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Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer #1-3
Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer Complete Edition
This puppet may not be a real boy… but he just might be a real hero! When bloodthirsty monsters invade Pinocchio's hometown and kill his father, Geppetto, Pinocchio discovers a new benefit to his magical telling lies produces a never-ending supply of wooden stakes to combat the vampire hordes! Will Pinocchio be able to defeat these horrors, avenge his father, and save his friends?
Now, for the first time, the complete trilogy is collected together in a single deluxe softcover edition. Jensen (Green Lantern Corps) and Higgins (Knights of the Living Dead) present a captivating blend of comedy, horror, romance, and adventure, rooted in the original Italian novel, but brought — as if by magic — to new life.
Now, for the first time, the complete trilogy is collected together in a single deluxe softcover edition. Jensen (Green Lantern Corps) and Higgins (Knights of the Living Dead) present a captivating blend of comedy, horror, romance, and adventure, rooted in the original Italian novel, but brought — as if by magic — to new life.
528 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2014
About the author
Van Jensen
169 books64 followersVan Jensen was born and raised in the farm country of Western Nebraska where he wrote and drew stories as soon as he could hold a pencil. He became a newspaper crime reporter, then a magazine editor, and eventually an author of comic books and graphic novels. He has written some of the world’s biggest characters, including James Bond and The Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern Corps for DC Comics. He also has co-created acclaimed series including Two Dead from Simon & Schuster/Gallery 13 (with National Book Award-winning artist Nate Powell), Cryptocracy from Dark Horse (with Pete Woods), and Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer from Top Shelf/IDW (with Dusty Higgins).
Jensen is known for creating fiction that combines mind-bending genre concepts with deeply emotional, character-centered stories that have earned praise from fans and critics alike. His work can be thrilling, hilarious or terrifying, but it is always heartfelt.
In 2016, Jensen was named a Comic Book Ambassador by the U.S. State Department. In that role, he has traveled internationally to work with students and refugees, teaching them to share their stories through the medium of comics. In 2018, he created a comic book biography for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. In 2019, he was awarded a grant from the Atlanta BeltLine to create “Up Hill” with artist Joshua Ray Stephens, a comic book public art installation that reimagined the myth of Sisyphus as a Looney Tunes cartoon.
He lives in Atlanta with his family.
Jensen is known for creating fiction that combines mind-bending genre concepts with deeply emotional, character-centered stories that have earned praise from fans and critics alike. His work can be thrilling, hilarious or terrifying, but it is always heartfelt.
In 2016, Jensen was named a Comic Book Ambassador by the U.S. State Department. In that role, he has traveled internationally to work with students and refugees, teaching them to share their stories through the medium of comics. In 2018, he created a comic book biography for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. In 2019, he was awarded a grant from the Atlanta BeltLine to create “Up Hill” with artist Joshua Ray Stephens, a comic book public art installation that reimagined the myth of Sisyphus as a Looney Tunes cartoon.
He lives in Atlanta with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 5, 2016
4.5/5
Lasciate da parte ogni reticenza sul titolo, perché questa graphic novel, Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer, è assolutamente originale e affascinante.
Dopo una breve sintesi della storia originale, che richiama le tinte più cupe della versione originale di Collodi, non di quelle edulcorate successive o quella disneyana, si è subito introdotti nel pieno delle vicende, allorché il nostro eroe di legno uccide trafiggendola con il proprio naso un’inquietante creatura, un vampiro, che si aggira per le vie della città.
Man mano capiamo che Pinocchio ora vive con Mastro Ciliegia, dopo la morte di Geppetto proprio a causa dei vampiri, creature che nessuno credeva esistessero fino ad allora e delle quali non si riescono ancora a comprendere le intenzioni.
Pinocchio quindi si troverà ad affrontare insidie e avventure contro questi terribili mostri, tra amici e nemici nuovi e ritrovati.
Il fumetto è assolutamente originale e tiene incollati alle pagine.
Anzi, dal momento che questa arc rappresenta solo la metà dell’intera raccolta che uscirà a breve, non vedo l’ora di leggere il proseguo e sapere come andrà a finire.
Le tavole sono molto belle, tutte giocate sui contrasti del bianco/nero e con alcune sfumature di grigio, e riescono a rendere perfettamente non solo la tensione e la suspense dei vari momenti, ma anche il paesaggio, che sia la natura oppure uno scorcio cittadino.
Inoltre, i flashback sono riprodotti come una sorta di xilografie old style, altro elemento molto avvincente.
Pinocchio, in qualità di protagonista, è davvero ben reso, ma soprattutto è palese la sua evoluzione interiore e psicologica.
Non ci troviamo di fronte soltanto a un piacevole intrattenimento, perché ci sono diversi passaggi toccanti e che fanno pensare, mostrando come questa sorta di retelling/sequel in formato grafico sia in grado non solo di dilettare, ma anche di lasciar trasparire dei contenuti, prendendo spunto proprio, e in modo preciso e intelligente, proprio dalla fiaba originale.
Lasciate da parte ogni reticenza sul titolo, perché questa graphic novel, Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer, è assolutamente originale e affascinante.
Dopo una breve sintesi della storia originale, che richiama le tinte più cupe della versione originale di Collodi, non di quelle edulcorate successive o quella disneyana, si è subito introdotti nel pieno delle vicende, allorché il nostro eroe di legno uccide trafiggendola con il proprio naso un’inquietante creatura, un vampiro, che si aggira per le vie della città.
Man mano capiamo che Pinocchio ora vive con Mastro Ciliegia, dopo la morte di Geppetto proprio a causa dei vampiri, creature che nessuno credeva esistessero fino ad allora e delle quali non si riescono ancora a comprendere le intenzioni.
Pinocchio quindi si troverà ad affrontare insidie e avventure contro questi terribili mostri, tra amici e nemici nuovi e ritrovati.
Il fumetto è assolutamente originale e tiene incollati alle pagine.
