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18th out of 84 books
—
266 voters
Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer (Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer #1)
by
Van Jensen (Goodreads Author),
Dusty Higgins
After seeing Geppetto die at the hands of vampires, Pinocchio swears revenge in this darkly funny graphic novel. As the vampires plot the enslavement of mankind, only a one-puppet army stands in their way. But will a wooden boy and his endless supply of stakes - courtesy of plenty of lies and his elongating nose - be enough to save the day?
Paperback, 128 pages
Published
October 1st 2009
by SLG Publishing
(first published September 21st 2009)
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One of the best things about my job is when my boss wants me to read and write a review about a certain book that I never intended to read but thoroughly enjoyed. (Let me tell you, I have read some stiiiiiinkers!!) Anyways, I was minding my own business, surfing the web and reading anything besides the stack of papers and documents sitting next to me, when my boss ambled over and set PINOCCHIO: VAMPIRE SLAYER on my keyboard. (He has a problem with subtly.) I looked up from the screen and broke m...more
view all 16 comments
The recap in the beginning of the book had me cracking up, then the actual story kind of mellowed. I enjoyed it mostly, but then felt like it rushed to the ending, I now know that there is a part 2 coming out, but I think the book worked fine as a book on its own if they had left more time for the ending. Good, quick, fun read for a car ride though.
Let’s face it. The current literary market is so glutted with novels about vampires and the people who kill them that the walking undead have gotten to be a deadly bore. Tween romances, perky blonde cheerleaders with stakes, vampire diaries, geeks pretending to be vamps—enough already!
Therefore, when I saw this book I didn’t have high hopes for it and nearly passed by it in favor of more substantial fare. But the idea of a little wooden boy attacking and killing vampires was…intriguing. What bet...more
Therefore, when I saw this book I didn’t have high hopes for it and nearly passed by it in favor of more substantial fare. But the idea of a little wooden boy attacking and killing vampires was…intriguing. What bet...more
Pinocchio Vampire is a cunning and original twist on the Pinocchio fantasy with nods to the original classic (which is featured in a humorous synopsis at the beginning of the book).
“After seeing Geppetto die at the hands of vampires, Pinocchio swears revenge in this darkly funny graphic novel. As the vampires plot the enslavement of mankind, only a one-puppet army stands in their way. But will a wooden boy and his endless supply of stakes - courtesy of plenty of lies and his elongating nose -...more
“After seeing Geppetto die at the hands of vampires, Pinocchio swears revenge in this darkly funny graphic novel. As the vampires plot the enslavement of mankind, only a one-puppet army stands in their way. But will a wooden boy and his endless supply of stakes - courtesy of plenty of lies and his elongating nose -...more
I had to read this when I heard the title. This is the Pinocchio you never knew, based on the original story (which I want to read now). After the end of said original story, Geppetto was killed by some monsters, and Pinocchio accidentally kills one of the monsters with his nose after he lies and it grows longer, impaling the creature. Now Pinocchio is hunting the vampires, staking them with the pieces of his overgrown nose. But who is behind the sudden infestation of these bloodthirsty creature...more
Aug 04, 2010
Rose
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who don't mind dark fairy tales, paranormal twists
First thing I thought when I saw this comic: wooden puppet meets vampires - oh no. I knew the nose had to be the stake the first I heard it, but even then, it still sounded hilarious. Yet, Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer has both a humorous element and tragic element to it that made it cursedly appealing. It relies much on the original tale of Pinocchio (i.e. not the Disney version), with dark, pointed humor as sharp as Pinocchio's nose (no pun intended).
Pinocchio's journey has him protecting his vil...more
Pinocchio's journey has him protecting his vil...more
So, this is a graphic novel that picks up Pinocchio's story.. well, not quite where it left off, because he's still a puppet, and continues the story, with him fighting vampires.
This is much better than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It's more like fanfic. Well, it is fanfic. The vampires aren't shoe-horned in to the original text, which is really just silly. They took the story and characters and made their own story and twisted the characters. Like you're supposed to!
The first thing they do...more
This is much better than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It's more like fanfic. Well, it is fanfic. The vampires aren't shoe-horned in to the original text, which is really just silly. They took the story and characters and made their own story and twisted the characters. Like you're supposed to!
