Over 40 years after the release of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s first Vampire Hunter D novel, the series is still going with new and old stories to show for it.
During this weekend’s Anime NYC, comics publisher Dark Horse announced a brand new comic and a manga adaptation of an old classic. The first, Fortress of Blood, is a four-issue miniseries courtesy of writer Chris Condon, artist Felipe Andrade, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic. In it, the vampire/human hybrid D wanders into the path of a fortress full of outcasts protecting refugee humans hoping to escape a vampire lord that’s been attacking settlements. Naturally, he’s got to fight the lord and his forces.
#DHManga Anime NYC Announcement 🚨
Vampire Hunter D: Fortress of Blood, a brand new 4-issue comic series set in the world of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D, beginning on December 16th!
By Chris Condon, Filipe Andrade, Jordie Bellaire, and Frank Cvetkovic. With issue #1… pic.twitter.com/cJoBwxNK3l
— Dark Horse Comics (@DarkHorseComics) August 21, 2026
For Vampire Hunter D fans that love the older stories, Dark Horse has an English translation of the eighth book, The Rose Princess. First released in 1994 and converted into a manga by Saiko Tataki in 2024, the tale sees D in a village under rule by a vampire princess. While protecting a young man who stopped the lord from feasting on his lover, D crosses paths with a woman named Elena, and the two decide to bring the princess down.
Dark Horse has been publishing old D stories in English since 2014, with omnibus and audiobook editions releasing more recently since 2021. Speaking to Fortress, Kikuchi said he was “deeply honored to finally see D adapted into an American comic. […] I would like to express my gratitude to Dark Horse and to all the people that help make it happen for making this a reality.”
#DHManga Anime NYC Announcement 🚨
VAMPIRE HUNTER D: ROSE PRINCESS by @saiko_takaki, coming next June!
Takaki returns to the world of Vampire Hunter D faithfully adapting one of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s most iconic stories.
Pre-orders for this release will go up soon, so please… pic.twitter.com/ucWJyRjzdm
— Dark Horse Comics (@DarkHorseComics) August 21, 2026
If the print stories weren’t enough, GKIDS has acquired North American rights to 2001’s Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. The Madhouse-produced film only hit 12 theaters across the U.S., but GKIDS is aiming to give it a “full theatrical release” sometime next year. Hopefully it won’t be too long into the new year for fans and newcomers to see D go up against Baron Meier Link. Until the movie, there’s the Fortress of Blood comic starting December 16, and Rose Princess’ English translation releasing March 2027.
GKIDS is proud to announce the acquisition of North American rights to VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST. 🩸The rarely-screened gothic horror classic from Yoshiaki Kawajiri and MADHOUSE will get a full theatrical release in 2027.More details soon!brnw.ch/21x57Tg
— GKIDS Films (@gkids.com) 2026-08-22T22:16:54.707Z
[via Anime News Network]
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