Anzi, dal momento che questa arc rappresenta solo la metà dell’intera raccolta che uscirà a breve, non vedo l’ora di leggere il proseguo e sapere come andrà a finire.
Le tavole sono molto belle, tutte giocate sui contrasti del bianco/nero e con alcune sfumature di grigio, e riescono a rendere perfettamente non solo la tensione e la suspense dei vari momenti, ma anche il paesaggio, che sia la natura oppure uno scorcio cittadino.
Inoltre, i flashback sono riprodotti come una sorta di xilografie old style, altro elemento molto avvincente.
Pinocchio, in qualità di protagonista, è davvero ben reso, ma soprattutto è palese la sua evoluzione interiore e psicologica.
Non ci troviamo di fronte soltanto a un piacevole intrattenimento, perché ci sono diversi passaggi toccanti e che fanno pensare, mostrando come questa sorta di retelling/sequel in formato grafico sia in grado non solo di dilettare, ma anche di lasciar trasparire dei contenuti, prendendo spunto proprio, e in modo preciso e intelligente, proprio dalla fiaba originale.
December 1, 2014
Wow. How was this not thought of before.(Maybe it was and just haven't seen it). C'mon, Pinocchio tells a lie and wham!-ready made vampire killing stake. Apparently, the original Pinocchio story is much darker than the well known version, similar to the original Grimm fairy tales. I've never read the original but I may have to go back and check out that tale because I really enjoyed the way this version ended.
In this story, he tells a lie, snaps off his nose and gets down to business, basically an endless supply of stakes. We have the switch from puppet to boy, Gepetto, a bit of a love story, a band of performing puppets, a very interesting idea behind the original wood used for carving Pinocchio and a intriguing ending that left me much more satisfied than the well known saccharin form.
This is black and white but the artwork may be the better for the lack of color. Of course I love the use of blacks and shadows even in my color comics/GNs so your mileage may vary. The line work reminds me of a cross between the Guillory Chew work and the Mignola-verse use of shadows. I have been aware of this title for awhile but could never pull the trigger until it was included in the latest Humble Bundle book bundle(which is still available as I write this-sorry if you're reading this review months or years down the road), so it was really a no brainer at that point.
Going to check on that original version now.
In this story, he tells a lie, snaps off his nose and gets down to business, basically an endless supply of stakes. We have the switch from puppet to boy, Gepetto, a bit of a love story, a band of performing puppets, a very interesting idea behind the original wood used for carving Pinocchio and a intriguing ending that left me much more satisfied than the well known saccharin form.
This is black and white but the artwork may be the better for the lack of color. Of course I love the use of blacks and shadows even in my color comics/GNs so your mileage may vary. The line work reminds me of a cross between the Guillory Chew work and the Mignola-verse use of shadows. I have been aware of this title for awhile but could never pull the trigger until it was included in the latest Humble Bundle book bundle(which is still available as I write this-sorry if you're reading this review months or years down the road), so it was really a no brainer at that point.
Going to check on that original version now.
August 6, 2014
(I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
As honest a review as possible, since it was a preview that contained about half the graphic novel, and I have no idea how it's supposed to end.
I quite liked it. Its premise felt somewhat weird, but all things considered, it was actually fairly logical: killing vampires with wooden stakes... Well, here's a puppet with an endless supply, for as long as he can tell lies, and lies are easy to come by. So why not?
The drawing style isn't a favourite of mine, but it was dark, sharp and raw, and in my opinion, this fit with the mood of the comics. The plot's rooted in the original tale, with characters out of it and somewhat changed (the cricket's a ghost, the fairy's kind of dying, Master Cherry creates weird weapons...) and events that clearly aren't the nice ones a lot of us got used to when reading more childish retellings (or watching the Disney version). Pinocchio became a vampire hunter after Geppetto was killed by such a monster, and while this places the story's theme in the traditional revenge-type category, it worked for me. It also deals with related themes such as the matters of letting go, of trying to find a balance, a new life, and how those things aren't so easy to achieve. Also, being human might not be such a boon after all.
The story had several twists and turns, and possibly some more in the part I didn't get to read. I won't place buying the complete volume on my priority list, but I'll possibly do that at some point or other, if only to see where the characters will go from there (the excerpt ends on quite a cliffhanger).
As honest a review as possible, since it was a preview that contained about half the graphic novel, and I have no idea how it's supposed to end.
I quite liked it. Its premise felt somewhat weird, but all things considered, it was actually fairly logical: killing vampires with wooden stakes... Well, here's a puppet with an endless supply, for as long as he can tell lies, and lies are easy to come by. So why not?
The drawing style isn't a favourite of mine, but it was dark, sharp and raw, and in my opinion, this fit with the mood of the comics. The plot's rooted in the original tale, with characters out of it and somewhat changed (the cricket's a ghost, the fairy's kind of dying, Master Cherry creates weird weapons...) and events that clearly aren't the nice ones a lot of us got used to when reading more childish retellings (or watching the Disney version). Pinocchio became a vampire hunter after Geppetto was killed by such a monster, and while this places the story's theme in the traditional revenge-type category, it worked for me. It also deals with related themes such as the matters of letting go, of trying to find a balance, a new life, and how those things aren't so easy to achieve. Also, being human might not be such a boon after all.
The story had several twists and turns, and possibly some more in the part I didn't get to read. I won't place buying the complete volume on my priority list, but I'll possibly do that at some point or other, if only to see where the characters will go from there (the excerpt ends on quite a cliffhanger).
October 17, 2017
I'm not sure what I was expecting going into this, but I was surprised to find a fantastically fun story that has a deep message and some pretty intense action.
This is a story based more on the very dark original tale; it has little to no relation to the cleaned-up Disney version. That's why it works so well in a retelling where Pinocchio is out for revenge on all vampires for everything they've taken from him.
