas and genre-blending. According to my memory, the stories do get better, and the world gets richer, but D remains as mysterious as ever. The book that started it all is an occasionally enjoyable - but mostly tolerable - foundation for a beautiful mess that would come after. I will be rereading the next book, but we'll see after that. My senses are still recovering from the assault.… (more)