ATTENTION: THE FOLLOWING REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Stormy Janes - Paranormal Romance Guild (www.paranormalromanceguild.com)

Vampire Freestyle is a unique comic book series that has an anime feel to it, and closely resembles manga type books, only with slightly more dialogue. The story centers around Padroncino, a boy learning to be a witch. He is looking for his girlfriend Elea, who has mysteriously disappeared.

Padroncino finds a stray black cat, Micia, and gives her a home. We quickly learn that Micia is no ordinary cat and when she crosses the path of Edward, he sees her as something totally different! As we are introduced to the other characters, we see their personalities and traits are uniquely their own. How the characters are illustrated was something I did enjoy as it added a lot of mystery; such as an Aunt whose face you never see, names that are not revealed right away and a vampire with no memory.
Admittedly, the first issue was slightly difficult to follow. Fortunately, there is an introduction in the beginning of the following issues that give a brief synopsis of where the story left off. The story is well developed by the third issue, and is much easier and more enjoyable to follow. The plot starts out rather simple, however it does gain depth and complexity as it moves along.

Vampire Free Style is very different from a typical vampire story. It is romantically dark, filled with mystery, magic and suspense. The artwork is beautiful with a gothic feel. It is appropriate for all ages but would probably be enjoyed the most by a younger audience.

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Olivia -Vampire Romance Books (vampireromancebooks.com)
I am delighted to be able to tell you about a wonderful addition to vampire romance.  
I felt as though I were reading through a dark, romantically poignant dream as I read Vampire Free Style.  This is a beautifully written tale of lost love, ancient mysteries, and magic.  The story line is tight and fresh and so is the medium.  Hold on to your hats because I’m talking about ….dum ta dum!…..comic books!   There is nothing funny about these comics though, they are outstandingly awesome and suitable for ALL ages.  In other words, all you readers that are 20, 30, 40, and beyond, will LOVE Vampire Free Style just as much as the under 20 crowd.
The story begins with a cat that crosses the path of two men.  One of them, Edward, sees a woman when he looks at the cat.  The other is a sad young witch in training named Padroncino.  He is sad because his girlfriend has mysteriously disappeared without a trace and all efforts to locate her have failed.  The cat follows Padroncino home where she begins to have memory flashbacks of being with Padroncino as a human girl.  Meanwhile, Edward begins having his own visions of the girl he saw, and forgotten memories from 300 years ago begin to emerge.
Vampire Free Style is beautifully illustrated with a gothic/emo style.  Done in black and white, each page still conveys light, texture, and emotion.  The transition from frame to frame is immaculate.  The pages have the slick and glossy look and feel that is found in illustrated books of high quality.  Sometimes in manga the characters all look pretty much the same, but here, each character is uniquely drawn and easy to identify.   The women are lovely and far from being the sexually exaggerated Barbie dolls often associated with comics.   The style is charming and inviting.  The plot line is complex, but easy to follow, and holds the attention of the reader.   The supporting characters are interesting and mysterious as well.
I strongly recommend this series.  You will not be disappointed and will find the uniqueness of the medium to be a positive rather than a negative.  Reading a great story and looking at quality illustrations is something that grownups can enjoy just as much as the young ones.   Readers will be enchanted.   I was left craving more and will definitely be a follower of this series as new volumes are released. 

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Anna Dougherty- Bite Club (vampchixreadbooks.blogspot.com)
How do you rate a comic? Do you evaluate the story alone, similar to how you might judge a short story, or do you focus more on the artwork as a basis for telling the story? What is the happy middle ground? This was a real challenge for me because I wanted to present a fair and cohesive review of this fun, vampire themed comic book series. Each comic itself is short and sweet, averaging about 20-25 pages, with what I would gauge to be a medium amount of dialogue. It wasn't until the third volume that I really became interested in the actual plot of Padroncino's missing girlfriend. I thought the flashback scenes added to he mysterious element and I almost wished for a few more.  Padroncino isn't the best witch on the block but he was certainly fun to watch. His bumbling spell attempts were cute and reminded me of that kid in Harry Potter, the one that always has things blowing up in is face. It seems like once Padroncino gains confidence he might see that his talent is real, and works just fine, but his negative energy is currently blocking his ability to see. He is definitely a young character and this leads me to think that this series is well aimed at the ever-growing YA crowd. Overall, a very whimsical and quirky vibe that is conveyed nicely throughout with both images and words.Some plot points were a bit obvious and I could guess what direction the story would take, while others maintained the air of mystery. Who is the Master? Will Padroncino ever find his girlfriend? What outfit will the poor cat (Micia) be forced to wear next? Guess I need to read volume 6 to find out.