Jensen does a fantastic job of keeping things from being too dark by incorporating some really funny jokes and situations into his writing. Higgins has some trouble with faces, but his black and white art is definitely original and pretty eye-catching.
I loved this graphic novel and I'm surprised it hasn't received more attention. It's definitely one of the best things I've read in a while.
This is a story based more on the very dark original tale; it has little to no relation to the cleaned-up Disney version. That's why it works so well in a retelling where Pinocchio is out for revenge on all vampires for everything they've taken from him.
Jensen does a fantastic job of keeping things from being too dark by incorporating some really funny jokes and situations into his writing. Higgins has some trouble with faces, but his black and white art is definitely original and pretty eye-catching.
I loved this graphic novel and I'm surprised it hasn't received more attention. It's definitely one of the best things I've read in a while.
December 6, 2014
3.5
When I first saw this book I thought it sounded so ridiculous, I knew I had to read it. (Yeah, that's just how I roll.)
It's actually played straighter than I expected, and is a bit dark in places - but never past the YA threshold, I don't think. (The blurb and author interviews sort of note that it follows more the original story, which has some darkness to it, too, but I've never read the original - I only know the Disney version. (Well, and the Fables version.) The story does start with a quick synopsis of the original, though, which is cool.)
There are still quite a few laughs, though - lots of one-liners, some sight gags, puns, and even some witty banter. The characters are pretty well drawn (pun not originally intended), and the pacing is good.
To the art - it's kind of interesting to have this complete edition, because you can clearly show the development of the art style from the first book to the last.
The first book is much rougher, and blockier, and the shading thicker and less precise. It works pretty well for the tone of the story - but some of the characters, especially secondary ones, are hard to differentiate.
By the end, there's much more detail and depth, the characters are more recognizable, and it's just a huge improvement overall.
The middle is, as one might expect, an awkward transition between the two. Pinocchio, especially, in human form looks really jacked up in this middle section - but is much better in the last section.
Lastly, the ending was a little surprising, but fitting, and I give props to the authors for not going trite.
A fun read, and I have no regrets for shelling out the cash for it (which is a rarity for me these days).
When I first saw this book I thought it sounded so ridiculous, I knew I had to read it. (Yeah, that's just how I roll.)
It's actually played straighter than I expected, and is a bit dark in places - but never past the YA threshold, I don't think. (The blurb and author interviews sort of note that it follows more the original story, which has some darkness to it, too, but I've never read the original - I only know the Disney version. (Well, and the Fables version.) The story does start with a quick synopsis of the original, though, which is cool.)
There are still quite a few laughs, though - lots of one-liners, some sight gags, puns, and even some witty banter. The characters are pretty well drawn (pun not originally intended), and the pacing is good.
To the art - it's kind of interesting to have this complete edition, because you can clearly show the development of the art style from the first book to the last.
The first book is much rougher, and blockier, and the shading thicker and less precise. It works pretty well for the tone of the story - but some of the characters, especially secondary ones, are hard to differentiate.
By the end, there's much more detail and depth, the characters are more recognizable, and it's just a huge improvement overall.
The middle is, as one might expect, an awkward transition between the two. Pinocchio, especially, in human form looks really jacked up in this middle section - but is much better in the last section.
Lastly, the ending was a little surprising, but fitting, and I give props to the authors for not going trite.
A fun read, and I have no regrets for shelling out the cash for it (which is a rarity for me these days).
July 8, 2014
As a child most of us were told not to lie.
Lying was wrong.
I’m terrible at lying which is difficult in society where lying has become an art form, definitely a prerequisite for some jobs such as politician, businessperson, lawyer, reality show celebrity, actor, etc.
Now lying is only said to be wrong or bad.
Politicians lie to us. We not only accept it, we encourage it by keeping them in power, and sometimes even re-electing them.
We watch reality shows where to win you have to lie, cheat, manipulate and are rewarded and lauded for it.
People lie to save face, cover up, avoid reality, shift blame, evade criticism or confrontation, or to control a situation.
Some people lie for financial or other gains or just to get their own way.
Some lie for social management.
Some people lie compulsively.
Some enjoy manipulating people.
I think the people we lie to the most, is ourselves.
Appearances have become a lie.
False eyelashes, fake nails, breasts, tan, hair colour, hair; face-lifts, injections, cheek and butt implants, make-up, corsets, spanx, and air-brushing to smooth out what all the other stuff can’t cover up – soon we’ll all be hazy images so no one can see what nature has given us. We worship at the alter of youth and beauty, even if it’s not real.
Reading Pinocchio The Vampire Slayer: The Complete Edition (Dustin Higgins, artist/creator and Van Jensen writer; Top Shelf Productions, previously by SLG Publishing) I started thinking not only how funny and clever these graphic novels are, but how in this modern morality tale Pinocchio is rewarded for lying by having a weapon to destroy vampires. It got me thinking about lies and the books, TV shows, movies, etc. deal with lying. I borrowed this book from Netgalley; for bloggers out there, this is an amazing place to get great digital editions free. Check it out https://www.netgalley.com/
One of my favs is Lie To Me (Fox) with the incredible Tim Roth. Only 3 seasons, if you didn’t watch it, I suggest you do. Intense, cause Roth never gives anything but intense, this show skillfully highlighted the barrage of lies we struggle through and tell each day.
A fav movie about lying is The Invention of Lying (Radar Pictures/Media Rights Capital/Universal) starring the hilarious and libidinous Ricky Gervais (written by Gervais and Matthew Robinson). Imagine a world where everyone tells the truth. Now imagine it imagined by Gervais.
I guess I’ve thought a lot about lying, my son has Asperger’s Syndrome and he believes the truth is King.
Which brings us to what does ‘the truth’ mean. I was always taught there was your truth, my truth, and the truth. That’s pretty complicated.
Lying is much simpler, not telling the facts.
The perils of lying? People will stop trusting and believing you, but these days the perks of lying seem to outweigh the perils.
