Venus Versus Virus

Venus Versus Virus (ヴィーナス ヴァーサス ヴァイアラス) is a Japanese manga series created by Atsushi Suzumi which was first serialized on June 27, 2005 in MediaWorks' shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao!. The manga ended serialization in Dengeki Comic Gao! on February 27, 2008 due to the magazine's discontinuation, but the manga continued serialization in ASCII Media Works' manga magazine Dengeki Daioh between March 21 and July 26, 2008. Eight bound volumes have been released by ASCII Media Works in Japan. The manga has been licensed for English language distribution by North American based company Seven Seas Entertainment; the first volume was released in July 2007. Later, a drama CD was created based on the manga series in October 2006. The series has since been adapted into an anime produced by Studio Hibari that aired in Japan between January and March 2007 on BS-i, containing twelve episodes.

Plot
Venus Versus Virus revolves around the life of the young girls named Sumire Takahana and Lucia Nahashi, who met as Sumire mysteriously discovered Lucia's secrets at the Venus Vanguard, a group who hunts demons called "Virus" lead by Lucia's adopted father Nahashi. Now, while accepting jobs from people who find the Venus Vanguard brochure, they fight off the “Virus” while seeking their true roots and motives, and for that, Lucia finds that Sumire can be a lot more useful than she seems.

Main characters

 * Sumire Takahana (鷹花 スミレ)
 * , Rina Satō (first drama CD)
 * Sumire is a young middle school girl and the newest member of the Venus Vanguard, despite being terribly scared of Viruses. While initially she cannot be of much help to Lucia, they eventually find out that whenever her body reacts to the special chemical used to defeat Viruses (the so called Vaccine), she transforms into a "Berserker Mode", or a living Anti-Virus. With this strange ability, she becomes stronger and violent, and is capable of defeating Viruses with her bare hands, but when under the influence of this power, she cannot discern friend from foe, although over the course of the series she learns how to control her powers.


 * Lucia Nahashi (名橋 ルチア)
 * , Hitomi Nabatame (first drama CD)
 * Lucia is a strong, young girl who lead the fights against Viruses alongside the other members of the Venus Vanguard, sworn to fight and kill all Viruses. She is battlehardened and cold, but she shows a lot more facial expressions in the manga than in the anime. Her left eye holds a mysterious power, though is almost always covered with an eye patch. Use of her powers is taxing and wears her out, but can often be disastrous to her enemy in many ways. Her left arm has a symbol of the enchantment succeeded from her father. According to Sumire, Lucia often gives off a faint fragrance of roses, which is a scant memory of their intertwined pasts. She smokes in the manga.


 * Sōichirō Nahashi (名橋 総一郎)
 * , Tamio Ōki (first drama CD)
 * Sōichirō, who is always referred to by his surname (as per Japanese standard), is the guardian of Lucia, who loves her as if he were her real father. Before Lucia was born, Nahashi was studying to become a mage, along with Lucia's mother Lilith and Lucia's father Lucif. He harbored an unrequited love for Lilith, but never got close with her as she was in love with Lucif.


 * Lola (ローラ)
 * A mysterious blonde girl who lives with Lucia and Nahashi. She loves chocolate and is often seen eating it.  She has a twin named Layla and in the anime neither of them seem to age since they are soulless dolls created by Lucif and Nahashi's teacher; in the manga they are orphaned girls with a telepathic link to one another.  She is a major character right from the beginning in the anime, but in the manga she does not show up until the fourth volume. In the English version of the anime, her name is rendered as "Laura".
 * A mysterious blonde girl who lives with Lucia and Nahashi. She loves chocolate and is often seen eating it.  She has a twin named Layla and in the anime neither of them seem to age since they are soulless dolls created by Lucif and Nahashi's teacher; in the manga they are orphaned girls with a telepathic link to one another.  She is a major character right from the beginning in the anime, but in the manga she does not show up until the fourth volume. In the English version of the anime, her name is rendered as "Laura".


