Book Review: Mary Shelley: Gothic Tales

Book Review: Mary Shelley: Gothic Tales by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley The author of the classic horror novel Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus also wrote other things. This chapbook from Union Square & Co. reprints one of her short stories and an essay she wrote. “The Mortal Immortal” is a memoir by a fictional student of… Continue reading Book Review: Mary Shelley: Gothic Tales

Comic Strip Review: Alley Oop and the Million-Dollar Nugget

Comic Strip Review: Alley Oop and the Million-Dollar Nugget by V.T. Hamlin Alley Oop is a caveman living in the primitive kingdom of Moo in Earth’s prehistoric Bone Age. He rides a tame dinosaur named Dinny, has an off-and-on relationship with sweetheart Ooola, and alternately clashes with and helps out King Guzzle (“Guz”) and the… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: Alley Oop and the Million-Dollar Nugget

Manga Review: Weekly Shonen Jump 2023

Best picture for kitty-lovers, worst for ailurophobes.

Manga Review: Weekly Shonen Jump 2023 by various creators It’s the eleventh anniversary of this blog! As every year, let’s take a look at the long-running colossus that is Weekly Shounen Jump! One Piece has moved on from the Wano storyline to one involving frequently referenced mad scientist(s) Dr. Vegapunk, who is not as cool… Continue reading Manga Review: Weekly Shonen Jump 2023

Book Review: Swords Against Wizardry

Cover art by Jeff Jones

Book Review: Swords Against Wizardry by Fritz Leiber We return, gentle readers, to the fabled world of Nehwon, home of those bold rogues, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. But they are not in their favorite city, Lankhmar, but in Fafhrd’s home territory of the Cold Wastes to the north. For they have learned of fabled… Continue reading Book Review: Swords Against Wizardry

Webtoon Review: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Roxie and Ramona have a moment.

Webtoon Review: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Scott Pilgrim is not exactly the most successful young man on Earth. He’s between jobs, crashing at his gay friend Wallace’s apartment in Toronto, playing bass in an indie band “Sex Bob-Omb” and kinda-sorta dating high school girl Knives Chau. He’s weirdly good at fighting, but this is a… Continue reading Webtoon Review: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Movie Review: Sword of the Beast

Gundayu and Gennosuke discuss their plans.

Movie Review: Sword of the Beast (1965) directed by Hideo Gosha It is 1857, towards the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Commodore Perry’s ships have forced Japan to open its ports, and social change is rippling across Japan. Yuuki Gennosuke (Mikijiro Hira) thought he was going to help bring reform, but instead wound up killing his… Continue reading Movie Review: Sword of the Beast

Manga Review: Futaba-kun Change #3: Laying Down the Smack!

Manga Review: Futaba-kun Change #3: Laying Down the Smack! by Hiroshi Aro Recap: Futaba Shimeru is a teenage boy barely coping with male puberty and new feelings towards his friend who’s a girl Misaki. Then he discovers he’s also going through female puberty! Due to his family’s unusual genetic structure, they turn into the opposite… Continue reading Manga Review: Futaba-kun Change #3: Laying Down the Smack!

Book Review: Branded West

Book Review: Branded West edited by Don Ward The Western Writers of America were founded in 1953 to promote literature related to the American West. It started with primarily traditional Western fiction, but also promotes historical and non-fiction works and even songs. It has an annual prize called the Spur Awards. But this collection published… Continue reading Book Review: Branded West

Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

Joe gives Kong some combat pointers.

Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous (2008) directed by Oxide Chun Pang and Danny Pang Joe (Nicolas Cage) is very good at his job. Very professional. He stays anonymous, doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t get personally involved with people, and erases all traces. This is very important to be a successful international hitman. How did he get into the… Continue reading Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

Manga Review: Case Closed Volumes 83-86

Manga Review: Case Closed Volumes 83-86 by Gosho Aoyama Quick recap: Teen detective Shinichi Kudou (Jimmy Kudo in the dub) is shrunk into a pre-teen by an experimental poison. Until he can find a way to reverse the effects, he assumes the identity of Conan Edogawa. He still solves crimes, but it’s harder to get… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed Volumes 83-86