Lying can get you money and power with few or any ramifications…at least in the short-term.
Maybe lying has increased because we can’t handle the truth, it’s too scary, too painful.
Maybe if our leaders told us what was really going on we couldn’t cope.
I’d rather know and make informed choices.
Imagine how confusing it must be to grow up in the world today. You’re told not to lie, but all around you, home, school, government, business, social media/internet, movies, TV, books, video games – all lying and getting stuff for it.
I guess we should ask ourselves WWPD?
So, what’s your favourite book, movie, or TV show about lies?
Lying was wrong.
I’m terrible at lying which is difficult in society where lying has become an art form, definitely a prerequisite for some jobs such as politician, businessperson, lawyer, reality show celebrity, actor, etc.
Now lying is only said to be wrong or bad.
Politicians lie to us. We not only accept it, we encourage it by keeping them in power, and sometimes even re-electing them.
We watch reality shows where to win you have to lie, cheat, manipulate and are rewarded and lauded for it.
People lie to save face, cover up, avoid reality, shift blame, evade criticism or confrontation, or to control a situation.
Some people lie for financial or other gains or just to get their own way.
Some lie for social management.
Some people lie compulsively.
Some enjoy manipulating people.
I think the people we lie to the most, is ourselves.
Appearances have become a lie.
False eyelashes, fake nails, breasts, tan, hair colour, hair; face-lifts, injections, cheek and butt implants, make-up, corsets, spanx, and air-brushing to smooth out what all the other stuff can’t cover up – soon we’ll all be hazy images so no one can see what nature has given us. We worship at the alter of youth and beauty, even if it’s not real.
Reading Pinocchio The Vampire Slayer: The Complete Edition (Dustin Higgins, artist/creator and Van Jensen writer; Top Shelf Productions, previously by SLG Publishing) I started thinking not only how funny and clever these graphic novels are, but how in this modern morality tale Pinocchio is rewarded for lying by having a weapon to destroy vampires. It got me thinking about lies and the books, TV shows, movies, etc. deal with lying. I borrowed this book from Netgalley; for bloggers out there, this is an amazing place to get great digital editions free. Check it out https://www.netgalley.com/
One of my favs is Lie To Me (Fox) with the incredible Tim Roth. Only 3 seasons, if you didn’t watch it, I suggest you do. Intense, cause Roth never gives anything but intense, this show skillfully highlighted the barrage of lies we struggle through and tell each day.
A fav movie about lying is The Invention of Lying (Radar Pictures/Media Rights Capital/Universal) starring the hilarious and libidinous Ricky Gervais (written by Gervais and Matthew Robinson). Imagine a world where everyone tells the truth. Now imagine it imagined by Gervais.
I guess I’ve thought a lot about lying, my son has Asperger’s Syndrome and he believes the truth is King.
Which brings us to what does ‘the truth’ mean. I was always taught there was your truth, my truth, and the truth. That’s pretty complicated.
Lying is much simpler, not telling the facts.
The perils of lying? People will stop trusting and believing you, but these days the perks of lying seem to outweigh the perils.
Lying can get you money and power with few or any ramifications…at least in the short-term.
Maybe lying has increased because we can’t handle the truth, it’s too scary, too painful.
Maybe if our leaders told us what was really going on we couldn’t cope.
I’d rather know and make informed choices.
Imagine how confusing it must be to grow up in the world today. You’re told not to lie, but all around you, home, school, government, business, social media/internet, movies, TV, books, video games – all lying and getting stuff for it.
I guess we should ask ourselves WWPD?
So, what’s your favourite book, movie, or TV show about lies?
July 13, 2014
'Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer Complete Edition' is the kind of hilarious mashup that I really like, and it was done with just the right sort of wit and style.
We start with a recap of the Pinocchio story, for those not familiar with the original book. Cricket is a ghost, Pinocchio was found by a woodcutter, etc. Then things get strange as we find Geppetto has been killed by vampires and Pinocchio finds himself seeking revenge. He stakes them with his nose, which means while he's fighting them, he has to keep lying so his nose will grow. Of course, the vampires turn to ash, so the townspeople think he's lying about the vampires (even though his nose doesn't grow when he tells them). There is a ghost cricket, a aged fairy, a quartet of creepy rabbits and an army of puppets all to help him out.
I love that they rooted it in the old novel. There is even a pretty hilarious puppet version of Hamlet. It's got it's funny moments, but it's also got some serious ones. My review copy was generous, but only included about half of the 500+ page book. Based on the half I read, it's totally worth it, even if the second half were to be a bomb (and I suspect this is definitely not the case). Brilliant writing by Van Jensen and equally brilliant art by Dusty Higgins.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this great graphic novel.
We start with a recap of the Pinocchio story, for those not familiar with the original book. Cricket is a ghost, Pinocchio was found by a woodcutter, etc. Then things get strange as we find Geppetto has been killed by vampires and Pinocchio finds himself seeking revenge. He stakes them with his nose, which means while he's fighting them, he has to keep lying so his nose will grow. Of course, the vampires turn to ash, so the townspeople think he's lying about the vampires (even though his nose doesn't grow when he tells them). There is a ghost cricket, a aged fairy, a quartet of creepy rabbits and an army of puppets all to help him out.
I love that they rooted it in the old novel. There is even a pretty hilarious puppet version of Hamlet. It's got it's funny moments, but it's also got some serious ones. My review copy was generous, but only included about half of the 500+ page book. Based on the half I read, it's totally worth it, even if the second half were to be a bomb (and I suspect this is definitely not the case). Brilliant writing by Van Jensen and equally brilliant art by Dusty Higgins.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this great graphic novel.
July 24, 2020
It's kind of ridiculous how good this is.
It's strange to think that one started off as a one-panel joke managed to turn into a 500+ page epic that I didn't really want to end. By merging Pinocchio with Dracula, Van Jensen has crafted a surprisingly effective world full of interesting characters, powerful drama, and a rousing adventure. The story structure is near perfect, with the first act also being able to stand on its own, but slotting into a three act structure as well, culminating in a impressive and touching ending.
