Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned, Volume 1: The Charmer

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned #1 issues #1-5

by Laurell K. Hamilton (Writer), Laurell K. Hamilton, Jess Ruffner

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR LAURELL K. HAMILTON'S FAN-FAVORITE VAMPIRE HUNTER RETURNS! Anita Blake walked away from her last case with more than a few bruises - but those wounds are nothing compared to the scrapes that lie ahead in this blood-soaked adaptation of Hamilton's third erotic thriller. To find a killer targeting the undead, Anita must descend into the dangerous, supernatural demimonde operated by the master vampire Jean-Claude. It will take all of Anita's wits to survive THE CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Vampires, Comics, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror

120 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2011

About the author

Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the leading writers of paranormal fiction. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Hamilton writes the popular Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels and the Meredith Gentry series. She is also the creator of a bestselling comic book series based on her Anita Blake novels and published by Marvel Comics. Hamilton is a full-time writer and lives in the suburbs of St. Louis with her family.

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book Anita meets Richard. The art is well done although I always pictured Richard older. The character looks like he’s barely out of his teen years. Richard is supposed to be in his thirty’s.
For the most part the story is pretty good.

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dos hombres piden una cita formal a Anita en la oficina de los animadores de zombis para preguntarle derechamente por el lugar de descanso del vampiro principal de la ciudad. Son de Human First y quieren matarlo. Anita por razones legales y en su debate entre querer realmente muerto a Jean Claude los despide. Luego la policia preternatural le pide ayuda por una muerte por vampiro (o más bien vampiros), al aprecer hay un otro Master vampiro en la ciudad causando problemas.

Anita se enfrenta a problemas por demasiado trabajo entre su trabajo con Bert, la policia, un vampiro cometiendo crimenes y a la vez deseando deshacerse de Jean Claude, y un encuentro en el Circo de los Condenados el espectaculo de los monstruos donde se enfrenta a más politicas vampiricas donde se ve a u Jean Claude que es tremendamente manipulador como no lo recordaba despues de tantos años de no haberlo leido que presiona a Anita para que reciba el resto de sus marcas y sea una Sirvienta completa de él. Aqui habra muchas aclaraciones del por qué tantas ansias de ello por la condición del poder de nigromante de Anita que le brinda mayor poder a Jean Claude. También es donde Anita conoce a Richard. Ricahrd tan ...humano, y a quien Anita decide comenzar a tener citas con él. Aunque no salen tan bien entre la lamia y todos los peligros. Todos esos momentos y mentiras que me hicieron recordar porque era en ese entonces del Team Jean Claude :P, nunca fui fan de Richard ni de Jason la verdad.



Bastante buena conversión del libro homónimo a la novela gráfica. Con mayores o menores aciertos en cuanto al dibujo de personajes. No me convencieron Zebrowksky sobre todo, ni tampoco Jason. La tendencia de homonizarlos en una suerte de entre manga shojo (bonitos) y menos comic tampoco mucho.

Como digo a todos a darle una oportunidad al menos hasta el libro 12 más o menos ;) el resto es una porqueria.

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to get through this. Being a graphic novel, that says a lot. I very nearly quit when two females were told to fight (I won't share why since it's a spoiler). But believe me, it was lame. The characters had no substance. The story wasn't engaging. And the way Jean-Claude kept calling her "ma petite" drove me crazy. I won't bother to read more of this series.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Circus of the Damned vol. 1-3.

Definitely my favorite Anita Blake graphic novel. Not only did this one have a new artist, but the new guy managed to make the characters look more lifelike, less manga-ish, and that’s a plus in my book. The story itself was really engrossing. I'm sorry girls (you now who you are!) but the graphic novels managed to draw me into the world like my Kindle copy of Guilty Pleasures never did - and now I'm hooked! *Checks for pimples… there might be one on my left butt-cheek, Jeanny;-) Then again, it could just be a mosquito bite…*

Sure, every single "hottie" is depicted with long, CRINGE-worthy poodle rock/80's hair, but at least that resulted in a hilarious conversation you can find here: https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...

