Bizenghast Volume 1
- PAPERBACK: 192 PAGES
- Language: English
- ISBN: 1-59532-743-6
- EAN: 978-1-59532-743-7
- AVAILABLE: NOW
- MSRP: $9.99
MANGA + COMICS
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User Reviews
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From ForeWord Magazine
In this superb offering, first in a trilogy, the author has combined elements from classic manga with Gothic art and architecture to create a style all her own—full of detail and feeling to match the pathos of her truly Gothic tale. Manga-style big-eyed characters in magnificent Victorian costume populate the pages as Dinah and her friend Vincent try to free the souls of the dead who linger everywhere, it seems...
The author, born in Germany, holds a BFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design; she was featured in the publisher's Rising Stars of Manga anthology. Her artwork here is truly extraordinary. Delicate lines, bold black accents, and incredible detail convey magic, emotion, and the ethereal. LeGrow's settings are magnificent, whether ruined, crumbling mansions, woodland glens, underwater grottoes, thin church spires, or weeping angels and tombstones. Costumes are inventive and beautiful, whether lace or brocade or elegant and simple. LeGrow's storytelling is just as inventive and enticing. Readers will be eager for future installments, as much for their eye appeal as for the continuation of the tale.
~Marlene Y. Satter
Copyright © ForeWord Magazine. All rights reserved.
From Manga Life
Bizenghast is a gothic-horror tale reminiscent in part of the high-adventure tales that are integral to British children's literature. Think The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe meets the original Hans Christian Andersen stories by way of Mary Shelley....
LeGrow carefully sets up the premise for the series. It is very clear that Dinah and Vincent will encounter a new, tragic soul in each chapter of the series, overcome some peril and/or adversity, and see the trapped spirit on their way. While simple, this formula works exceedingly well, and we anticipate the strengthening bond between the pair as the series progresses.
LeGrow's art is very atmospheric and expressive. She pays particular attention to the architecture of Bizenghast and to the costuming of her characters. I'm certain this will be a delight to cosplayers. Initially, Dinah and Vincent's age is somewhat indeterminate; they look very child-like but their reasoning, diction and vocabulary show them to be older than they are illustrated. This confusion is abetted by the fact that Dinah is referred to as an eight year old in the preface text, and nothing in the book indicates that a number of years have passed since the loss of her parents. However, this is a minor quibble, and a closer reading aided this reviewer's poor comprehension skills.
Where Bizenghast can be faulted is in its uneven pacing, which may have contributed to confusion over the plot point described above. Like traditional manga, Bizenghast is a real pager turner in terms of art, but the dialogue has to be read carefully. A number of times I had to skip back pages to make sure I'd taken everything in. I would have preferred a more even pace throughout.
...I am certain Bizenghast will be loved to bits by its core audience. The minor hiccups in storytelling can be overlooked; the book can be regarded as a very solid start to an entertaining series.
~Jason Brice
Copyright © Manga Life
From IGN Comics
Horror fantasy with a Tim Burton look and feel.
"Readers wanting to get in on the ground floor of the next great fantasy series don't have to look any further.... Bizenghast is by far one of the most interesting manga to come along in some time and one of the few for which I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment."
~KJB
Copyright © IGN Entertainment, Inc.
foreverhere
Bizenghast- Mausoleum Tales
Who doesn't love a good macabre/horror/fantasy melodrama? I know I love it! Melancholy, dark, beautiful, sad, distinct, intruiging, riveting...if you can fit all of those words into a sentence, you'd be able to describe Bizenghast!MORE
Meet Dinah, a disturbed young girl who has been sent to the small town of Bizenghast to live with her aunt following the tragic death of her parents. She is thought by her aunt to have some sort of mental illness, as Dinah believes the house to be haunted. Only Dinah is aware of the restless spirits, which only feeds the doctor's and her aunt's suspicions about Dinah's well-being. The house was a mental hospital, then a school for juvenile delinquents. The ghosts know Dinah can see them and they won't leave her alone. A recluse, she sneaks out with her only friend, Vincent, and together they discover a lost graveyard. There they find a sunken mausoleum, where Dinah reads from a stone engraving. This act binds her to a contract requiring Dinah to release spirits stuck somewhere between an unhappy life and a peaceful afterlife. If she refuses, she will face an eternity of hell. So Dinah begins her quest of "cleaning" the vaults, crypts and graves of lost souls, all the while struggling with the haunts at home and suspicions of her growing mental illness.
Dinah
Aged 15, Dinah is a young girl who lives on the outskirts of Bizenghast, an old mill town in New England. Having lost her parents in a car accident at an early age and now cared for by her aunt, Dinah is thought to suffer from schizophrenia and hallucinations. This year, Dinah has finally been allowed to leave the house at intervals under the supervision of her only friend and companion, Vincent. However, Dinah's summer takes a decidedly fiendish turn when she encounters what most people of the town have foolishly sought for decades: an urban legend known as the Sunken Mausoleum.