I'd rate this as a 4.5 -it's only weaknesses are some of the Act 2 characters don't get a lot of development, some of the modern humor moments feel out of place, and some of the action scenes are hard to read. The art ranges from pleasant to sublime, with some unique styles for sections that are well-implemented too.
I could totally see this as an animated movie; it's a story that can transcend its current format and should be read by as many people as possible.
It's strange to think that one started off as a one-panel joke managed to turn into a 500+ page epic that I didn't really want to end. By merging Pinocchio with Dracula, Van Jensen has crafted a surprisingly effective world full of interesting characters, powerful drama, and a rousing adventure. The story structure is near perfect, with the first act also being able to stand on its own, but slotting into a three act structure as well, culminating in a impressive and touching ending.
I'd rate this as a 4.5 -it's only weaknesses are some of the Act 2 characters don't get a lot of development, some of the modern humor moments feel out of place, and some of the action scenes are hard to read. The art ranges from pleasant to sublime, with some unique styles for sections that are well-implemented too.
I could totally see this as an animated movie; it's a story that can transcend its current format and should be read by as many people as possible.
May 10, 2019
This was far better than I was expecting and very original which I always appreciate in a story. Unlike the recent Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or other classic/horror mash-ups, this one actually seems to fit the story and the characters and not leave me tearing my hair out. It helps that Pinocchio uses his nose to create an ever-ready supply of wooden stakes that would kill a vampire - all he has to do is tell a lie, and this natural ability really works for this story. A fun read.
March 2, 2024
The original story of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi is whimsical and fantastic as well as violent and grim (pardon the pun). So too is this unlikely combination of classics by Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins. The epic adventures and compelling characters go way beyond the one-joke wonder of vanquishing vampires via wooden nose. Solid storytelling that is strongly recommended.
October 2, 2019
Great idea hampered by terrible execution. The joke fizzles out as soon as the author actually gets down to the business of telling the story. The fact that it's in black and white and no one could be bothered to bring some color to this world also disappointed me. What a waste.
January 27, 2024
Absolutely hilarious but also OUCH. I found it because it was included in the Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio exhibit alongside other retellings and I knew I had to get a copy. I wasn’t expecting it to be 500 pages, but honestly I almost want it to be longer. I love all the characters too much.
July 17, 2017
Better than expected, but still pretty much exactly what you'd expect.
September 22, 2018
enjoyed the idea behind Pinocchio's origin
You will have to read it to understand
You will have to read it to understand
November 21, 2018
This was a dark story. It has light over tunes and mellow happiness. The puppet w ho likes saves the world.
December 10, 2018
Volume 1: 4/5
Volume 2: 3.5/5
Volume 3: 4/5
Volume 2: 3.5/5
Volume 3: 4/5
June 14, 2020
This was really good! I loved the big reveal near the end. And the art is super nice, and it sometimes reminded me of Mike Mignola's.
November 26, 2022
Remarkably entertaining especially with the premise. Strangely entertaining, moving,funny and with quite a few emotional moments.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this.
July 26, 2023
This comic was a great find! I loved the humour and artwork. It even has a good storyline, what more could you wish for?
March 25, 2024
A masterpiece
July 19, 2014
I have to admit. The top few fairy tale characters I have never really loved are among Peter Pan and Pinocchio. Although as far as (what I thought were terribly-horribly-not-really-at-all- interesting characters: Pinocchio always took the cake. I thought his adventures were dumb (I didn’t enjoy the Disney movie), he apparently was dumb (I also didn’t enjoy reading the book---I thought he was just so very hard-headed and mean), and the only time I halved like him was playing a shade of grey character in Fables by Bill Willingham. I just love an evil Geppetto----which goes to say this book went WAY ABOVE & BEYOND all my expectations:
If the first twelve pages don’t make you giggle and laugh with all in all Pinocchio’s hilarious facetious glory, as his exploits reminded me of Tina from (Bob's burgers)
I think Louise & Pinocchio would’ve been best friends. The first twelve or so pages gives you a slight updated back story on the tale of Pinocchio. Moving further ahead in the story, we meet an array of characters from the Antonio, the blue fairy, a dead cricket, and his love interest Carlotta.
Aside from the characters, the way Pinocchio deals with vampires---uses his nose as a stake---is genius! Jensen and Higgins combo team is “literally” the best thing that happened to Pinocchio EVER:
The writing style and art mesh together that the very heart of this novel is seeing this amazing concept get the perfect art pairing. This book covers all of the first volume of Pinocchio, and MOST of the second volume of Pinocchio. In the second volume, we lose some characters, gain some new ones, and a magical thing happens to Pinocchio before he finishes his quest. Unfortunately, they left a nice black screen with the words printed, ‘extended preview’ that had me screaming,
I can't give it 5/5 because I don't know how it ends, but you bet I'm going to get this complete set when it's released!
If the first twelve pages don’t make you giggle and laugh with all in all Pinocchio’s hilarious facetious glory, as his exploits reminded me of Tina from (Bob's burgers)
I think Louise & Pinocchio would’ve been best friends. The first twelve or so pages gives you a slight updated back story on the tale of Pinocchio. Moving further ahead in the story, we meet an array of characters from the Antonio, the blue fairy, a dead cricket, and his love interest Carlotta.
Aside from the characters, the way Pinocchio deals with vampires---uses his nose as a stake---is genius! Jensen and Higgins combo team is “literally” the best thing that happened to Pinocchio EVER:
The writing style and art mesh together that the very heart of this novel is seeing this amazing concept get the perfect art pairing. This book covers all of the first volume of Pinocchio, and MOST of the second volume of Pinocchio. In the second volume, we lose some characters, gain some new ones, and a magical thing happens to Pinocchio before he finishes his quest. Unfortunately, they left a nice black screen with the words printed, ‘extended preview’ that had me screaming,
I can't give it 5/5 because I don't know how it ends, but you bet I'm going to get this complete set when it's released!