I liked how this story focused more on Anita’s schizophrenic relationship to Jean-Claude; her pushy suitor and would-be master - and the power struggles that have ensued after the downfall of Nikolaos. But perhaps most of all; the new insights we get into the vampire culture. With several - much older, much more powerful - masters gunning for Jean-Claude’s position, Anita must decide just how badly she wants out of the human servant role Jean-Claude intends for her to fill. Wolf vs. snake, that is the question… (Personally, I’d go wolf every time;-P)

Speaking of wolves, one of them happened to divulge a few details from a private conversation with Jean-Claude: Oh I already know he’s a sneaky bastard, but his words rang true, so in this case I’m #teamvampire. Sure, I know she’s destined to rut them both (and many more) but what can I say, Jean-Claude is an enigmatic guy.

This story gave me everything I had hoped for and more: Treachery, seduction, danger, gore, budding romance. Even some things I didn’t ask for (snakes are so not my kind of pets. *Shudders*) Too bad the sex fest books never made it to the drawing board. It would have been fun to see how the artist interpreted Anita’s sexcapades. Oh well, I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

4.5 stars.

[R J Royer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read several of Laurell K. Hamilton's other books in this series, and I mean regular books, I found this book incredible good so far. I realize that this is part one of several more and I have the others in hand to read.

I can also say that the art in the book is good, not great but good and it also doesn't do anything for the main characters. Anita seems less interesting in the art than she was described in the book. At least that's how it feels to me.

ilu eh

[Vivone Os · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imam samo jedno pitanje: zašto su svi vampiri, mjenjolici i ostala bića (a i poneki čovjek) u ovom stripu prezgodni, mišićavi, imaju six pack? Kao da je neki vampir birao samo teretane kao mjesta gdje će si uhvatiti ljute i pretvoriti ih u vampire. I to samo one najzgodnije, najmišićavije. E da, i dugokose.
Al ono, nije da mi smeta.

Orilium: Spells & Incantations – Ordinary: Charm: Short Trip – Read a manga/comic/graphic novel
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala

[Tif · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by someone because I liked American Vampire. If I had known it was as badly written as True Blood I would have stayed miles away from it.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introducing Stephan and Richard to the local regular group, this chapter gets us just past the giant cobra and to the first meeting with Edward asking for the Master of the City's resting place. Anita is set up with her first date to Richard for her friend's Halloween party with a commitment to go caving the next weekend and the second murder site of her current case waiting for her. Much of the description and imagination is lost in the comic adaptations, but it is interesting to see what art the creators come up with for it in contrast.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do enjoy a light read occasionally, going for a graphic novel or Manga over a novel. I needed something to send me to sleep last night, and I'd bought this yesterday. I have read most of Laurell K Hamilton's books anyway, and even some of the other graphic novels, just not this one. I love Anita and how she is drawn, it is absolutely spot on. Her lips are even sexy! A great book for fellow Anita Blake fans, highly recommend :)

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic Novel adaptation of Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. Obviously not as deep and informed as the actual novels themselves, this is simply an illustrated gloss...an introduction, if you will, of what is in store for the reader willing to pick up the novels and delve in.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next first novel of three graphic novels to represent the third book in the Anita Blake series and with a new artist! A lot of people were complaining about the new artist in reviews but I actually like this new artist, makes it look like it's more real rather than manga-ish (which I do NOT like).

This novel follows Anita as a new body is found with multiple vampire bites, leading her to believe a master vampire has a rogue pack. Anita believes everything is fine with the body, but then begins to question if maybe another monster can be born from this horrible crime. And, Jean-Claude is the master of the city so is he the master vampire committing these crimes or is there another master vampire in town? Worst of all, now she needs to ask Jean-Claude for help...

[Becky Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I have read the original print book several times, I have been looking for this for a while. I have not been disappointed. I love the art work throughout the book. It fits Laurell K. Hamilton 's words incredibly well. The characters look pretty much how I imagined them - which says a lot for Hamilton's descriptive powers - and the conversion from print to graphic novel has been done brilliantly.

If you like vampire fiction that features strong, self-assured women who are sometimes a little sarcastic, then you'll love this. I'd write more, but quite honestly I'm off to the internet to find the rest of the graphic novels...