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Roxanne - Fang Tastic Books (fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com)
When I was offered the chance to review the graphic novel/ comic book series Vampire Free Style I almost said no.

I'm not much into comics but one glimpse at the books with their vibrant and whimsical covers changed my mind. The drawing style immediately made me want to see more.
Plus my daughter- who just turned 12- adores comic books and graphic novels.
So I said yes, I'd review the series.
I am extremely glad that I did.
I received them and read through them right away. The vibrant art pulled me in while the story kept me turning pages.
I love the very colorful pages, the amazing artistic detail and style, the creative characters and of course- the magical story. A cat, a vampire, a witch in training...a great cast of characters that had me enchanted right from the beginning.
I loved that the story develops quickly but is still filled with mystery. The characters are not overly complex but not shallow either.

It's sweet and appropriate for all ages- which is something that really appeals since my daughter and her friends quickly ran off with the books.
Over the weekend a houseful of girls ages 11- 18 all read the first 5 issues of Vampire Free Style- each and everyone of them- and they loved them and wanted to know when the next books would be out.
I think that means the books received the tween and teen stamp of approval.Try the series- you'll love it and want more. I know I do. So does my daughter and her friends.
Even non comic book readers will love these books- if only for the artwork.


Vampire Free Style reviewed by Moonlight - (www.vampires.com)
Vampire Free Style is a self-published comic series written and illustrated by Jenika Ioffreda. I recently got my hands on the first five issues of this unique comic, a comic that tells a mysterious tale of lost love, old secrets, magic and one odd little cat.

Jenika’s Vampire Free Style is like no other comic I have read before, the story is rather different than other vampire stories out there, and so is the artwork. Jenika’s art style is fantastic and completely her own, I absolutely adored it, and like every newbie artist, it improved throughout every issue. Jenika definitely earns points for the artwork. However, since there are typos and a few pages that should have had a little more work done to them before going to print, she loses a couple points. With a few touches here and there, the comic could really shine.As for the story itself, well, as I started reading I was instantly lost, I had absolutely no clue what was going on – a cat that has visions, a witch with his broom, a vampire and his lost memories – lots to figure out. But, as I continued the storytelling improved and by the time I got to the fifth issue I was dying to find out what happens next. The story is incredibly complex and unfortunately it’s difficult to tell a story like that in a comic where dialogue is limited. Luckily, at the beginning of each issue to get a refresher of the story so far, and that helps tons.Overall I really enjoyed Vampire Free Style, as of issue five there are loads and loads of unanswered questions and I can’t wait to see where the Jenika takes the story. While she may be new to the comic scene, I can see her becoming a huge hit in time.

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Anna May - Anime Picks (www.animepicks.com)
Vampire Free Style is a short manga style comic produced by Neptune Factory. Neptune Factory is run by the uber friendly Jenika Ioffreda who self publishes all her comic issues, and sells them through numerous online, and local stores.

Vampire Free Style tells the story of Padroncino, a young man that’s learning the ways of the witches. His girlfriend vanished not too long ago and he is doing everything in his power to get her back. Along the way he meets a small, personality filled cat who he names Micia. Padroncino has no idea that Micia has many memories connected to him, and as more unfold we see her for who she really is.Jenika has a gorgeous drawing style that pops out of every page. It’s a subtle mix of american comic with its firm facial structures, and Japanese manga through its comedic expressions and shimmering eyes. Not only is this style great, it actually gets better with every issue.The real star of Vampire Free Style is Micia- no question. Not only is she cute, but those huge eyes pack a trunkful of expressions that make her the most entertaining character in the series.Although I speak mostly of comedy, the comics offer a huge depth of character as well. The story is complicated and emotional, which is brought through cleverly with each individual character. Nothing is overdone here, emotions are balanced throughout to keep the story flowing- something which I can only commend Jenika for.Vampire Free Style is a completely charming little series that will reignite your love for vampires, and make you smile with every page.