July 28, 2014
You know a book is going to be good when it references G.K. Chesterton. A comic that references it in the very first line? Even better! This book could not have made a better impression on me if it tried.
This is a story about Pinocchio, like you've never known him before. Unlike the (mostly) happy world of Ever After High, this fairy-tale retelling is dark. It starts off with an orphan Pinocchio, a vampire slayer in a town that refuses to believe in vampires. Apart from one girl, his only companions after Gepetto was killed would be the Blue Fairy and Master Cherry (a Carpenter and friend of Gepetto). There are many twists and turns, and no, I'm not going to tell them to you. Let's just say that being a real boy is involved, and no, it's not as good as it may be.
Wait, how does Pinocchio kill vampires? I admit, Vampire Hunter was not a job title that I would have given to Pinocchio. But think about it, to kill a vampire, you stake it in the heart. And for that, you need a piece of wood. Guess who's got an everlasting supply of ready-made stakes (contingent on his ability to lie)? Now that I thought about it, Pinocchio is the perfect vampire hunter!
Pinocchio's skill at lying/growing his nose is mostly used for comic effect, but I think one of the most powerful moments in the book I read came when it was used in a tragic way. I teared at that part (go read the book, you'll tear too!). I'm really amazed at how the authors of this book managed to use the original story elements to add both humour and gravity to the book.
Unfortunately, my preview copy on NetGalley only had half the pages of the complete edition (so I guess I finished volume 1 and half of volume 2). I tried looking for it in bookstores in Japan, but no luck yet. Perhaps I'll have better luck in Singapore - this is one book that I really want to finish.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
This is a story about Pinocchio, like you've never known him before. Unlike the (mostly) happy world of Ever After High, this fairy-tale retelling is dark. It starts off with an orphan Pinocchio, a vampire slayer in a town that refuses to believe in vampires. Apart from one girl, his only companions after Gepetto was killed would be the Blue Fairy and Master Cherry (a Carpenter and friend of Gepetto). There are many twists and turns, and no, I'm not going to tell them to you. Let's just say that being a real boy is involved, and no, it's not as good as it may be.
Wait, how does Pinocchio kill vampires? I admit, Vampire Hunter was not a job title that I would have given to Pinocchio. But think about it, to kill a vampire, you stake it in the heart. And for that, you need a piece of wood. Guess who's got an everlasting supply of ready-made stakes (contingent on his ability to lie)? Now that I thought about it, Pinocchio is the perfect vampire hunter!
Pinocchio's skill at lying/growing his nose is mostly used for comic effect, but I think one of the most powerful moments in the book I read came when it was used in a tragic way. I teared at that part (go read the book, you'll tear too!). I'm really amazed at how the authors of this book managed to use the original story elements to add both humour and gravity to the book.
Unfortunately, my preview copy on NetGalley only had half the pages of the complete edition (so I guess I finished volume 1 and half of volume 2). I tried looking for it in bookstores in Japan, but no luck yet. Perhaps I'll have better luck in Singapore - this is one book that I really want to finish.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
August 7, 2014
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress...
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
When vampires attack, Pinocchio discovers his enhanced nasal ability creates a handy supply of stakes. Cue slaying!
Let me start by saying that while this tale didn’t pan out quite as I expected it to, based on the cover and blurb, I really enjoyed it and found myself engrossed in the toils of Pinocchio and friends. The book provides a very comprehensive (and enlightening) foreword explaining how this particular incarnation of the story is faithful to the original tale. The first few pages also display a basic retelling of the original story to bring readers up to speed on how vampires have come to inhabit an originally vampire-free fairy tale.
The artwork is of the traditional comic/cartoon style and the frames are really well formatted and designed. As far as the story goes, there was a great mix of humour, action, intrigue and vampire-slaying. There was also a tiny bit of potential romance, which rounded the story out nicely and gave a bit of realism to Pinocchio’s desire to become human. The puppet army was a really interesting development to the story and ratcheted the action and humour up at an opportune time, but the stars of the tale for me were the Rabbits of Ill-Portent – a quartet of furry doom-sayers that turned up unexpectedly an injected a bit of a giggle swathed in impending destruction.
I recommend you have a look if you’re a fan of retellings that feature a bit of monster-mayhem but also hold their own in the “good narrative” stakes.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
When vampires attack, Pinocchio discovers his enhanced nasal ability creates a handy supply of stakes. Cue slaying!
Let me start by saying that while this tale didn’t pan out quite as I expected it to, based on the cover and blurb, I really enjoyed it and found myself engrossed in the toils of Pinocchio and friends. The book provides a very comprehensive (and enlightening) foreword explaining how this particular incarnation of the story is faithful to the original tale. The first few pages also display a basic retelling of the original story to bring readers up to speed on how vampires have come to inhabit an originally vampire-free fairy tale.
The artwork is of the traditional comic/cartoon style and the frames are really well formatted and designed. As far as the story goes, there was a great mix of humour, action, intrigue and vampire-slaying. There was also a tiny bit of potential romance, which rounded the story out nicely and gave a bit of realism to Pinocchio’s desire to become human. The puppet army was a really interesting development to the story and ratcheted the action and humour up at an opportune time, but the stars of the tale for me were the Rabbits of Ill-Portent – a quartet of furry doom-sayers that turned up unexpectedly an injected a bit of a giggle swathed in impending destruction.
I recommend you have a look if you’re a fan of retellings that feature a bit of monster-mayhem but also hold their own in the “good narrative” stakes.
