The Dark-Hunters, Vol. 3

Dark-Hunters Manga #3

by Joshua Hale Fialkov (adapter), Claudia Campos (Illustrator), Sherrilyn Kenyon

In the war against vampires, mankind has only one hope: The Dark-Hunters. Ancient warriors who died of brutal betrayal, the Dark-Hunters have sworn themselves into the service of the goddess Artemis to protect us.

It's a pact with pretty good perks. Immortality, power, psychic abilities, wealth and a cool wardrobe. But it comes with a few drawbacks: fatal sun poisoning and a new, irreparable dental problem. But aside from the fangs and nocturnal lifestyle, it's not so bad.

Talon, an ancient Celtic warrior, has been cursed by the god Camulus for killing his son. Camulus cursed Talon, decreeing death for everyone he loved. Now a Dark-Hunter in modern-day New Orleans, Talon meets Sunshine, who is key to ending his curse once and for all. Not to mention helping him to save New Orleans from an ancient god bent on total destruction...

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Vampires

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2010

About the author

Joshua Hale Fialkov is the creator (or co-creator, depending) of graphic novels, including the Harvey Nominated Elk’s Run, the Harvey and Eisner nominated Tumor, Punks the Comic, and the Harvey Nominated Echoes.

He has written Alibi and Cyblade for Top Cow, Superman/Batman for DC Comics, Rampaging Wolverine for Marvel, and Friday the 13th for Wildstorm. He’s writing the DC relaunch of I,Vampire, as well as debuting the new Marvel character The Monkey King. This fall sees the launch of The Last of the Greats from Image Comics with artist Brent Peeples.

He also served as a writer on the Emmy Award Nominated animated film Afro Samurai: Resurrection, and as Executive Producer of the cult hit LG15: The Resistance web series.

Elk’s Run, Tumor, and Alibi are all currently in development as feature films. He has written comics for companies including Marvel, Wildstorm, IDW, Dark Horse, Image, Tor Books, Seven Seas Entertainment, Del Rey, Random House, Dabel Brothers Productions, and St. Martin’s Press. He has done video game work for THQ, Midway Entertainment, and Gore Verbinski’s Blind Wink Productions. He also wrote a Sci-Fi Channel movie starring Isabella Rossellini and Judd Nelson. Unfortunately, at no point in the film does Judd Nelson punch the sky and freeze frame. Joshua grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, went to college in Boston, where he got a BFA in writing and directing for the stage and screen, and then worked in the New England film industry, until finally deciding to move to Los Angeles to do it properly. He lives with his wife, Christina, daughter, Gable, and their cats, Smokey and the Bandit.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/joshfialkov

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joshuahalefia...

Photograph by Heidi Ryder Photography

Reviews

[Laura]

admittedly I'm new to Manga, but I did know to read it from right to left :) go me!

I thought it would be in color though...this is a series that I don't think works as well in black and white. We have Artemis' red hair, the pink apartment, bath towel scene, and Acheron's ever-changing hair...and New Orleans, a very vivid and colorful city.

Anyway, if it had been the whole Night Embrace (Dark-Hunter, #2) rather than just half, I'd have rated it higher. I feel cheated, though, and it's a good thing I've read the book, or I'd be pissed.

Other than that, it was a neat change of pace from my usual fare, but I think I'm over Manga now.

[Yuiko]

Awesome loved this series

[Libbie Wright]

this got five stars only because i love talon with all of me. at first i was totally on board with sunshine and her cute empty headed ass, but her having his wife’s soul? absolutely hate that. let the lady be herself. but then when she hit him with the “not in this lifetime, buddy” instantly back in love. i will unfortunately have to wait until tomorrow until i can start the last manga but these are among my favorite reads of the year. i will absolutely be hunting down physical copies of these and reading the full length novels next year. 10/10

[Reagan]

As it was a manga, it was a quick read for me and it was enjoyable just like the two before it. It was interesting to be reading it and it focusing on two different characters that the main characters in volumes 1 and 2. Though, Kyrian did pop up at one point and I loved it.

Of course, Insta-Love was a thing in this, but it was explained why and such and I liked that there was more of an explanation. Talon is funny to me just as Kyrian was and I'm ready to finish up this fun little series!

[Amelie Halkias]

I love Talon! he's one of my favorites and seeing him with Sunshine, who was depicted a lot different than I had imagined, she was still Sunshine. I love their story and I love that Zarek is also first brought in here!

[Jessica]

I always loved Sunny and Talon, and now I'm ecstatic to see their story unfold as I read along. Time for part 2 of their story!!

[Storm]

Talon and Sunshine were an interesting couple. I love when Talon converses with the dead in front of Kyrian. Best scene award.

[Lisa]

Entertaining story with cute art. Easy 30 minute or less read.

[abby can read]

I like the art style more than the plot at the moment.

[Christine]

I've been reading graphic novels for a couple of years now, but reading this series was my first time reading manga. It's essentially the same literary form as graphic novels, except that manga is read from the 'back' of the book to the 'front' and from right to left across the page. This took a little getting used to, but really wasn't that big of a deal. Don't let it dissuade you from picking up this series.. it's a super fun way to revisit an all time favorite paranormal romance series.

