Vampire Magicka
Creator: Bryan Golden
Platform: WEBTOON
Publication: March 12, 2022 – March 25, 2023
Rating: Teen
Genre: Fantasy
In a world where humans and monsters are sometimes at odds, Visare Nightfall is a young gay vampire boy who loves the magical girl anime Bunny Tenshi. While watching the latest episode, a bat named Drago crashes into his basement.
When Drago mentions seeing Visare’s missing sister Vicoria, Visare arms himself with a mysterious magical amulet from the basement and goes off to find her.
One of the most notable things about this vertical scroll comic is how it combines the cute sparkly aesthetics of magical girl anime and the scarier aspects of monsters. Not only does it result in Visare coming into his own unique magic, but it results in some creative twists on magical girl tropes such as the special wand attack and the enemies. Furthermore, the sparkly aesthetics are enhanced by small animated scenes in certain chapters that make certain moments more magical.
Besides the premise, Vampire Magicka is supported by a strong and quirky cast of characters. Visare, as the main protagonist, starts off somewhat naive because he assumes that his new magical powers will be exactly like Bunny Tenshi. When it turns out they aren’t, this makes Visare insecure about his magic, resulting in an emotionally palpable and fun character arc that has Visare gradually learning to embrace his powers.
The supporting cast includes a variety of monsters and genders, from the loyal Frankenstein monster Sorin to the fabulous horned drag queen Umikana. As the main antagonist, Skender is like the anime nerd version of Victor Frankenstein with a heaping helping of daddy issues. Skender’s motives involve destroying monsters to satisfy his own personal agenda, and how he does it is terrifying. Another notable supporting character is Visare’s sister Vicoria, whose motives are gradually revealed as the story progresses.
The dynamics between the characters are heartwarming and fun. Visare has two male love interests and the resolution of the love triangle between them is amusing and sweet. Most of the cast is gay, so seeing certain characters flirt, have drama, or tender moments is fun. Some of the characters Visare meets along his journey become a solid group of friends for Visare. One scene that stands out for me is when they are in one character’s apartment eating pizza and watching the newest episode of Bunny Tenshi.
Of course, neither the characters nor the premise would stand out as much if it weren’t for Bryan Golden’s vibrant art style. Taking cues from shoujo and magical girl manga such as Sailor Moon and Phantom Thief Jeanne, there are moments when the characters have big eyes or a sparkly background to convey tender feelings. The outfits for certain characters such as Visare’s suit and cape and Umikana’s snow-themed kimono are great, enhancing their personality and magical abilities well.
My only issue with Vampire Magicka is that the resolution happens too quickly. I would’ve liked to see one more chapter showing what happened to the antagonist Skender and his reluctant assistant Dimitru. For the most part, the comic resolves the major plot points of the storyline by the end. It’s not often that I read a completed webcomic, but this one was one of the most satisfying ones.
All in all, Vampire Magicka combines magical girl sparkles and monster horror for a new kind of magic that thoroughly charmed me. Colorful artwork, a quirky cast, and a fun vampire protagonist made this an engrossing read. If you’re a Monster High or Sailor Moon fan or want a fantasy vertical scroll comic that’s spooky yet cute, check this one out.
