The Case Study of Vanitas (Manga)

The Case Study of Vanitas (ヴァニタスの手記, Vanitasu no Karute) is a manga series written and illustrated by Jun Mochizuki. It began serialization on December 22, 2015, and (as of October 5, 2022) is ongoing in the magazine Monthly Gangan Joker.¹ It has fifty-seven chapters, as well as three "intermission" bonus chapters. The series is liscensed in English for simultaneous publication by Yen Press,² and it has also been collected into ten tankōbon volumes, eight of which have been released in English.³

The Case Study of Vanitas centers on the vampire Noé Archiviste and his ongoing quest to understand the true nature of the legendary Book of Vanitas and its wielder, the enigmatic vampire-healing human Vanitas. It is set in a fictionalized version of late 19th century France, with heavy steampunk and dark fantasy influences.

Plot

Beginning the night they meet, The Case Study of Vanitas is Noé Archiviste's account of his time spent alongside Vanitas. He is hired to serve as a "shield" for Vanitas during battle, and the two work to heal cursed vampires together. This healing is part of Vanitas's quest for "revenge" against The Vampire of the Blue Moon, the original Vanitas, which he executes by curing any vampire he encounters who suffers from a curse. These curses corrupt a vampire's true name, turning them into dangerous monsters as their condition progresses, and only The Book of Vanitas can cure them.

As the plot progresses, the story begins to examine the politics of the human and vampire worlds, the true nature of the "malnomen" curse, and the disastrous "Babel" incident which first created vampires 300 years ago.

The first chapter also promises that the story will end with Vanitas's death by Noé's hand.

Volumes and Chapters

Volume 1

• Mémoire 1: Vanitas—In the Event of Rusty Hopes
• Mémoire 2: Noé—In the City of Flowers
• Mémoire 3: Jeanne—The Hellfire Witch
• Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale—Love

Volume 2

• Mémoire 5: Archiviste—Fangs that Lay Bare Blood
• Mémoire 6: Altus—Other World
• Mémoire 7: Bal Masqué—Night of Sneering Masks
• Mémoire 8: Louis—Sinking in a Pool of Blood
• Mémoire 9: Réminiscence—Friends
• Mémoire 10: Salvatio—Uncertainty

Volume 3

• Mémoire 11: Deux Ombres—Point of Departure
• Mémoire 12: Pause
• Mémoire 13: Glissando—Glissando
• Mémoire 14: Catacombes—Where the Dead Sleep
• Mémoire 15: Chasseur—Those Who Hunt Crimson

Volume 4

• Mémoire 16: Galop—At the End of the Riot
• Mémoire 17: Cicatrice—No. 69
• Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos—The Shape of Salvation
• Mémoire 19: Serment—Spell-Bound
• Mémoire 20: Serment—Promise (Part One)
• Mémoire 21: Serment—Promise (Part Two)

Volume 5

• Mémoire 22: Hurler—A Calling Voice
• Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade—Pace
• Mémoire 24: Forêt d'argent—Chance Encounter
• Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié—Melee
• Mémoire 26: Dissonance—Creaking Laughter
• Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige—Dregs
• Entracte: Chambre d'enfants—A Dream of the Sound of Rain

Volume 6

• Mémoire 28: Dal Segno—Question Mark
• Mémoire 29: Château de Sorcière—The Witch and the Youth
• Mémoire 30: Strascinando—Tremolo
• Mémoire 31: Oiseau et Ciel—The Vampire of the d'Apchiers
• Mémoire 32: Visiteur—Footfalls of the Beast
• Mémoire 33: Cauchemar—Rumble
• Mémoire 34: Jean-Jacques—The Vampire of the Chastels (Part One)
• Mémoire 34.5: Jean-Jacques—The Vampire of the Chastels (Part Two)

Volume 7

• Mémoire 35: Louisette—Pillar of Justice
• Mémoire 36: Chasse aux Vampires—The Beast
• Mémoire 37: Vengeance—Hands that Touch a Nightmare
• Mémoire 38: Naenia—She Who Harbors Death (Part One)
• Mémoire 38.5: Naenia—She Who Harbors Death (Part Two)
• Mémoire 39: Poupée Fissurée—The Essence of the Witch
• Mémoire 40: Avec Toi—Alone Together

Volume 8

• Mémoire 41: Canorus—Snow Flower
• Mémoire 42: Encore une Fois—Love
• Mémoire 43: Encens Restant—Lingering Scent of the Dream
• Mémoire 44: Mal d'Amour—The Incurable Illness (Part One)
• Mémoire 45: Mal d'Amour—The Incurable Illness (Part Two)
• Mémoire 46: Un Autre—Scar

Volume 9

• Mémoire 47: Hétérogène—Sneering Laughter
• Mémoire 48: Rencontre—Blue Night
• Mémoire 49: Douleur—Kind Child
• Mémoire 50: Petrichor—The Thread that Reels in the Past
• Mémoire 51: Tempest—A Silent Scream
• Entracte: Jours Bruyants — Tales of Lost Children

Volume 10

• Mémoire 52: Sens Unique—Fall
• Mémoire 53: Pleuvoir—Rain Which Doesn't Know the Sky
• Mémoire 54: La nuit sans lune—Dark Night (Part One)
• Mémoire 54.5: La nuit sans lune—Dark Night (Part Two)
• Mémoire 55: Après la pluie—His Wish (Part One)
• Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie—His Wish (Part Two)
• Mémoire 56: Faire un gâteau—Bittersweet
• Extra: The Case Study of Vanitash!!!! —Expanded Edition—

Uncollected Chapters

• Mémoire 57: Au Revoir—Again, Someday