What Jenika has to say about self-publishing:
I totally love self publishing. It gives me the freedom to draw whatever I want, whenever I want and in any way I want. I love every moment of it. Of course I would be happy to have an official publisher but for now I really like self publishing. It’s not hard, it is actually very pleasant.’

Vampire Free Style reviewed by LillyHawk - Gothic Blend (www.gothicblend.net) Recently something cute and adorable found it's way onto my doorstep. Since I'm a sucker for such things, I just had to pick it up even though I knew it might bite. With a name like Vampire Free Style it probably had some teeth...But I had to find out what it was and what it was doing on my doorstep. With those big pleading eyes on the front cover of Issue #1, I couldn't resist seeing what was hidden inside. There is a delightful mix of mystery and mirth in each edition. After reading Issues 1-5 the mystery began to unfold and each one left us eager for the next. I say "us" because our 13 year old daughter discovered them hiding under my chair and absolutely fell in love with them, too! We both adore Vampire Free Style, just as if it were little lost kitten that had found us and we can't wait to see what will happen next. It was enjoyable in spite of the fact that English is not the author's native language. There are a few references that US readers may find obscure or bit confusing. But, this actually added to the charm and the settings of the stories. If you like a mixture of anime, magic, romance and mystery, then check out Vampire Free Style! I asked author Jenika Ioffreda what inspired these comics and here's what she had to say: "About what inspired me for the comic series, the main character, Micia, was inspired by a joke between me and my boyfriend years ago. We are both from Italy and in Italian language "Micia" it means "female cat" and it's quite common name for female cats. He was calling me Micia as a joke and I started to draw myself in a shape of cat whenever I needed to leave him a note. Slowly the cat that I was drawing more and more started to take a life of her own... and there Micia was born. In 2003 I moved from Italy to United Kingdom and while I was on the train going from the airport to central London, I saw the roofs of some houses and I started to think I wanted draw a new comic book about characters very familiar with roofs. The idea of a witch who was learning to fly come out and slowly all the other characters come out too. All the characters and situation are inspired by people I really met and situation I really lived and also by dreams I had while sleeping. "

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Andy Briggs from trappedbymonsters.com As Halloween approaches I hope you're all spooking yourself reading Tommy's superb SCREAM STREET series! But what to do once you've read (and re-read, yes Tommy, stop poking me with that broken monster rib) those? Well, sometimes it's good to stumble on something new. During last weekend's comic expo at the eXcel arena in London, not only was I delighted that my horror graphic novel, RITUAL, sold out, but I was able to find new comics I'd previously never heard of. Once such one comic was VAMPIRE FREE STYLE (self-published by Neptune Factory). It's a magical fantasy romp (with Manga overtones) about a prince seeking his princess through the help of a cool cat called Micia. It's a quick read, delightfully illustrated and quirky (I loved the witch who was learning to fly). It's not the kind of thing I normally go for, but there was something about the artwork that caught my eye. You can check out more here: www.neptunefactory.com But the moral of this tale is; don't be afraid of trying something new - you WILL be surprised. Happy Halloween everyone!

