, also known as Vampire Host, is a manga by Kaori Yuki. Appearing as a serial in the Japanese manga magazines Hana to Yume and Bessatsu Hana to Yume, the chapters of Blood Hound were compiled into a bound volume and published by Hakusensha in June 2004. Two more chapters followed in the January 2005 and August 2010 issues of Bessatsu Hana to Yume, as did a re-release in August 2010.
It focuses on a naive, loudmouthed teenager named Rion, who investigates a host club full of vampires when she suspects they must be related to the disappearance of a lot of people in the neighborhood, including her best friend. In the process she begins to befriend them, especially the leader Suou, with whom she develops a romantic relationship. Ultimately, she figures out the vampires are not the cause of the disappearances, but her adventures with the vampires are only beginning.
Vampire Host is a live-action television drama series loosely based on this manga. The series has been licensed in North America by Bandai Entertainment under the title of Bloodhound.
Characters Protagonist
A teenager who initially suspects that the Host Club Krankenhaus is behind the disappearance of several people in her community, including her best friend. In the end, she figures out that the vampires are not responsible for the disappearances, but her school guidance councilor, who has sexual fetishism for blood. As a child, she was bitten by a vampire, leaving a mark "XXX" (30) on her neck. This birthmark represents the 30 silver coins Judas received as compensation for betraying Christ, signifying that she is a "descendant of Judas." Krankenhaus members
The lead host of Krankenhaus, who begins to develop a romantic relationship with Rion. He also suspects that she is the reincarnation of Ellone, "the one with the purest blood," whom he once loved.
A blonde-haired man of Chinese descent. He serves as the manager and chef of Krankenhaus, they handle the odd jobs, he also possesses supernatural strength.
The bartender at Krankenhaus. They have an androgynous appearance, and their real name is .
The baby faced yet sharp-tongued member of the Krankenhaus. Despite looking the same age as Rion, she claims to be older than she looks. She has a habit of stripping when she gets drunk.
The "wild" host who enjoys napping.
Others
Rion's best friend who disappeared after claiming she was going to give blood to the person she loved the most. She was the only one who didn't find Rion an outcast.
A high school guidance councillor at the school where Rion studies. They lives in a house behind Krankenhaus. They is the ones behind the disappearance of the young girls.
The daughter of the president of the Amagi Group, a hotel magnate. She suffers from a chest (likely heart) illness and has undergone numerous surgeries since childhood, leaving scars on her chest. Media
Manga Written and illustrated by Kaori Yuki, Blood Hound debuted in the Japanese monthly manga magazine Bessatsu Hana to Yume in the January 2003 issue. The second chapter ran in the May 2004 issue of Bessatsu Hana to Yume, while the third appeared in the ninth issue of its biweekly sister magazine, Hana to Yume, for 2004. Hakusensha compiled the chapters into a bound volume and published it on 5 June 2004. Two more chapters later appeared in the January 2005 and August 2010 issues of Bessatsu Hana to Yume, and a re-release of the manga followed on 19 August 2010.
Blood Hound has been translated into French by Tonkam, Italian by Panini Comics, and German by Carlsen Comics.
TV drama Blood Hound was adapted into a twelve episode TV drama as starring Minako Komukai and TSUBASA GACKY.
Wint DVD releasesVolumeReleasedDiscsEpisodes1August 27, 2004122August 27, 2004143August 27, 2004134August 27, 200413Box setAugust 27, 2004412
Bandai Entertainment licensed the drama and released the episodes in three volumes from April 17, 2007, to August 21, 2007. The series would air on Mnet America in 2011. Bandai Entertainment DVD releasesVolumeReleasedDiscsEpisodes1April 17, 2007142June 13, 2007143August 21, 200714
See also Vampire film List of vampire television series
Notes
References
External links
TV Tokyo Vampire Host website Toho Vampire Host website Bloodhound at Bandai Entertainment (archive URL) MangaNews.com review Manga Sanctuary review Splash Comics review