Vincent
Aged 16, Vincent is the main character's only friend. He has lived in Bizenghast all his life and has accumulated many more friends than Dinah in the neighboring city of Watertown where he attends high school. Vincent collects bicycles as a hobby, often making excursions to other towns on them, and hopes to one day race in the Tour de France. Although he tries to help Dinah cope with her "illness," Vincent remains an enabler who will lie for Dinah to keep her from being taken away to a hospital.
Mary Alice LeGrow (aka Marty) spent much of her early childhood in Germany and other parts of Europe and later moved with her family to Connecticut. Much of her work is influenced by a combination of the German language, art and architecture, as well as the ghost stories and legends of New England. She attended the Savannah College of Art and Design and received a BFA in Sequential Art. She was a runner-up in TOKYOPOP's second Rising Stars Of Manga competition. Marty just turned 23 in 2004, and she isn't upset that you ate the last donut. She didn't want it anyway. Come visit her at www.bizenghast.com.
Ever feel like people just don't understand you? Or maybe they just don't see things the way you do? Or that perhaps the restless spirits in their broken-down, forgotten towns don't torment them and try to kill them the way yours do? In that case, I've got just the book for you! Bizenghast is an eerie and engaging tale of Dinah, an orphan on the edge of insanity, and her chivalrous young friend, Vincent—two lonely teens on a mission to bring peace to a mausoleum full of lost souls...and to themselves!
~Aaron Suhr, Editor
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Only registered members can post comments
how do you read the second chapter of volume one?
GROLET1
11.17.2009 12:00 AM
Wow this sounds really good, the art work is bueatiful i love the eyes.
BLACKSUNSHINE
10.18.2009 12:00 AM
It's too small, I can't read it. And when I make it go full screen, it won't let me go to the next page.
UNDERDOG
08.22.2009 12:00 AM
Hello, there are copies of this series (which i own and it's incredible!) available for swap on Mangatude.com if you want to get it but dont want to buy it...you just have to trade for 'em instead! :)
XANIMEBABYX
08.19.2009 12:00 AM
The art should be more manga like. But it's pretty much interesting.
BLACKWATER18
08.14.2009 12:00 AM
@ ARATHAR123,Tokyopop is an American manga publisher and although it does publish a some Japanese manga it is still primarily American so the majority of the manga are going to be in an American style.But you're right there's always something missing...
IHAVENONAME
06.29.2009 12:00 AM
I thought the art could be more Manga-like. Also the storyline was pretty fast-paced and the drawings do not show the motion of the characters very well. The panels also sometimes get a bit hard to follow and the backgrounds should have some depth to them. The characters' motions could be a little easier to understand if the story had more sound effects included. Not trying to be biased or anything but, to me it seems like most of the manga made by Tokyopop, they always lack something; the story's a mess, the artwork is too American fashioned, and the panels and characters are hard to follow. The Shueisha manga all seem to be a lot easier to read.
ARATHAR123
06.09.2009 12:00 AM
I was so upset when I went to 3 diffrent borders looking for this book and couldn't find it ... I ended up buying 2 and 3, and read those before 1. until finally i read and i
DEADLYGUMMIEBEAR
06.02.2009 12:00 AM
the cover art is amazing...only problem is i couldnt read the text!
POISONPOPTARTOFLOVE
05.23.2009 12:00 AM
omg!this rocks!it should be made as an anime!
WOLFRAMXYAEL
05.20.2009 12:00 AM
what the heck? it's not even letting me read it like I read the others! it will on chapter 2 and 3! this is stupid. I really like the artwork, though. It's seems powerful and magical.
FYREKIT
05.04.2009 12:00 AM
Terrible art, terrible execution, like the story line. D
GAMBAMANDINGA
04.05.2009 12:00 AM
love this series...amazing art and stiry so i can't wait for the book 6
VAMPIREACT
04.04.2009 12:00 AM
luv this
FIFINUNEZ
03.20.2009 12:00 AM
It's pretty good! nice artwork
SUICIDEKISS127
03.14.2009 12:00 AM
hooo your art is awesome!!!!
GREENGLANKER
02.09.2009 12:00 AM
Hey,guys!
BIZENGHAST111
02.02.2009 12:00 AM
I wish there was a newer volume out
PRINCESSNAYEKA
11.29.2008 12:00 AM
does anybody no when to volume 6 comes out?? i cant find it anywhere??!!!!
HANABI94
11.23.2008 12:00 AM
i thing dinah is more like about twelve and vincent is 15 since she acts like a little girl in many volumes
MISSSIXTYNO1PITATENFAN
11.09.2008 12:00 AM
Ilovethisbook!!! *squeels*
VICKIANDSMIDGE
10.24.2008 12:00 AM
i like itttt!!! i actually like it!!
CLARINETLOVER87
10.22.2008 12:00 AM
PASS.