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Carl Doherty from Holycr4p.com Vampires, vampires everywhere, and not a drop to drink. The monster so popular they’ve practically had an entire genre erected around them... and so on. Though calling the modern Nosferatu a “monster” is something of an overgeneralization, given the number of thoroughly decent bloodsuckers that have descended from Bram Stoker’s tragic immortal. Vampire Free Style has one such amiable vamp, though there’s a fair bit more to this series than the usual boy-with-fangs meets girl premise.   Vampire Free Style primarily follows witch boy in training Padroncino, his search for his missing girlfriend and Micia, the stray cat he befriends. Micia is clearly more than your common street feline, and dreams of a presumably previous life as a human. A third plot strand, which begins with the introduction of the aforementioned vampire Edward, and flashbacks to his life 300 years prior, slowly joins the dots as to the fate of Padroncino’s beloved and the identity of his implausibly cute pussycat.   What impressed me most about Jenika Ioffreda’s story is how much appears to have happened in just three issues; though Issue 4 (of 6) has numerous revelations, it still clings dearly to its secrets. As with any long running narrative, dipping into Vampire Free Style midway is a rather daunting experience; hopefully the series will be compiled once it’s completed. A recap is included on the inside front cover, but there’s so much to take in that trying to digest it all is likely to give you a headache.   Ioffreda’s monochromic art is absolutely charming, blending the Eastern sensitivities of Studio Gibli animes such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away with the inherent Englishness of vampire fiction and old Hammer Horrors. I was going to comment that it’s not difficult to imagine the eyeballed silhouette of black cat Micia making its way to T-shirts sometime soon, but those are already available from the site. She’s an endearing creation that has swiftly become the series’ mascot.   Tonally the antithesis of its title, Vampire Free Style is a very sweet book. But it also presents an interesting enough mystery to appeal to more than romantic Goth girlies – not that I’m belittling that particular demographic in any way whatsoever. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read, recommendable to all ages and genders.

Vampire Free Style issues 1, 2, 3 reviewed by Andy - Taliesin meets the Vampires (http://taliesinttlg.blogspot.com)

Vampire Free Style is a series of comic books, currently up to issue 3 and destined to be 6 issues in length. The books are a gothic fairytale in which we meet a cast of characters but our story proper surrounds Micia, a sweet black cat who can speak with the stars.
She is linked to Padroncino, a witch boy who is trying to learn how to fly (with little success) and is searching for his girlfriend who has vanished without a trace. Through the comics we see flashbacks to memories of Padroncino from Micia.
There is also Edward a man whose path keeps crossing that of Micia. When near the cat he sees a vision of a girl clad in black, surely Padroncino's missing girlfriend. As I mentioned this is a gothic fairytale and the story ties these characters in deeply together, with hints of a history going back 300 years. The story itself is complex and interesting, though the dialogue can be a little off at times. However, this is a minor criticism and, if anything, adds a formality to the dialogue that works in the setting.

Where this really succeeds is with the illustrations, worked in black and grey they carry a cuteness within that is underscored with a sumptuousness, which merges the gothic element with a magical mischievousness. This mischievousness is complimented by story asides, such as a little clay idol that teases Micia in a magic shop. The shop, incidentally, is owned by Auntie Margherita a character whose face we never see but who has a perchance for dressing the long suffering cat in costumes to comic effect. It is, again, the visual aspects of such impish humour that really works.

Now, to this point I have not mentioned vampires and this is the reason I have looked at these 3 issues in the form of an honourable mention. It is at the very end of the third volume that our vampiric activity begins literally over the last three pages when Edward is reawakened as a vampire. Obviously in the fourth volume the vampire aspects will come more into play.
A beautiful trip into a dark fable, with enough story revealed and questions raised within the reader's mind to both intrigue and bring them back into the beautifully drawn world.

Vampire Free Style issues 1, 2, 3 reviewed by Richard Bruton - Forbidden Planet International (www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk)

Vampire Free Style is an absolutely delightful book, with much to offer to a wide range of comic and non-comic readers. There’s a lightness and playfulness throughout the book but the cuteness coexists happily with a sense of loss and sadness that, if Jenika handles it right in forthcoming issues, will make this book far more than the cute Manga Goth book it superficially resembles. It’s a modern little fairy story, mixing gothic romance with a great sense of fun in both writing and art.

In these first three issues we’re introduced to a young trainee witch boy with a habit of jumping off roofs trying to fly his broomstick. Our young witch boy meets an interesting cat on his latest aborted flying lesson. But this black cat, Micia, is no ordinary cat and she seems to be linked not only to Padroncino (the witch boy), but also with Edward, leader of a group of Goths who can only see a beautiful Death like Goth girl whenever he looks at Micia. Obviously there is more to this cat than meets the eye.