The Dark-Hunters, Vol. 3 is the first half of Sherrilyn Kenyon's full length novel, Night Embrace, the third book in her Dark Hunter series, continuing to introduce many of the key characters and rules of the Dark-Hunter world while also telling the romantic story of Talon and Sunshine. The characters are drawn in the anime-manga style, but with a definite Dark Hunter vibe. I think the manga writers did an excellent job of capturing the essence of Kenyon's novels. There's humor, action, suspense and romance in these books even though the manga is in a way, an abbreviated version of the novels. There's a lot of the good stuff in these books. I was pleasantly surprised by how much detail about the world and the characters was thoroughly explained in the manga.

Reading The Dark-Hunters manga is a great way to revisit these characters and their stories, to get a first taste of the series before deciding to glom the whole series and even gives teens a chance to explore this world from a PG-13 perspective. I recommend it for fans of manga and paranormal romance.

The Dark-Hunters, Vol. 2 is the second half of the Night Pleasures full length novel. The Dark-Hunters, Vol. 3 and Vol. 4 are the first and second halves of Night Embrace, Kenyon's third full length novel in her Dark Hunters series featuring Talon and Sunshine.

[Kate]

Now a dark-hunter's graphic novel that centers around Talon! The ancient Celtic warrior has fallen for a mortal, who may have more of a past connection with him than he knows. It really built up the tension between the new Dark-Hunters that are guarding the city (crazy Zarek and prideful Valerius). I really want to know what is on their agendas. And it looks like they may have to contend with some shady gods. They are the ones pulling the strings intended to destroy the hunters. I really wonder how they will be able to stop them when they seem to be playing into their hands currently? It seems almost like this could span more like two volumes, rather than just the upcoming one.

[Jess]

Mini-Review the 3rd:

For comics based on romance novels, they're oddly timid when it comes to the sex-scenes. It doesn't need to be graphic porn, people, (we shelve these in the Teen Room at my library afterall), but still. In the first two volumes, it's implied that Kyrian and Amanda cuddle. And so intense is this cuddling, that Kyrian loses his powers.

In the third volume, Campos and Kenyon seem to be moving away from this virginal shyness. Implying that adult relationships are, for lack of a better word, adult is not so bad after all.

[Ainoa]

As usual, these drawings don't resemble the least to how I picture the characters in my head, but I think the manga itself does a good job at transmitting the essence of the book. I like the style of the manga and how they have managed to condense the story into these few pages. Sunshine is beautifuly drawn though at the beginning it was easy to think she was Amanda or Tabitha. And of course, Ash rocks. It might no be ME Ash, but this one is fantastic.

I think it's a must-have for any fan of the saga.

[Bry]

This installment began the story arc that centered around Talon and Sunshine. I did not get the attraction between the two characters at all! And Talons history was told so disjointedly I did not really understand the time line.

All in all it was disappointing. The plot was interesting with Archeron having such a big role and the interoduction of Zarec who just be my favorite character in the series. Otherwise I felt totally let down by Talon and Sunshine.

[Aurora]

The first half of Talon and Sunshine's story. The art work is lovely and this one had some very funny scenes. A great way to get up to date on the Dark Hunter series if you don't want to take the time to read all the books.

[Marjo]

I'll be honest here, I am only re-reading those so I'll have a date read attached.

This one is on par with the other two. I like the plot of volume 1 and 2 a little better, but the Celtic culture represented here makes up for it.

[Lisa]

I go from liking this series to feeling like I'm wasting my time. Sunshine, ugh. The women are so damn annoying. I like the men, the story isn't too bad and there are some really humorous moments, but the women just ruin everything. Why do they have to be ditzes?

[Fangirl Musings]

Kickass to the extreme! This Manga series is definitely holding its own with the Dark-Hunter storyline. Freakin' awesome!

[Holly]

Too long between books, hard to follow a really great plot and strong fun characters.

[Christine]

I really need to read the Dark-Hunter series. I'd forgotten who was who since reading the volume 2.

[Benita Vehnom Ruiz]

Talon and Sunshine story. Great Job with sticking with the novel!

[Joe Jones]

Volume 3 of this series continues to move the storyline along. The plot is set for some interesting twists for the fourth volume.

[edel]

I preferred this volume over the others before it. It seemed much less shallow than the other two. A nice interesting read, but I'm not so sure if I'm going to be continuing on with the series.

[Karen Desmond]

4

[Jenni]

Of course the had to censor the "love scenes" that takes place, like constantly in the book, but it takes out a little of the passionate feel between Talon and Sunshine. But it's still a ok read.

[Duxcaelo]

Ah Kyrian and Nick were hilarious! Favorite part was the phone conversation.

[BibliofiendLM]

Talon is manga for might be better than the book =)

[Victoria]

Is a great book to read

[Samantha Stanton]

Yay love talon

[Audrey Lei Lacambra]

talon's story! :3