Manga Review: Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Volume 1

Manga Review: Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Volume 1 by Aidalro Nene Yashiro is in her first year at high school. She has a crush on one of the older boys, Minamoto. But Nene’s been unlucky in love before (the last boy said she had legs like a daikon radish), and Minamoto’s super popular so getting his attention… Continue reading Manga Review: Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Volume 1

Book Review: The Case of the Bludgeoned Teacher

Book Review: The Case of the Bludgeoned Teacher by Jim Hollis Miss Celeste Aubin is the French teacher at Rainey High School. Physically, she’s very attractive, and knows how to exploit her appearance to manipulate men. Personality-wise though, she’s manipulative and grasping, and plays favorites with the students. So when she turns up dead, hit… Continue reading Book Review: The Case of the Bludgeoned Teacher

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volume 33

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volume 33 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: High-schooler Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami (death spirit) partially of mortal human descent. As such, his powers are less than those of full-blooded shinigami, and he must use special booster items to perform his job as a psychopomp. Rinne’s assisted in bringing wandering spirits to… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-ne Volume 33

Manga Review: Shonen Jump (2020)

Manga Review: Shonen Jump (2020) It’s the eighth anniversary of this blog, and time once again to look at the online version of Weekly Shounen Jump! There haven’t been any major changes to the format since last year. One Piece is still the longest-running feature, and is closing in on 1000 chapters! There was a… Continue reading Manga Review: Shonen Jump (2020)

Manga Review: Mob Psycho 100: Reigen–The Man with Level 131 Max Spirit Power

Manga Review: Mob Psycho 100: Reigen–The Man with Level 131 Max Spirit Power by ONE Aritaka Reigen is the head of the Spirits and Such agency, which investigates and deals with apparently supernatural phenomena. His track record is pretty good, even if he himself seems a little fishy from time to time. Somehow, when Reigen’s… Continue reading Manga Review: Mob Psycho 100: Reigen–The Man with Level 131 Max Spirit Power

Movie Review: Kitaro (2007)

Yokai love a good party just like humans!

Movie Review: Kitaro (2007) directed by Katsuhide Motoki The Miura family has been going through some tough times. Mrs. Miura died a couple of years back, and Mr. Miura (Go Riju) never got over it. He’s developed a bit of a drinking problem, so teenage daughter Mika (Mao Inoue) has had to step up as caretaker… Continue reading Movie Review: Kitaro (2007)

Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73

Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73 by Gosho Aoyama Recap: Shinichi Kudou (Jimmy Kudo in the dub) is a teen genius detective who has been shrunk by a poison and now poses as grade-schooler Conan Edogawa, but still solves crimes. Thus the Japanese title that translates as “Detective Conan.” See my earlier reviews. This volume… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73

Anime Review: SSSS Gridman

And this isn't even his final form!

Anime Review: SSSS Gridman Yuta has amnesia, that’s true, yet somehow Tokyo doesn’t seem quite right to him. Was it always so foggy in the city? And why is he the only one who can see kaiju (giant monsters) just casually hanging out in the distance? And did old model computers have superheroes talking directly… Continue reading Anime Review: SSSS Gridman

Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3

Rio Kizaki is the cover feature character for this volume.

Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3 by Sekihiko Inui On an alternate Earth, methods have been found to give ordinary humans superpowers, and “superhero” is a profession. However, the processes involved are very expensive and out of range for the average working person. So most superheroes are sponsored by businesses and act as mascots for them.… Continue reading Manga Review: Ratman, Vol. 3

Comic Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes 1

Comic Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes 1 edited by Cory Sedlmeier As has been mentioned on this blog before, by the late 1940s, superheroes had become passe in comic books. A handful continued to be published over at National Publications (DC) on a regular basis, and there was the odd minor publisher title,… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes 1