VAMPIREPLEXZERO
09.21.2008 12:00 AM
Neat--Found two sites worth checkin'. LeGrow's site: http://sadwonderland.deviantart.com/ The Bizenghast novel writer's site: http://thechronicd.deviantart.com/ (has cool trivia about book)
BIZNUT
09.08.2008 12:00 AM
:D original story x3 keep gOing :D
LEVIATHANIS
08.29.2008 12:00 AM
this is an alsome manga i love it already after the chapter!
ESSENCE264
08.23.2008 12:00 AM
hi it nuts4anime here i own this manga up to the 5 book
NUT4ANIME
08.22.2008 12:00 AM
its super alsome
NUT4ANIME
08.22.2008 12:00 AM
Cool.
XIEXIENAMI
08.20.2008 12:00 AM
I'm thinking about buying this manga , by all ur coments i think i will
XXANIMELUVERXX
08.19.2008 12:00 AM
I love this book! it just keeps pulling me in.
ANGELSLOVER4U2C
08.12.2008 12:00 AM
this manga is really good even tho theres a lot of freaky looking monsters the plotline and the characters are really good. yea its really sad when he dies :'( i was tearing up.
PURPLEDARKNESSVAMPYR
08.04.2008 12:00 AM
ooohh, how intriuging....
KATEVINI
07.19.2008 12:00 AM
I just read the whole thing in one sitting. I am totally hooked now! I can't wait for the next volume to come out. Beautifully creepy...
XEDRA
07.19.2008 12:00 AM
Whoa, creepy but a great story!
PURPLEDARKNESS
07.19.2008 12:00 AM
this book has like a spell on it ill feel sad or freaked out about somthing in it but i just want more! Help me! it feels so real, i just read the 5th one and i cryed so hard.
JESSICAKES7
07.16.2008 12:00 AM
this book has like a spell on it ill feel sad or freaked out about somthing in it but i just want more! Help me! it feels so real, i just read the 5th one and i cryed so hard.
JESSICAKES7
07.16.2008 12:00 AM
this book has like a spell on it ill feel sad or freaked out about somthing in it but i just want more! Help me! it feels so real, i just read the 5th one and i cryed so hard.
JESSICAKES7
07.16.2008 12:00 AM
this book has like a spell on it ill feel sad or freaked out about somthing in it but i just want more! Help me! it feels so real, i just read the 5th one and i cryed so hard.
JESSICAKES7
07.16.2008 12:00 AM
this book has like a spell on it ill feel sad or freaked out about somthing in it but i just want more! Help me! it feels so real, i just read the 5th one and i cryed so hard.
JESSICAKES7
07.16.2008 12:00 AM
At first I weren't very fond of the style, but as I've kept on reading it, the style has just grown on me. The costumes are very inspirational and all, but I feel like there's things being left out and some mausoleum runs are more for fillers. But overall, I like it a lot!
THINKE
07.15.2008 12:00 AM
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
FURUBACURSE
07.09.2008 12:00 AM
What are people saying? This art isn't terrible, it's awesome, sure a few things are confusing, but in the other books it will clear up. In a few pages it does seem a littled rushed, but it's still unique!
JISATSUKO92
07.08.2008 12:00 AM
oooooooook?
CHRISSFAN
07.04.2008 12:00 AM
I agree with OceanWhisper. The artist of Bizenghast is obviously very good when she TRIES--just look at her Deviantart page. In the comic, however, she screws up pretty much every panel that isn't totally "significant." If the overall quality of the book was the same as the quality of her better artwork, this book would be more appealing to readers. As it is, its "rushiness" is a major turn-off for people like myself.
XENELITH
07.03.2008 12:00 AM
i bought bizenghast because the next drama con wasnt out well im so glad i bought it now im totally hooked!
CHRISSFAN
07.01.2008 12:00 AM
god i hate that vincent was killed it made me cry! can u imagine losing someone that important to u!
CHRISSFAN
07.01.2008 12:00 AM
Bizenghast... I've never heard of this manga and honestly after reading the first volume I'm not sure of what to think about it. It is not really the kind I would find myself reading but its drawn very well and I think I'm in love with the visuals. However, I'm not into the plot. Overall I'd give this manga a three out of five. Not a personal favorite but I can see why people like it.
FELIXBHELLSINGS
06.30.2008 12:00 AM
lovely and creepy all in one sitting
RAINYXOX
06.30.2008 12:00 AM
I honestly don't see why Bizenghast is so popular among the audience in Tokyopop. Sure, the architecture, background and some of the props are good, but the proportions, no offense, are terrible. The toner is bad at some of the things such as the rocks and some other shadings... the plot is okay, but could have been better if the pacing was actually good. I feel, it's a rush and the author just wants to get things over with. Nothing is explained at all! It makes things confusing like why did this happen? Some of the parts are just plain corny and common cliche... I could write a whole review on this graphic novel but I rather stop here,
OCEANWHISPER
06.29.2008 12:00 AM