 * Yoshiki Kusanagi (草薙 与識)
 * Yoshiki is a young man Sumire met one day in a park while he was reading a book. After a few more meetings together while exchanging books to read, Yoshiki starts to develop romantic feelings for Sumire. In the anime it is later discovered that he is actually one of Lucif's followers named Aion, he tries to take Sumire's fragment but stops because he truly cared for her, thus, he betrays Lucif, but Lucia, not knowing of his betrayal, kills him. In the manga, Aion is a sorcerer who seems to possess Lucif and later Yoshiki.
 * Yoshiki is a young man Sumire met one day in a park while he was reading a book. After a few more meetings together while exchanging books to read, Yoshiki starts to develop romantic feelings for Sumire. In the anime it is later discovered that he is actually one of Lucif's followers named Aion, he tries to take Sumire's fragment but stops because he truly cared for her, thus, he betrays Lucif, but Lucia, not knowing of his betrayal, kills him. In the manga, Aion is a sorcerer who seems to possess Lucif and later Yoshiki.

Supporting characters

 * Nene Mikumo (三雲 音々)
 * Nene is Sumire's female cousin who always tries to look out for her like an older sister. She often encourages her younger brother Riku in his attempts to ask Sumire out on a date.
 * Nene is Sumire's female cousin who always tries to look out for her like an older sister. She often encourages her younger brother Riku in his attempts to ask Sumire out on a date.


 * Riku Mikumo (三雲 理久)
 * Riku is Nene's younger brother who has a crush on Sumire. Multiple times, Riku attempts to ask Sumire out on a date, but something always interferes, leaving him heartbroken each time. He has a timid personality, which makes it even more difficult to ask Sumire out.
 * Riku is Nene's younger brother who has a crush on Sumire. Multiple times, Riku attempts to ask Sumire out on a date, but something always interferes, leaving him heartbroken each time. He has a timid personality, which makes it even more difficult to ask Sumire out.


 * Mika (ミカ)
 * , Ai Nonaka (first drama CD)
 * Mika is one of Sumire's good friends and classmates. She has a tomboyish personality.


 * Kyōko (京子)
 * , Emiri Katō (first drama CD)
 * Kyōko is another one of Sumire's good friends and classmates.


 * Shizu (しず)
 * , Kayo Sakata (first drama CD)
 * Shizu is another one of Sumire's good friends and classmates.


 * Lilith (リリス)
 * Lilith is Lucia's mother who once worked under a mentor with Lucif and Nahashi to learn magic arts, and in the anime after he died, their training ceased. Lilith fell in love with Lucif and eventually became pregnant with Lucia, though by the time she was born, Lucif was already gone on his quest for the True World. In the anime, a Virus allegedly killed Lilith when Lucia was still two years old. The Virus that killed her was Lucif so he could obtain her special fragment, although in the end, the fragment disappears. She killed herself to protect Lucia and the world that Lucif wanted to destroy.
 * Lilith is Lucia's mother who once worked under a mentor with Lucif and Nahashi to learn magic arts, and in the anime after he died, their training ceased. Lilith fell in love with Lucif and eventually became pregnant with Lucia, though by the time she was born, Lucif was already gone on his quest for the True World. In the anime, a Virus allegedly killed Lilith when Lucia was still two years old. The Virus that killed her was Lucif so he could obtain her special fragment, although in the end, the fragment disappears. She killed herself to protect Lucia and the world that Lucif wanted to destroy.

Antagonists

 * Sonoka (苑果)
 * Sonoka is the current leader of the Virus, and has a particular focused interest in Lucia and Sumire. She is a devoted follower of Aion (Lucif in the anime) and his quest to find the True World.
 * Sonoka is the current leader of the Virus, and has a particular focused interest in Lucia and Sumire. She is a devoted follower of Aion (Lucif in the anime) and his quest to find the True World.