The first thing they do...more
This book had so much potential but completely turned me off. The recap at the beginning was extensive but necessary to explain the plot to anyone who hasn't read
. I prefer authors who can weave backstory into the main plot and create a story anyone can love, regardless of whether they read a related work. I loved the idea: Pinocchio lies, cuts off his nose-growth, and sharpens stakes from it. Inspired! However, the art style is cartoonishly unexciting, and the plot is cute but not strong enou...more
. I prefer authors who can weave backstory into the main plot and create a story anyone can love, regardless of whether they read a related work. I loved the idea: Pinocchio lies, cuts off his nose-growth, and sharpens stakes from it. Inspired! However, the art style is cartoonishly unexciting, and the plot is cute but not strong enou...more
GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD...more
This is way out of my usual reading zone...I am not a big fan of comics; the pictures distract me from the story. I am not a fan of horror or of vampires. But I enjoyed this book. Go figure.
The story actually leans more on the original Pinocchio story than the Disney version, and the author's actually suggest reading the original. Their story takes place 'sometime later' (after Gepetto has been killed by...
..wait for it....
...wait for it.....
.......vampires!).
There is humor here, the drawing is...more
The story actually leans more on the original Pinocchio story than the Disney version, and the author's actually suggest reading the original. Their story takes place 'sometime later' (after Gepetto has been killed by...
..wait for it....
...wait for it.....
.......vampires!).
There is humor here, the drawing is...more
Pinocchio (yes, of Geppetto, Blue Fairy, dancing cricket and "I want to be a real boy!" fame) becomes a fairy tale vampire slayer, saving dim townsfolk from a plague of darkness. The artwork is dark and foreboding (perfect for the story but occasionally I had trouble following the action) and the story has a lot of dark humor (Pinocchio gets his endless supply of vampire-snuffing stakes by telling lies). I found this book in our kid's new book section where it certainly does not belong, but teen...more
I love the twist that Jensen and Higgins put on the classic Pinocchio. How genius to use his every-growing nose as a stake to kill vampires! I also loved the tiny moments of humor throughout.
The only real issue I had with this smashed graphic novel was the illustrations. They're all in black and white, which helps to give the story a more haunting tone. But I thought that at times they were hard to make out. Because there's no color, and because of a comic type of illustration where they used bl...more
The only real issue I had with this smashed graphic novel was the illustrations. They're all in black and white, which helps to give the story a more haunting tone. But I thought that at times they were hard to make out. Because there's no color, and because of a comic type of illustration where they used bl...more
I needed a break from Juvenile fiction and jumped at the chance to read a bunch of new graphic novels from the library.
This books is cute in a way. The idea of Pinnochio as a vampire slayer is really an interesting idea. The book is drawn in black and white giving the story an old fashioned feel.
I love stories that play with your idea of what a character should be like. In this version, Pinnochio never got to be a real boy. Guipetto was murdered by vampires leaving a very bitter wooden boy who u...more
This books is cute in a way. The idea of Pinnochio as a vampire slayer is really an interesting idea. The book is drawn in black and white giving the story an old fashioned feel.
I love stories that play with your idea of what a character should be like. In this version, Pinnochio never got to be a real boy. Guipetto was murdered by vampires leaving a very bitter wooden boy who u...more
In its best moments, the art was reminiscent of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," and the story reminded me of The Goon. Unfortunately, something didn't quite make it--I guess we were supposed to read Pinocchio as complex, but he mostly came off like kind of a jerk. The story was supposed to be dark and edgy, probably, but again just didn't quite make it. And of course the one really obviously nubile female vampire they encountered was treated to sexual innuendo, confinement, and torture. Wouldn't...more
After Geppeto, Pinocchio's father and creater, is killed by a group of vampires out to destroy human civilation, Pinocchio must use his magical power of his growing nose to destroy them. With his built in wooden stake (his growing nose), Pinocchio kills the villans that ripped his family apart, straight through the heart of the heartless murderers. Jensen gives a new twist to an old tale. With the growing popularity of vampires due to stories like Vampire Diaries and Twilight Saga, this book is...more
Pinocchio is all grown up (well, sort of,) and has found honest work, and a never-ending supply of... wait for it... vampire killing stakes. Oh, I guess you got that part from the title and cover art?
So the hook is obvious, Pinocchio, the wooden boy of the original story, finds his purpose in life when he accidentally discovers that his nose is a danger to bloodsucking fiends who have moved into his village.
The art is bold and starkly drawn, not usually my favorite artistic style, but it just...more
So the hook is obvious, Pinocchio, the wooden boy of the original story, finds his purpose in life when he accidentally discovers that his nose is a danger to bloodsucking fiends who have moved into his village.
The art is bold and starkly drawn, not usually my favorite artistic style, but it just...more
I know celebrity vampire slaying is all the rage now, but Pinocchio? Seriously?
