Moon Phase Review: A Vampire Manga That's More Moody Atmosphere Than Monster Horror
by Arima Keitaro
Read the first volume. If it doesn't hook you, put it down. It'll hook you.
Buy Moon Phase on Amazon →*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Some manga are all atmosphere. You read them for the feeling of the world, not the mechanics of the plot.
Quick Take
- A vampire romance with gorgeous gothic art and a deliberately slow, moody pace
- Tokyopop only released 6 of 16 volumes in English — the story is incomplete
- Worth reading for the atmosphere and art even without a complete English release
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who like gothic atmosphere and vampire aesthetics
- People who enjoyed early 2000s supernatural romance manga
- Fans of moody, atmospheric storytelling over plot-driven narratives
- Anyone who wants a quiet supernatural romance without heavy action
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Vampire themes, mild violence, romantic situations with some age gap dynamics
The romantic content is mild; the vampire mythology is treated romantically rather than horrifically.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★★ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Kouhei Morioka is a freelance photographer who can see supernatural phenomena through his camera lens. While on an assignment, he wanders into an old castle and encounters Hazuki — a vampire girl trapped there, waiting for someone to break the spell that binds her.
The breaking happens when Hazuki bites Kouhei, making him her "slave" (in the vampire sense). Except the slave relationship doesn't quite work as intended. Kouhei is inexplicably resistant to vampire influence, which both infuriates Hazuki and intrigues her. She follows him home. He can't get rid of her.
The story develops as a supernatural domestic comedy mixed with gothic romance: Hazuki is imperious, demanding, and gradually reveals vulnerability beneath the performance. Kouhei is dense, well-meaning, and more emotionally perceptive than he usually lets on. The central question — what kind of relationship is actually forming between them — is left deliberately ambiguous across the English release.
The gothic visual design of Hazuki and her world is the manga's primary appeal. Arima draws elaborate Victorian-inspired designs that have an old-fashioned elegance perfectly suited to the vampire atmosphere.
Characters
Hazuki — Haughty vampire girl with genuine loneliness underneath. Her cat ears (a vampire trait) and elaborate dress make her visually iconic; her gradual softening makes her emotionally engaging.
Kouhei Morioka — The resistant "slave" who treats Hazuki with more consideration than she initially expects or wants. His photographic gifts connect him to the supernatural without making him powerful.
Art Style
Beautiful. Arima's linework is delicate and detailed, and the gothic design sensibility — all lace and moonlight and elaborate Victorian costumes — is the manga's distinguishing feature. Hazuki especially is designed with genuine artistry. The supernatural sequences have an ethereal quality that fits the tone perfectly.
Cultural Context
Moon Phase ran during the early 2000s vampire romance boom in Japanese manga — the same era that produced Vampire Knight and Black Blood Brothers. The specific vampire mythology it draws on mixes Western gothic tradition with Japanese supernatural folk beliefs about blood, servitude, and spiritual bonds.
The anime adaptation (2004) was notably popular and actually covers more of the story than the English manga release.
What I Love About It
I was drawn to this by Hazuki's design and stayed for how quietly sad she is under the imperious exterior.
There's a scene early in the series where she realizes she genuinely doesn't know how to be around people who treat her like a person rather than a master or a monster. The centuries of isolation have left her without the basic emotional vocabulary for what's happening. She knows vampire etiquette. She doesn't know how to want to eat dinner with someone because you like them.
That specific incompetence — not malice, just the absence of ordinary experience — is more affecting than most vampire romance premises manage.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Fondly remembered by readers who encountered it through Tokyopop, but the incomplete English release (6 of 16 volumes) is a consistent frustration. The anime is often recommended alongside as a way to experience the complete story. General sentiment is warm but mixed: beautiful art, incomplete narrative, nostalgic value for early-2000s supernatural romance fans.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The chapter where Hazuki watches a human family interact normally — the mundane routines of people who live together, who have a history with each other, who take each other's presence for granted — and her expression in that scene is the most honest moment in the manga. She wants something she can't quite name. She's not sure she deserves it.
Similar Manga
| Title | Its Approach | How Moon Phase Differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vampire Knight | Vampire romance with darker political intrigue | Moon Phase is smaller scale and more domestically focused |
| Chibi Vampire | Vampire girl with reversed blood-drinking dynamic | Moon Phase is more gothic and less comedy-focused |
| Absolute Boyfriend | Supernatural being follows protagonist home | Moon Phase has more atmospheric depth and less sitcom energy |
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1, straight through. Note that Tokyopop only released 6 of 16 volumes. The anime adaptation is a better option for a complete story.
Official English Translation Status
Tokyopop published volumes 1-6 in English. The complete Japanese series is 16 volumes. The English release covers approximately the first third of the story.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gorgeous gothic art that ages beautifully
- Hazuki is a distinctive and genuinely interesting character
- Atmospheric and moody in ways that work for this genre
- Good vampire mythology that doesn't overly explain itself
Cons
- English release is severely incomplete (6 of 16 volumes)
- The plot within the 6 volumes is minimal — character-focused rather than event-driven
- The slave/servant dynamic may be uncomfortable for some readers
- Not action-oriented — if you want vampire fights, look elsewhere
- The pace is very slow; patience required
Is Moon Phase Worth Reading?
For the art and atmosphere, yes — but be aware the English release is a fragment. Consider the anime for the complete story. The manga volumes that exist are beautiful objects.
Format Comparison
| Format | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Art demands physical scale; gorgeous on the page | Out of print; incomplete |
| Digital | Easier to find | — |
| Omnibus | No omnibus available | — |
Where to Buy
Read the first volume. If it doesn't hook you, put it down. It'll hook you.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.