July 23, 2014
What an imaginative mash-up of genres- who else would have thought of mixing Pinocchio with vampires? But then again, who better than a wooden boy to fight monsters that can be killed by wood? This story takes up where the classic story ends, with Geppetto and Pinocchio safely back out of the fish's belly and home again. The happy ending doesn't last though, vampires kill Geppetto and Pinocchio begins a campaign to kill them all off. He has the help of the Azure Fairy, Geppetto's friend Cherry, and a ghostly cricket, but the townspeople won't believe him that there are monsters on the prowl. His adventures have him traveling the countryside while tracking the vampires and he meets up with some old acquaintances along the way. The story is by turns serious, funny, and sad. The four rabbits who are the harbingers of doom show up at very depressing moments, but they are so silly looking that it is an almost uncomfortable juxtaposition of images in those scenes.
Keep in mind that even though it is told in graphic novel format, this is not a story for young children. The monsters are scary, the psychological trauma Pinocchio undergoes is very troubling, and there are some instances of mature language that would not be age-appropriate. For those who enjoy genre mash-ups with horror mixed into other types of tales, then this could be to your taste.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Keep in mind that even though it is told in graphic novel format, this is not a story for young children. The monsters are scary, the psychological trauma Pinocchio undergoes is very troubling, and there are some instances of mature language that would not be age-appropriate. For those who enjoy genre mash-ups with horror mixed into other types of tales, then this could be to your taste.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
August 27, 2014
*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and Top Shelf Productions on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
**Only a partial of the Complete Edition was provided, this review is based on about 50% of the Complete Edition**
I am not very familiar with the original Pinocchio story. I have seen and read many interpretations of it, but I have never gone back to the source. Thankfully, this graphic novel has a short retelling of the traditional tale at the very start of the book. Pinocchio fans can refamiliarize themselves with the tale while casual readers can learn a little more about where this wooden boy came from. There is also a wonderful foreword in this edition. I admit, I sometimes browse through forewords without really reading them, but this one is worth it to read.
The artwork is very unique. it is black and white and reminds me of wood carvings. It fits the mood of the story perfectly.
This graphic novel has some darker themes and added humor. If you, like me, are a fan of children's tales retold for adults you will enjoy this. If you are more familiar than I was with the Pinocchio tale, I think you will enjoy this even more. There were many characters I was unfamiliar with.
I was provided only half of this Complete Edition, so I read probably about halfway into the second volume if you are reading the earlier released graphic novels. I give what I read a 3/5 and highly recommend it to Pinocchio fans.
**Only a partial of the Complete Edition was provided, this review is based on about 50% of the Complete Edition**
I am not very familiar with the original Pinocchio story. I have seen and read many interpretations of it, but I have never gone back to the source. Thankfully, this graphic novel has a short retelling of the traditional tale at the very start of the book. Pinocchio fans can refamiliarize themselves with the tale while casual readers can learn a little more about where this wooden boy came from. There is also a wonderful foreword in this edition. I admit, I sometimes browse through forewords without really reading them, but this one is worth it to read.
The artwork is very unique. it is black and white and reminds me of wood carvings. It fits the mood of the story perfectly.
This graphic novel has some darker themes and added humor. If you, like me, are a fan of children's tales retold for adults you will enjoy this. If you are more familiar than I was with the Pinocchio tale, I think you will enjoy this even more. There were many characters I was unfamiliar with.
I was provided only half of this Complete Edition, so I read probably about halfway into the second volume if you are reading the earlier released graphic novels. I give what I read a 3/5 and highly recommend it to Pinocchio fans.
July 5, 2014
It is tough to review this one as my advanced review copy is only about half of the "Complete Edition" but I'll do my best.
I figure this was either going to be the most genius thing ever or the worst. Either way it would be fun. It actually ended up being just kind of middle of the road. Nothing too over the top for a vampiric re-telling of a classic. Not too bad either. As the classic goes, Pinocchio is a magical talking puppet whose nose grows when he lies. Obviously this is a good thing to be when fighting vampires. He's fighting them as revenge, they killed his father. Aided by Cherry and the fairy, Pinocchio has made quite a name for himself. The puppet who kills vampires. They tell tales of him far and wide. He doesn't care much about that or anything beyond wiping out every last bloodsucker. Still one growing nose isn't enough to fight swarms of vamps. Eventually even Cherry and Fairy aren't enough, leading Pinocchio to form a bit of a gang of his own. Dealing with love dramas, family problems, and some magic they all have a tough time. Anymore would spoil the fun of it...
It does have some really fun moments and some dull twists and turns. It really is what you would expect of a story that has Pinocchio fighting vampires. The art work is lovely (it's all black and white). Not my favorite comic ever, but not bad.
I figure this was either going to be the most genius thing ever or the worst. Either way it would be fun. It actually ended up being just kind of middle of the road. Nothing too over the top for a vampiric re-telling of a classic. Not too bad either. As the classic goes, Pinocchio is a magical talking puppet whose nose grows when he lies. Obviously this is a good thing to be when fighting vampires. He's fighting them as revenge, they killed his father. Aided by Cherry and the fairy, Pinocchio has made quite a name for himself. The puppet who kills vampires. They tell tales of him far and wide. He doesn't care much about that or anything beyond wiping out every last bloodsucker. Still one growing nose isn't enough to fight swarms of vamps. Eventually even Cherry and Fairy aren't enough, leading Pinocchio to form a bit of a gang of his own. Dealing with love dramas, family problems, and some magic they all have a tough time. Anymore would spoil the fun of it...
It does have some really fun moments and some dull twists and turns. It really is what you would expect of a story that has Pinocchio fighting vampires. The art work is lovely (it's all black and white). Not my favorite comic ever, but not bad.
November 2, 2014
*An extended preview of this novel was provided by the publisher, Diamond Book Distributors, in exchange for a review. The fact that I received a free copy has in no way influenced my review, nor have I received any compensation.*
In this interesting take on the classic Pinocchio our hero, Pinocchio obviously, has an interesting way of taking out the vampires. Lie, break off nose, stab vampire, repeat. In my opinion this makes it much more unique than the many scores of classic vampire retellings that have made an appearance in recent years. Unlike most of the many books that have surfaced "Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer" has more to it than taking the same story and adding vampires to it. Instead it expands on the original tale and gives it a new level of depth, differentiating from the original tale so that it becomes something new and original.