Turns out, when it comes to vanquishing the undead, he's a natural! He just breaks off his wooden nose, and VOILA - INSTANT STAKE!
Illustrated in a frenetic black & white style that varies from childlike, almost stick-figure drawings to a lovely old world woodcut look, this book briefly covers the original Pinocchio tale, and then just goes to town from there.
Purists will, I'm sure, not be happy to see yet another...more
Turns out, when it comes to vanquishing the undead, he's a natural! He just breaks off his wooden nose, and VOILA - INSTANT STAKE!
Illustrated in a frenetic black & white style that varies from childlike, almost stick-figure drawings to a lovely old world woodcut look, this book briefly covers the original Pinocchio tale, and then just goes to town from there.
Purists will, I'm sure, not be happy to see yet another...more
I love a campy horror story as much as (okay, let's be honest here: much more than) the average person, but even I thought that the premise of "Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer" was a bit out-there. How many of these monster mashups can they write? Thank goodness one of my coworkers recommended it to me, because I read it anyway and I'm so glad that I did. It totally cracked me up. The plot isn't the strongest--in fact, there's one part of the ending that really irks me, and you'll probably know what I...more
Much like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the title tells you what you're getting into immediately - Pinocchio tells lies, breaks off his nose and uses the magic wood to stake vampires to death. Much like the quote on the back from Mark Waid says, it's funny and it's suspenseful. The premise is amusing, but it's actually really well done. The weird art style (vaguely like Tim Burton's stuff) presented in black and white sets the tone. I was also surprised that it did have some good jokes (as yo...more
This short graphic novel is a quick, fun spin on a familiar tale. After a brief, irreverent synopsis of the original tale (not the Disney version), we pick up the story. Gepetto is dead, killed by vampires and Pinocchio, along with the Blue Fairy and Cherry the Carpenter are hunting the undead and trying to convince the town's people they are in danger. Pinocchio is uniquely qualified for vampire killing, as all he has to do is tell a lie and a perfect wooden stake pops out of his face!
The art i...more
The art i...more
Jan 05, 2011
Dan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
comic fans, Disney fans, people who like awesome stuff
Pinocchio.
Kills vampires.
With hisnose lies.
That's really all you need to know.
For those of you who think you need to know more, this graphic novel is just as awesome as the title implies. It's simple and witty and builds off the original story (a short summary of which is included for those of us familiar with only the Disneyfied version) in an extremely creative manner. Purists might be turned off slightly by the modernized language (specifically use of words like 'cool' and 'crap'), but my on...more
Kills vampires.
With his
That's really all you need to know.
For those of you who think you need to know more, this graphic novel is just as awesome as the title implies. It's simple and witty and builds off the original story (a short summary of which is included for those of us familiar with only the Disneyfied version) in an extremely creative manner. Purists might be turned off slightly by the modernized language (specifically use of words like 'cool' and 'crap'), but my on...more
I gave this one a try because it sounded ridiculous. And it kind of was. The introduction spoke a lot about how much they love and wanted to stay true to the source material, but when you're adding the words "Vampire Slayer" to a piece of classic literature, I think it's fair to say that you've jumped the rails of the source material.
As much as I thought that this story was kind of silly and dumb, I do have to admit that there were some fun parts to it. I think if it had further embraced its sil...more
As much as I thought that this story was kind of silly and dumb, I do have to admit that there were some fun parts to it. I think if it had further embraced its sil...more
Jensen's idea to continue the original story of Pinocchio with a new twist was a fantastic one. Its reads very quickly and leaves you wanting the next book to be out sooner.
Pinocchio kicks major monster butt in this awesome new story. Its wother checking out.
If you are or were a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer you will like this series as well.
If you you were a fan of ANY of the Dracula stories, this one will entertain you.
If you only liked Twilight then don't bother because all the vamps here...more
Pinocchio kicks major monster butt in this awesome new story. Its wother checking out.
If you are or were a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer you will like this series as well.
If you you were a fan of ANY of the Dracula stories, this one will entertain you.
If you only liked Twilight then don't bother because all the vamps here...more
The artwork could be better, but the story is a truly clever pastiche of Pinocchio, with a little Buffy thrown in.
For anyone who has never read Pinocchio, or for those who have only seen the Disney version, there is a three-page summary of the book at the story...right after the creators hope that Collodi doesn't rise from his grave and seek vengeance for what they've done.
