Movie Review: The Living Skeleton

Non-living skeletons

Movie Review: The Living Skeleton (1968) directed by Hiroki Matsuno (Japanese title: Kyûketsu dokuro-sen (“Blood-sucking Skull Ship”) Three years ago, the freighter Dragon King was lost at sea, with no survivors. Among those who apparently perished were ship’s doctor Nishizato (Ko Nishimura) and his recent bride Yoriko (Kikko Matsuoka). Yoriko’s twin sister Saeko (Kikko Matsuoka) still mourns them,… Continue reading Movie Review: The Living Skeleton

Manga Review: Kitaro’s Yokai Battles

Manga Review: Kitaro’s Yokai Battles by Shigeru Mizuki Oh hey, I was missing one of the volumes of the Drawn & Quarterly Kitaro reprints! This one has an introduction that covers from 1966 to 1971. While the Hakaba no Kitaro series seemed like a good choice for animated adaptation, network executives thought it was too… Continue reading Manga Review: Kitaro’s Yokai Battles

Movie Review: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

An early appearance by a cyclops, whose legs were deliberately made that way so people wouldn't think it was a man in a costume.

Movie Review: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) directed by Nathan H. Juran In a time when Baghdad was the city of cities, when the world was full of wonders, the adventurous merchant and ship captain Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) has captured the heart of Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant) of Chandra. On the voyage home to Baghdad… Continue reading Movie Review: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

Movie Review: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack gives being jolly a shot.

Movie Review: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) directed by Henry Selick Jack Skellington is the Pumpkin King, the genius auteur who leads Halloween Town each year in creating the holiday. But it’s the same holiday every year, and he’s bored. This year, after his own duties are done, Jack wanders far afield and discovers the doors… Continue reading Movie Review: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Comic Strip Review: Devil’s Candy Volume 1

Comic Strip Review: Devil’s Candy Volume 1 Art by Rem, Story by Bikkuri When Kazu Decker creates a ninth-grade science project for his biology class, he fully commits. With the aid of his best buddy Nemo (who’s more of a technology buff), Kazu puts together an artificial lifeform he names Pandora. She may look like… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: Devil’s Candy Volume 1

Manga Review: Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san 1

Manga Review: Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san 1 by Honda Working retail can be a funny business, especially if you work in a popular bookstore. Or so claims Honda, the star and creator of this autobiographical manga. The “hon” in the name is written with the kanji (ideograph) for “book” but can also mean “bone”, so the… Continue reading Manga Review: Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san 1

Manga Review: Treasure Hunter Book One: Eternal Youth

Manga Review: Treasure Hunter Book One: Eternal Youth by Hitoshi Tomizawa Jubei is a merchant. But he’s a specialized merchant. If there’s a specific hard to find item you need to acquire, hire Jubei, and he will get that item for you, guaranteed. Unlike some other merchants, Jubei isn’t as much known for his ability… Continue reading Manga Review: Treasure Hunter Book One: Eternal Youth

Book Review: Great Supernatural Stories: 101 Horrifying Tales

Book Review: Great Supernatural Stories: 101 Horrifying Tales compiled by Stefan Dziemianowicz This hefty volume collects a variety of public domain stories concerning the supernatural. While the majority fall roughly into the category of horror, some are more what we’d call “dark fantasy” and a handful are just “well, that’s a weird thing that happened.”… Continue reading Book Review: Great Supernatural Stories: 101 Horrifying Tales

Movie Review: House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Our heroine meets the friendly housekeeper.

Movie Review: House on Haunted Hill (1959) directed by William Castle In its hundred years of history, the house has been host to seven brutal murders. It is said that their ghosts still haunt the place, ready to add more victims to their number. Tonight, five strangers have been invited to the house on Haunted Hill… Continue reading Movie Review: House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Magazine Review: Water~Stone Review Volume 9: What Prevails

Magazine Review: Water~Stone Review Volume 9: What Prevails edited by Mary Francois Rockcastle It is time again to look at Hamline University’s annual literary magazine. This issue is from 2006. It’s dedicated to Frederick Busch, author of Girls, who had visited the university shortly before his death the previous year. The subtitle, borrowed from one… Continue reading Magazine Review: Water~Stone Review Volume 9: What Prevails