The illustrations were also very well done, there was consistency in their quality and there was definitely quality. The humans and puppets alike looked realistic enough to be believable, but not overly so.
The only real reason I didn't give this book a higher rating was because there were some grammatical errors. Perhaps once I read the entire work I will give it a higher rating, because I will quite possibly better understand how the particular characters talk.
In this interesting take on the classic Pinocchio our hero, Pinocchio obviously, has an interesting way of taking out the vampires. Lie, break off nose, stab vampire, repeat. In my opinion this makes it much more unique than the many scores of classic vampire retellings that have made an appearance in recent years. Unlike most of the many books that have surfaced "Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer" has more to it than taking the same story and adding vampires to it. Instead it expands on the original tale and gives it a new level of depth, differentiating from the original tale so that it becomes something new and original.
The illustrations were also very well done, there was consistency in their quality and there was definitely quality. The humans and puppets alike looked realistic enough to be believable, but not overly so.
The only real reason I didn't give this book a higher rating was because there were some grammatical errors. Perhaps once I read the entire work I will give it a higher rating, because I will quite possibly better understand how the particular characters talk.
September 12, 2014
I started following this series a few years ago (reviewed book 1 at http://vbplrecommends.blogspot.com/20...) and got to part 1 of the third volume, but the releases took a while to come out and the final part did not seem ever to become available, so I was glad to see an omnibus edition of the whole series and see how the story ends.
I like the premise with Pinocchio using his wooden nose to slay vampires (and he lies to make his nose grow new stakes). I remember the first time I head the premise it sounded like a gag joke, but it's neat to see a whole story developed around it. The authors stick closely to the original story, recognizing the weird, dark, and creepy elements in it, and incorporating that into their story (there's a recap of the Pinocchio story in book 1 that captures well those weird, dark, and creepy elements--ie, the ones Disney left out and glossed over). Appropriate to a vampire story and horror, there is a lot of death and killing, even of the main characters. It's a dark story, and there is no shying from difficult moments or hard choices. Quite a bit happens, getting into Pinocchio's origins, and coming full circle in these 3 volumes. The art has a distinct look, maybe not as polished or elaborate as other comics, but it suits the feel of the story.
I like the premise with Pinocchio using his wooden nose to slay vampires (and he lies to make his nose grow new stakes). I remember the first time I head the premise it sounded like a gag joke, but it's neat to see a whole story developed around it. The authors stick closely to the original story, recognizing the weird, dark, and creepy elements in it, and incorporating that into their story (there's a recap of the Pinocchio story in book 1 that captures well those weird, dark, and creepy elements--ie, the ones Disney left out and glossed over). Appropriate to a vampire story and horror, there is a lot of death and killing, even of the main characters. It's a dark story, and there is no shying from difficult moments or hard choices. Quite a bit happens, getting into Pinocchio's origins, and coming full circle in these 3 volumes. The art has a distinct look, maybe not as polished or elaborate as other comics, but it suits the feel of the story.
August 26, 2014
After reading half a large trilogy of graphic novels courtesy of Netgalley, it's clear this is a good, fun series. The artwork is great, for a start, at times very Mignola-esque (even Pinocchio's kiss-curl in wood looks like a Hellboy horn stump), at times perfect woodcut pastiches, and generally on a common ground between the two. But the main merit is the script – the creators show they clearly know the original, and know how to provide a fun, zippy comic in homage to it. P's nose doesn't get too huge, even with a blatant lie – in fact it's the perfect size for him to snap off instantly and use as a weapon to stake vampires. But other elements from the original story come in, with a great deal of cleverness and invention. The end result is as far from the monster mash-ups of recent years as one could get – it's much more enjoyable, makes more sense, and holds no stick with being as long and verbose as, say, the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies did with its original. For this is a short, brisk read, with large gutters and at times only two speech balloons per page. The rampant page-turning this allows might make one think the book's cheap, or short of appeal – it's anything but.
May 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I met Van Jensen while at Denver Comic Con and picked up this unique retelling of Pinocchio.
It is hilarious and full of witty banter! The art style is grungy and very striking, in my opinion. And the character expressions are just fantastic.
This story follows Pinocchio's losses and his fight for revenge and justice. Against...yup...you guessed...VAMPIRES! I think it is a unique story line and far truer to the original story of Pinocchio, as noted in the notes at the beginning of the graphic novel. You learn about where Pinocchio came from and how he ended up where he is today. It was really great and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a fun twist on classic, with a bit of a dark side.
The ending is sad but impactful. I will always remember how it ended and I think that is a great part of any good graphic novel!
A huge shoutout to Higgins who does a marvelous job of giving the puppets in the graphic novel some extremely striking facial expressions I was never confused on how they were feeling! And the transference from human to vampire was really great! The characters still looked like themselves but with an evil twist! SO GREAT!!!!
It is hilarious and full of witty banter! The art style is grungy and very striking, in my opinion. And the character expressions are just fantastic.
This story follows Pinocchio's losses and his fight for revenge and justice. Against...yup...you guessed...VAMPIRES! I think it is a unique story line and far truer to the original story of Pinocchio, as noted in the notes at the beginning of the graphic novel. You learn about where Pinocchio came from and how he ended up where he is today. It was really great and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a fun twist on classic, with a bit of a dark side.
The ending is sad but impactful. I will always remember how it ended and I think that is a great part of any good graphic novel!
A huge shoutout to Higgins who does a marvelous job of giving the puppets in the graphic novel some extremely striking facial expressions I was never confused on how they were feeling! And the transference from human to vampire was really great! The characters still looked like themselves but with an evil twist! SO GREAT!!!!
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