Both the action and the humor are surprisingly well done, and it's worth a read for anyone interested in the horror/humor bl...more
For anyone who has never read Pinocchio, or for those who have only seen the Disney version, there is a three-page summary of the book at the story...right after the creators hope that Collodi doesn't rise from his grave and seek vengeance for what they've done.
Both the action and the humor are surprisingly well done, and it's worth a read for anyone interested in the horror/humor bl...more
Vampyyrit murhaavat Geppeton, minkä seurauksena kaikkien tuntema pieni puinen nukkemme lähtee kostoretkelle. Veri roiskahtelee ja alati kasvavaa nenää on hyvä käyttää puisena vaarnana.
Van Jensenin käsikirjoittama ja Dusty Higginsin piirtämä "Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer" (SLG, 2009) perustuu hauskalle ajatukselle, jonka toteutus ei sitten ihan vastaa odotuksia. Jonkin verran vaakakupissa painanee myös se tosiseikka, että sarjakuva vertautuu ainakin alitajuisesti Bill Willinghamin "Fablesiin", jossa...more
Van Jensenin käsikirjoittama ja Dusty Higginsin piirtämä "Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer" (SLG, 2009) perustuu hauskalle ajatukselle, jonka toteutus ei sitten ihan vastaa odotuksia. Jonkin verran vaakakupissa painanee myös se tosiseikka, että sarjakuva vertautuu ainakin alitajuisesti Bill Willinghamin "Fablesiin", jossa...more
This is SO. FLIPPING. Brilliant.
This is not your childhood Pinocchio. This Pinocchio would eat your memories of Pinocchio. This is a Pinocchio based on the original story, written by Carlo Collodi in the 1880s. In the original version, Jiminy Cricket doesn't sing or dance - he dies within a few paragraphs.
All of this is from the one page introduction. Jensen then goes on to do a three-page quick run through the original version of the story in stick figures to prepare you for not-your-grandmothe...more
This is not your childhood Pinocchio. This Pinocchio would eat your memories of Pinocchio. This is a Pinocchio based on the original story, written by Carlo Collodi in the 1880s. In the original version, Jiminy Cricket doesn't sing or dance - he dies within a few paragraphs.
All of this is from the one page introduction. Jensen then goes on to do a three-page quick run through the original version of the story in stick figures to prepare you for not-your-grandmothe...more
I book talked this all week to publicize Free Comic Book day and also wake the kids up, because no one expects the book lady to bring a book with a title like this (though they don't know me very well yet). I've been outspoken in my hatred of all the new mashups, but I like this one. For one, I've always felt the mashups were probably best suited for the visual medium. Also, it's short, which keeps the joke from becoming long and drawn out and ultimately not funny.
From the title, one might guess that this would be an amusing yet silly trifle of a comic. It is, however, far more. Jensen and Higgins have given us a darkly comical take on Pinocchio that is so much truer to Carlo Collodi's original novel than any "adaptation" I've encountered.
There is plenty of humor here, but there is also real horror and unbridled fantasy. If ever there was an unofficial sequel to a classic novel that should be taken seriously in its own right, this is it.
There is plenty of humor here, but there is also real horror and unbridled fantasy. If ever there was an unofficial sequel to a classic novel that should be taken seriously in its own right, this is it.
I read the original Pinocchio back when I could still read in Italian. This graphic novel continues with that story as Pinocchio battles vampires, with the help of his conveniently pointy nose. I really thought this book kept the spirit of the original book--very dark and twisted humor, actually. If you look at the cover it's hard to believe, but I was literally giggling with anticipation over what they'd have Pinocchio doing next. Great graphic novel!
There have been a lot of paranormal crossovers lately, vampires and werewolves and zombies are invading classic literature by the hordes! But few stories feel so perfectly matched for a vampire invasion than that of Pinocchio. What other character in fiction has an endless supply of deadly stakes than the wooden boy whose nose grows every time he tells a lie? The author of this hilarious, dark gem of a graphic novel take the original story of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi (not that Disney stuff wit...more
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Van Jensen is the author of the Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer series of graphic novels and, by day, a magazine editor.
Previously, Van covered the comics industry for Publishers Weekly and other outlets. Before that, he was a crime reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper, often working in the wrong part of town at the wrong time of night. It was at the Democrat-Gazette that he met PVS arti...more
More about Van Jensen...
Previously, Van covered the comics industry for Publishers Weekly and other outlets. Before that, he was a crime reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper, often working in the wrong part of town at the wrong time of night. It was at the Democrat-Gazette that he met PVS arti...more
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“It's the rabbits of ill portent!”
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“I'M PINOCCHIO. I KILL MONSTERS.”
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