[SpookyxSpice · Rating 3 out of 5]

For OSA! Set during the third Anita Blake book (Circus of The Damned) I love the attention to detail and references from the books, this is of course thanks to Laurell K Hamilton writing the comics too. I loved seeing Anita's stuffed penguins! Zerbrowski was not at all how I pictured him and neither is Jean Claude in the cover of the next issue but I'm enjoying the glimpse into the comics so far.

[Brit (Circus_of_Damed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the novel years ago and while it the same story I love seeing the character depictions esspically because they match so closely to what I visualized. It great revisiting one of my favorite Anita Blake books in a graphic novel format.

[Fiona Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! (Rave) Ok so the women are drawn as perfect specimens (comment Dylan Horrocks) but so are the men, so this beautifully drawn series is well balanced. Laurell K Hamiltons plots are great. I Anita's hard-nosed, suffering no fools gladly character.

[Teigan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the beginning of the Anita Blake series, and looking forward to seeing what the whole series has in store.

[Alexandra Lowrance · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve read the book and wanted to see it in graphic novel form but the style, in my humble opinion, is hideous. Yuck.

[Cierra Vickers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend the Anita Blake series!!! They get steamier as the books progress and Anita is an independent self sufficient badass!

[Laurla2]

paged thru in 20 minutes. the facial expression on ALL the guys made them look like girls. i didnt care for that.

[Ryan M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont remember this cover lol

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh who doesn't love this vampire hunter series... I thought it was quite good.

[Soobie is expired · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK, OK, OK... I didn't remember Jean-Claude being so possessive and always trying to control Anita. And wanting her to admit that she's his human servant. Maybe it's the 30-year-old spinster in me talking but that bothered me a lot. The part where Jean-Claude and Anita were discussing was the most boring in the whole book.

Another thing that I can't digest properly is the fact that the artist changed in this volume and the drawings are a bit different than the ones in the previous volumes. And it's hard for me getting used to a new style. Remember, manga reader here. And manga have the big advantages of being drawn by one (plus n assistants) artist from the beginning to the end.

I don't know. Let's hope that the bickering between Anita and Jean-Claude won't take a big part of the next two volumes.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really awesome graphic novel. I have tried a few times to read the print versions of Anita Blake Vampire Hunter. I have had trouble with the print versions understanding the characters and why they are important. I did not have any trouble jumping in to this graphic novel. The story and the characters are immediately understandable and I can't wait to pick up the next one! The art is outstanding and lends a complete picture of the characters and their emotions.

Appeal: gritty, compelling, suspenseful

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of course is wonderful, and a fun refresher for the older books - especially nice review when Hamilton has a new Anita coming out, as she does so often. Art - well, satisfying enough, I still miss Brett Booth's Anita, and is is most noticable when his art is featured on the cover but not within the pages.

[Cupof Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been really enjoying the Anita Blake graphic novels. The stories can be told in such a short format, and the pictures are sooooooo pretty. A good way to recap the series and recall how Richard first meets Anita in this first book of Circus of the Damned.

Unfortunately, I have Book 3, but not Book 2. Gotta make an Amazon order soon I think.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourite Character: Edward

The actual book was better. Not as good as I thought it was going to be. I pretty much gave it a four because I vaguely remember giving the novel a five.

Anita annoys me in even these books now because I know she turns into a monster-fucking-tramp and I don't even remember how the hell that happened in the first place.

[Bethnoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isn't it silly that whilst I was reading this, I kept wanting to shout "No Anita, don't do it!". Having read the books, I thought I'd see what this graphic novel adaption was like. Overall I'd say it was very good. It stuck to the plot , retained the dynamism of the books and although the images of the characters weren't drawn as I'd imagined them, I enjoyed it.

[Alice Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes back to the first novels, when I still liked Anita and when Richard was nice and cute and that I liked him a LOT (before he turned into a jealous and possessive macho alpha male). Can't wait till they start dating.
The drawings are beautiful.
Edward is still one of my favs.
The only thing this book is missing is sweet Nathaniel. ; )

[Tiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The graphics in the beginning were a little weird to me, especially the faces. By the middle, they started to get more consistent. I so far have been very happy with all the graphic novels in this series.

[Tony Calder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't an Anita Blake book that I have read, so I can't comment on the accuracy of the adaptation. However, the artwork is good without being breathtaking, and the story feels like an Anita Blake story, so that's good. This isn't the complete adaptation, just the first part.