Indeed there appears to be much more to so many of the cast of characters. Padroncino is desperately searching for the girlfriend who mysteriously disappeared; there are witches and witchcraft everywhere, and more questions than answers so far. The interweaving of their stories is seen, by the start of issue three, to last through the centuries. Lost necklaces, secret masters living in the darkness, and of course, at some point we find out why it’s called Vampire Free Style. Although, with so many Goths around, it was no surprise to find out that someone with a thirst for blood would be showing up.

Jenika’s writing is fun and packed with spirit and raw energy and very occasionally small slips in the dialogue (Jenika’s Italian by birth and arrived here just 5 years ago), but the fun and the energy more than make up for this every time. Her artwork is a curious mix of styles; the obvious reference point for me is Neil Gaiman’s Death series, as one of the lead characters in Vampire Free Style is a stereotypical Goth girl with a penchant for top hats. But there’s also a very westernised Manga look to it complete with bighead moments galore, shifting artistic styles and androgynous boys and girls. And I can also see elements of Charles Vess and P Craig Russell in there as well.

Finally a word on the physical comic itself. If you have an image of small press comics as some dodgy little black and white photocopy you’re in the wrong place. Vampire Free Style, like many of the current crop of great UK comics, is very professionally produced with gorgeous colour covers and crisp stark black and white interior pages in a handy A5 size. The production values of the whole thing match Jenika’s skill and artistry. Each cover is a lovely, simple image that invites you into the delightful, wistful and romantic comic inside.

Here is what indiereview.co.uk has to say about Vampire Free Style:

Jenika Ioffreda is the writer and artist of the gorgeous Vampire Free Style. Under the tag of Neptune Factory, Jenika has been producing some great comics for a while, starting back in 2002. Reading Vampire Free Style, it's hard not to love it.
In Vampire Free Style, the story feels very grand. The loss of love, and the magical element really lend to it, and it works as a story. Although, Jenika's writing, especially the dialogue can be off; some speech bubbles read slightly awkwardly and can draw you out of the story. However, the overall storyline in each issue is what works, and it's interesting to say the least.

What really shines out when reading a Jenika comic book, is her artwork. The style is a brilliant mix between simplistic Western style art and the more manga-feeling artwork. It combines to create something individual, while also being wholly recognisable. I feel it would work a lot better in full colour, but that's a triviality. And that black cat is the cutest thing you'll ever see.

Jenika shows promise, her artwork is spot on for what she's doing and with no real slip ups in each issue, you can tell she's comfortable with it, and has settled into the style. Her overall storytelling seems brilliant, and it also works as a piece overall, although some of her dialogue could use a bit more work. It's hard to recommend Jenika to anyone group in particular, but really you should check her out.

Vampire Free Style issue # 1 reviewed by Alexandra (www.sequentialtart.com)

There's not a whole lot of story development in the first issue of Vampire Free Style, but we are introduced to a variety of interesting characters. We first meet a prince who has lost his princess. His character seems to be a witch in training. At least I hope he is in training because he's not very good at broom riding. He is joined by a magical black cat that is more than what she seems and also totally adorable.

I loved the ending, which leaves you with a mystery about who these characters really are. Is the cat really a cat? Who is the lost princess? ... and who is this guy Ed who sees the cat as someone completely different. These are all questions I'm sure will be explained. In fact, I'm looking forward to it.

The art is stylistic and beautiful. It makes you want to turn the pages and truly brings the story to life. It gives the book a certain ambiance that makes you feel like magic awaits you inside. For a self published comic, it was done exceedingly well.

"... Now, you may not have ever heard of this book before but you will. And normally I don't do this, but at the end of this review, I'm going to post a link to the place where you can find this book, because I think this book is just that good.

There are several things about this book that will stand out in your mind as you are reading it and - more importantly long after you've put it down. First and foremost, there is the creator: Jenika Ioffreda. With such an unforgettable and yeah cool name, Ioffreda could rest on her name alone for recognition, but this is a creator who is much more than a namesake.

