Book Review: Fafner: Dead Aggressor

Book Review: Fafner: Dead Aggressor by Tow Ubukata Kazuki Makabe lives on Tatsumiyajima, an isolated island far off the coast of Japan. He’s looking forward to leaving the island one year from now, one way or another, whether to go to a mainland school or join a fishing boat crew. He’s the best athlete on… Continue reading Book Review: Fafner: Dead Aggressor

Movie Review: Sansho the Bailiff

Anju/Shinobu worries that Zushio/Matsu has lost his way.

Movie Review: Sansho the Bailiff (1954) directed by Kenji Mizoguchi (Japanese title: Sanshou Dayuu) The setting is the late Heian Period (around the Eleventh Century) in Japan. The popular governor of a northern province, Taira Masauji (Masao Shimizu), has incurred the wrath of a powerful military general because he would not raise taxes on the already… Continue reading Movie Review: Sansho the Bailiff

Manga Review: Cat-Eyed Boy The Perfect Edition 1

Manga Review: Cat-Eyed Boy The Perfect Edition 1 by Kazuo Umezz The “Cat-Eyed Boy” is the son of a nekomata cat monster who for reasons unknown but probably involving infidelity, was born far more humanoid in appearance than his parents. His mother died in childbirth and his putative father abandoned him some months later at… Continue reading Manga Review: Cat-Eyed Boy The Perfect Edition 1

Book Review: The Saracen Blade

Cover by James Mooso

Book Review: The Saracen Blade by Frank Yerby The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II was born in Jesi, Italy in 1194. But another child was born on that day in that place. Pietro, son of Donati the armorer and his lovely wife Maria, was delivered by one of the same midwives as she’d gone into… Continue reading Book Review: The Saracen Blade

Anime Review: Pluto

Gesicht confronts the darkness in his own past.

Anime Review: Pluto On an alternate Earth where robotics technology is far more advanced than our own, self-aware robots have spread into almost every facet of society. Some are virtually indistinguishable from humans, and in recent years, robots have been granted at least some civil rights. But some robots are more powerful than others, with… Continue reading Anime Review: Pluto

Book Review: Among Others

Book Review: Among Others by Jo Walton It is 1979, and Morwenna Phelps is no longer blessed with a living twin. The same accident shattered her hip and leg so that she cannot run or dance, or even exist without pain. Her beloved grandfather had a stroke, and cannot care for her, and her mother… Continue reading Book Review: Among Others

Manga Review: Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 1

Manga Review: Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 1 by Gege Akutami It’s been a strange day for Yuji Itadori. First, the student council threatens to close down the Occult Research club for lack of activity and members. This right after they’d acquired a mysterious object to investigate, too! It turned out that the lack of members is… Continue reading Manga Review: Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 1

Movie Review: Street Sisters

Painted Woman shows little affection for the Boy.

Movie Review: Street Sisters (1974) directed by Arthur Roberson (aka Black Hooker) Painted Woman (Sandra Alexandra) grew up poor on the farm of Grandpa (Jeff Burton) and Grandma (Kathryn Jackson). Grandpa is a hard man, for all that he’s a preacher on the side and spouts Bible talk. Grandma is well-meaning, but goes along to get… Continue reading Movie Review: Street Sisters

Manga Review: Magu-chan: God of Destruction

Manga Review: Magu-chan: God of Destruction by Kei Kamiki In a sleepy seaside village in Japan lives a middle-school girl named Ruru Miyanagi. Her father passed away some years ago, and her mother is working overseas, so Ruru is taking care of herself and money is tight. When she finds an unusual crystal on the… Continue reading Manga Review: Magu-chan: God of Destruction

Manga Review: Chibi Vampire Airmail

Sister Rosary and Karin. They do not actually meet in this volume.

Manga Review: Chibi Vampire Airmail by Yuna Kagesaki Karin Maaka is descended from a long line of vampires. That’s supposed to be a secret as vampires want the world (and especially the Catholic Church’s vampire hunters) to believe they were all wiped out decades ago. Her parents, the Markers, moved to Japan with most of… Continue reading Manga Review: Chibi Vampire Airmail