MANGA REVIEW | "Call of the Night" - Volume Fifteen
Since its beginning, Call of the Night has asked itself a question: “What does it mean to be a vampire?” Throughout the adventures with Ko and Nazuna, readers have gotten a good idea on what the answer is. But now in its fifteenth volume, Call of the Night is asking another — albeit similar — question to its audience: “What does it mean to be human?”
For that answer, Ko, Nazuna, and everyone else have to go on a school field trip to Hokkaido. But they’re not seeking top-tier food or gyarus; they’re on the search for Mahiru, who has run off there with Kiku. He hopes that she will turn him into a vampire, so the two of them can be together. However, there’s something running in the back of Kiku’s mind, and that’s how to turn back into a human. And as you can probably guess, love plays a big factor into that aspect.
But there’s a slight speed bump in Ko and Nazuna’s plan. Another vampire named Haruka has talked Saki into meeting up late at night with him. Naturally, he’s looking for his next meal, something that Ko doesn’t let him have the pleasure of tasting. During their scuffle (drawn magnificently by Kotoyama), Nazuna appears, with the new vampire uttering her mother’s name.
That’s when Haruka spills the beans on how Nazuna’s mother fits into his life, and how she was looking for a way to turn back into a human. And one can understand why a vampire might want mortality again, as living forever only sounds good on paper. But as we’ve learned from many other vampire stories (including What We Do in the Shadows and The Vampire Dies in No Time), it can get tedious having a never-ending lifespan. You forget that warmth that comes from a beating heart and warm blood flowing through your veins, a feeling only someone human can experience.
This goes back to the current arc of Call of the Night: finding Mahiro and Kiku. Despite her promising Mahiru that she’ll turn him, Kiku’s also seemingly been seeking a pathway back to humanity. The more she spends time with Mahiru, the more she feels romantically about him. It all could lead to a conundrum very soon, where two lovers want totally different things. And man, is wanting humanity and vampirism two very different ends of the spectrum!
It all leads to Mahiru being founded. And it’s a reunion that’s, well, not as loving as one would’ve imagined. Mahiru’s not to blame here, as it’s Ko and his choice of souvenir that makes him look more threatening. Thus a big laugh-inducing race begins, with the placement of the checkered flag currently nowhere to be found.
More vampiric lore is on display in the fifteenth volume of Call of the Night. On top of that, there’s a good mixture of action, comedy, and heart showcased throughout these chapters. Kotoyama keeps finding new ways to spin new twists on old legends, all without overloading one’s mind with trivial matters. Even when things look to get serious, Call of the Night finds a way to inject a good dose of fun into its attitude.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
