Vampires, chicks with no self, manga, and me

After reading the Twilight saga, I swore I'd never suffer through another vampire story again. It wasn't the sparkling skin, the obsessive stalking, or even the horrid acting that pushed me over the edge -- it wasn't even Bella's whiney, pathetic, dependent attitude. It's the way girls all over the world have come to believe that Edward and Bella have the ideal romance. I've seen sparkly-eyed fangirls coo "It's not stalking, he's just protective!" or "it's so romantic that she would try to kill herself just to see his face!" I could mention countless other hopeless scenarios, but you get the picture.

Jacob wasn't perfect either, but he was at least someone Bella could talk to and be herself with. I always hope someone's gonna write a Twilight parody sequel to Breaking Dawn about when, after 200 years, Bella wakes up and realizes there's no excitement in her marriage anymore and figures out that she and Edward have nothing to talk about. That's what's going to happen to girls everywhere who think they find their Edward: they'll get married for the passion, then down the road realize that that passion faded and they have nothing holding them to that person.

Well, the entire purpose of this thought was not necessarily to rant on Twilight. I can just beam the hate I feel toward it out of the screen and you'll get the picture. The point is, I'm really actually pretty angry at myself. I'm a manga nerd. There. I said it. Now that that's out of the way, I can also admit to breaking the swear I swore to myself.

I have been bored to tears ever since I moved and couldn't find a job. Even now, my job won't start til February. So what do you think I've had time to do in the six months I've been in limbo? I've read. I've read alot. I've read just about everything interesting I could get my hands on. That includes an extensive list of manga scans. But even with a thousand available manga at my disposal, I've still run through everything I ever wanted to read.

So I got desperate.

I began reading Vampire Knight.

I will admit it's better than Twilight and I think all the little fangirls would be better off reading it than Twilight, but I've noticed a common theme: What IS it with vampires that creates the need for a sex-slave instead of a real, true partner? I mean, are they not capable of finding someone who doesn't swoon like a retarded puppy who just ran head-first into a wall? The only thing that separates Twilight from Vampire Knight is that Yuuki actually has a personality and can -- and will -- fight for herself, unlike Bella who would rather just whimper.

There are just not enough strong female characters in what would be considered "popular" American literature. There are plenty of authors who get it right, but mobs of girls choose to desire Bella's persona instead of someone who can stand up for herself. The scariest thing is that these girls WANT to be stalked and cooed over as though they're toddlers. They want to be taken care of and not have any responsibility. But all they're gonna end up with is disappointment.

I don't understand it at all.

Whatever happened to Buffy? I think she should stake them all and show them what women really can do.