Ioffreda handles the art and the writing on this digest-sized gem. Let's get to the art first, since that is what caught my attention first. Ioffreda has a smooth style that can range from the lifelike to the cartoony on the same panel. And Ioffreda truly brings her characters to life by packing tons of emotion into her art. This is a book that will make you laugh and get misty-eyed from the art alone but then there's the story.

Ioffreda delivers a heartbreaking gothic fairy tale of a "prince" who has lost his "princess" and doesn't know why. Trying to pick up the pieces and move on, this prince finds a new companion of sorts with a mysterious black cat he later names Micia. And as we soon discover, there is much more to this creature and the "prince" - than first meets the eye.

Don't let the title of this one fool you. This is not a horror tale. In fact, at this point, I can't even tell you how the "vampire" fits into Vampire Free Style yet.
This is a touching, magical tale that begs to be told, brought to life by some of the freshest art I have seen in ages. Two simple lines bring this book to a close: "once upon a dream. Now we have only to draw it." Here's to hoping that Ioffreda draws and writes the rest of this tale soon!"

Suggested for readers ages 9 and up.

Overall grade = A

"...Someone has gone missing. Her friend longs to see her again but has no clues as to what has happened to her. He should be able to track something done, seeing as he dabbles in magic and has an aunt and sister who also share his skill, but to no avail. Into his life wanders a stray black cat. He gives it a home, but the cat seems to know things about the young man and his family. She also attracts the attention of Edward, an elegant man about town who knows his share of magic and senses that the cat is more than she appears... Strongly influenced by manga storytelling techniques and graphic design, this book has a very professional quality about it. The artwork is engaging in its detail and charm. There's some great use of greyscale here as well as interesting detailing. The Goth inspired look of many of the characters is smartly done without any titillation. And the central character of the cat Micia is soooo cute!! The book uses the techniques that many will recognise from manga such as the mix of very cartonish drawings for humorous actions and more developed work for the majority of the story. In much manga this mix becomes confusing and diverts from the plot, but Jenika avoids this by keeping the plot central.The pacing on display in these two books suggests that Jenika has a long saga in mind that involves an interesting array of characters. There is a lot to keep the reader engaged in the mix of humour, mystery and magic. I'd planned just to review issue one this evening, by once I'd finished I just had to go find where I'd left issue two and read it straight away."

In a Word: Enchanting

Exhibitor review - Uk Web and Mini Comix Thing 2007 What is it: Vampire Free Style is a manga styled series of comics written drawn and published by Jenika Ioffreda, a lovely lady who likes vampires and all things dark and ookie.Why should I read it? Because of the atmospheric, gothy artwork, the engaging storyline, and the very very very cute cat. Vampire Free Style deserves to be a big favourite with the goth and manga crowdes.

Here is a review by IndyComicReview.com:

Writing: By the end of the book, I wasn't entirely sure as to what was going on and how all of these characters fit together, but I really enjoyed the humor and the sort of idealized romance that flavored this issue.
Artwork: The art was somewhere between Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and a more standard Anime style, but it still came across as its own to me. It complemented the romantic tone of the story perfectly.
Overall: 4/5 stars. This was a really sweet story that got off to a great start and left me wanting to know more about the characters and where they were going.
Alex Haas

Writing: There were a few technical/editing glitches in the book that I found distracting, but overall it was well put together. I liked the balance and blend of emotions in this title. The humor kept it from being too mopey and emo, while the
more serious feelings kept it from being to slapstick-y.
Overall: 4/5 stars. Quirky, but endearing.
Robert Weiman

Writing: This certainly isn't the type of book that I would pick up for myself at astore. It just isn't the genre that I care to read. But after reading it, I can say that I didn't hate this book...in fact it was pretty good. I think what sold me on it was the
Artwork. Now I didn't like all the artwork as I thought the little cute Manga like touches with the cat were a bit to cutesy for me. The rest of the artwork was very good though.
As for the writing, it was interesting but it was SO jumpy that I always felt like I was trying to catch up with what was going on. Scenes and thought processes seemed to shift without warning and without having context.
Overall: 3/5 stars. Better than I anticipated as this isn't my usual taste in books. I would be curious to see where this goes in the future...as long as I can keep up with it.
Ron Miller