 * Ruka (ルカ)
 * Ruka is a young girl who serves under Sonoka. She has a sadistic personality and has the power to control water and wind, however she states her specialty is electricity. In the English version of the anime, her name is rendered as "Luca".
 * Ruka is a young girl who serves under Sonoka. She has a sadistic personality and has the power to control water and wind, however she states her specialty is electricity. In the English version of the anime, her name is rendered as "Luca".


 * Guy (ガイ)
 * Guy is another one of Sonoka's henchman. He has a similar personality to Ruka, though has proven to be more skilled than her; he has the power to control fire and earth.
 * Guy is another one of Sonoka's henchman. He has a similar personality to Ruka, though has proven to be more skilled than her; he has the power to control fire and earth.


 * Layla (ライラ)
 * Layla is Lola's twin. In the anime, after Lucif left to find the True World, Layla went with him and Lola stayed with Nahashi and Lilith. In the anime, Layla loves konpeito candy as much as Lola loves chocolate; in the manga, both twins are ardent fans of Pocky-like sticks, and are often seen munching on them. While in the anime, she is rather passive; in the manga, she gives off a more sinister presence.
 * Layla is Lola's twin. In the anime, after Lucif left to find the True World, Layla went with him and Lola stayed with Nahashi and Lilith. In the anime, Layla loves konpeito candy as much as Lola loves chocolate; in the manga, both twins are ardent fans of Pocky-like sticks, and are often seen munching on them. While in the anime, she is rather passive; in the manga, she gives off a more sinister presence.


 * Lucif (リュシフ)
 * Lucif is Lucia's father who, before she was born, left to find the path to the True World. His past is filled with mysteries, and Nahashi refuses to talk about the subject with Lucia. In the anime, it is thought he turned himself into a Virus so he could obtain the True World. In the manga, it appears he was possessed by Aion.
 * Lucif is Lucia's father who, before she was born, left to find the path to the True World. His past is filled with mysteries, and Nahashi refuses to talk about the subject with Lucia. In the anime, it is thought he turned himself into a Virus so he could obtain the True World. In the manga, it appears he was possessed by Aion.

Manga
Venus Versus Virus began as a manga series first serialized on June 27, 2005 in the shōnen magazine Dengeki Comic Gao! published by MediaWorks. On February 27, 2008, the manga ended serialization in Dengeki Comic Gao!, but continued serialization in ASCII Media Works' manga magazine Dengeki Daioh between March 21 and July 26, 2008. Eight bound volumes have been released in Japan by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Comics label. The manga has since been licensed in America by Seven Seas Entertainment with the first volume released in July 2007.

Venus Versus Virus has also been published in Taiwan and Hong Kong by Kadokawa Media, in South Korea by Samyang Publish Company, in Italy by J-Pop Edizioni, in France by Soleil Productions, in Spain by Norma Editorial, and in Vietnam by Kim Dong Publishing House.

Drama CD
A drama CD based on the manga series was first released in Japan on October 25, 2006 produced by Frontier Works. The CD contained five tracks and the voice cast was different from that used in the anime adaptation. A second drama CD was released on April 4, 2007 produced by Lantis.

Anime
The Venus Versus Virus anime was produced by the animation studio Studio Hibari and aired in Japan between January 11 and March 29, 2007 on the BS-i network, containing twelve episodes. The anime was made available in November 2007 on Anime Network's Video on demand setup. The anime was originally licensed by ADV Films for distribution in North America, but in July 2008, the anime became one of over thirty ADV titles transferred to Funimation Entertainment. ADV Films had also licensed Venus Versus Virus for release in Germany, but the DVDs were put on hold.

The anime's opening theme is "Bravin' Bad Brew" by Riryka, and the ending theme is "Shijun no Zankoku" by Yousei Teikoku. The anime's original soundtrack contains background music composed by Hikaru Nanase.