Here is the review from Web Comic World (www.webcomicworld.blogspot.com)

We all know the Prince and Princess stories. We know the Princess in her dress who longs for her Prince, or the Prince with a dodgy haircut who sacrifices his life for his true Princess. It's been regurgitated more times than a Britney Spears rehab scoop. How refreshing it is to see that old story given a nice little twist.
It all starts with that familiar line that you get in most fable books or fairy tales; 'The dark fable is about to start...' We are then transported to the first page which shows our Prince longing to find his Princess. Only that our Prince is dressed in very modern clothes and looks...regular.
I'm not a keen fan of anime art but the drawing in this is tight and consistent. The black and white look has been very well handled by Jenika. There are some panels with a blurry effect which look really cool. The problem I've had with anime is the lack of a respectable artistic structure. Jenika has proven to me that anime can look good and respectable, without being cartoony and a complete joke.
Not one to give too much away, Issue 1 really just sets the scene with the main character that is the Prince and a black cat that he finds and be-friends. The cat joins the Prince on his quest to find his Princess which leads them to a library with that presents us with an interesting scene. The end of this issue sets things up nicely for the following installment.
I would have like to see the relationship with the Prince and the cat developed a bit more in this issue. Their friendship seemed a bit too rushed. More dialouge from the Prince and reactions from the cat would have been a nice addition. Anyhow, I look forward to the next installment. Jenika has a simple story here that has my taste buds tickled so far...

Here is a review by Kat
www.katavila.com

Vampire free style is magical. When you open up issue no.1, you are lead into a charming night world by a saucer-eyed black cat. Because Micia can only kitty-speak like "miou" and "miaaa", the reader must piece together the mistery of where the cat comes from.
A crestfallen witch boy searches for his missing girlfriend. Meanwhile, a goateed man named Ed finds himself talking to a cat who may be in danger and needs his help.
Jenika's phrasing can be awkward sometimes (English is not her first language), but the meaning is easily grasped. The sweetness of her artwork provides a refreshing contrast with the darker story.

Here is a review by Allan from the Comic Creator Guild (www.comicscreatorsguild.co.uk):A young man, who is apparently learning to be a witch, mourns the loss of his love. Where she has gone, he knows not, but he spends much of his time desparately seeking answers. A cute black cat comes into his life one day, and though he doesn't yet know it, the young witch may find the feline is much more than she appears.

Vampire Free Style is written and drawn by Ioffreda in an unabashed Manga style. The art is strong, with a fluid line and superior figure drawing. The characters -- especially the oh-so cute cat -- come alive thanks to the artist's familiarity with depicting body language. I was reminded in places of the art of Svetlana Chmakova (Dramacon). There's a lovely full page piece of pencil art at the back, so anyone out there who fancies themselves as a Manga inker - this is the place to come to hone your skills.

It's only the first issue so the story doesn't get very far, but what is there is certainly intriguing. It's also laugh out loud funny. This is one to watch.

Vampire Free Style reviewed by Optical Sloth (www.opticalsloth.com)Who's in the mood for a good gothic fairy tale? This is the story of a prince looking for his lost princess, a witch learning how to fly, a nosy aunt who dresses up cats, a young man who is curious about the same cat, and, of course, the cat, who seems to know a lot about what's going on. It's essentially good clean fun for all ages, with some nice creepy atmospheric art. Oh, and one bleeped out "fuck", so maybe it's not going to be for all ages for long, who knows? In this issue we see the cat meet up with the witch and the curious young man and get the barest glimpse of what's to come, but luckily I got the next few issues along with this one in the mail so it won't be a mystery for long. I'm a bit mystified about the price, but let's say around $5 and leave it at that as that's a gorgeous cover and it's a pretty thick book. Of course, you could always just wander around that website listed above, maybe contact Jenika and find out for yourself..