Comic Book Review: DC’s Saved by the Belle Reve 1

Comic Book Review: DC’s Saved by the Belle Reve 1 created by Various A fairly long-standing tradition of DC Comics is the “Holiday Special”; an anthology issue themed around a particular holiday or season. It started, naturally, with Christmas specials, now more general “winter holiday”-themed, but Halloween specials with horror-type stories were an obvious addition,… Continue reading Comic Book Review: DC’s Saved by the Belle Reve 1

Book Review: Away and Beyond

Book Review: Away and Beyond by A.E. van Vogt This paperback anthology is a partial reprint of the first hardcover collection of A.E. van Vogt short stories from 1952, with 7 of the 9 1940s tales. It’s not explained why two stories were dropped, but my research suggests they were lesser works. “The Great Engine”… Continue reading Book Review: Away and Beyond

Anime Review: Spy X Family

Anya knows her goal, even if she has difficulties with the specifics.

Anime Review: Spy X Family In an alternate Earth’s 1960s, an uneasy peace exists between the nations of Westalis and Ostania. There are those who have forgotten the horrors of war or even welcome them, and are working to break out of this “cold war” situation. The Westalian spy organization WISE works against those in… Continue reading Anime Review: Spy X Family

TV Review: Seven Swordsmen

Master Shadowglow sets some high expectations.

TV Review: Seven Swordsmen aka “Seven Swords Descend from Mount Heaven” In 17th Century China, the Qing Dynasty now rules where once the Ming Dynasty did. Many Han resent their new Manchu overlords and pockets of rebellion are everywhere. To help quell the resistance, the Qing have banned the practice of martial arts by ordinary… Continue reading TV Review: Seven Swordsmen

Anime Review: Ghost Stories (Dub)

From left: Hajime, Satsuki, Keiichiro, Momoko and Reo.

Anime Review: Ghost Stories (Dub) originally Gakko no Kaidan (School Ghost Stories) After the death of her mother Kayako, Satsuki Miyanoshita moves to her parents’ home town with her father Reiichirou and little brother Keiichirou. The children are to be enrolled in the new elementary school which was built right next to the creepy and… Continue reading Anime Review: Ghost Stories (Dub)

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: 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End

Cho-san is about to suffer retirony.

Movie Review: 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End (2008) directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi When Kenji Endo (Toshiaka Karisawa) was a teenager, he loved rock music, especially “20th Century Boy” by T. Rex. He thought rock, and in particular his own music, could change the world. But some twenty years on in the late 1990s,… Continue reading Movie Review: 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End

Movie Review: Fist of Fury (1972)

Chen faces off against the karate school.

Movie Review: Fist of Fury (1972) directed by Wei Lo; aka “The Chinese Connection” It is the 1930s, and Imperial Japan is on the rise. In Shanghai, they hold great power, especially in the International Settlement, and the native Chinese are treated as second-class citizens in their own country. Martial artist Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee) has… Continue reading Movie Review: Fist of Fury (1972)

Movie Review: The Return of the Five Deadly Venoms

Avengers Assemble!

Movie Review: The Return of the Five Deadly Venoms (1978) directed by Cheh Chang, aka Crippled Avengers Tao (Kuan Tai-Chen) once used his Tiger-style kung fu for good, clearing out bandits and such, and became prosperous as a result. Unfortunately a gang (coincidentally also called “Tigers”) decided to strike back at Tao, and when they found he… Continue reading Movie Review: The Return of the Five Deadly Venoms

Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 38-40

Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 38-40 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami, a psychopomp who helps the spirits of the dead move on to the afterlife. But he is partially human, so his powers are relatively weak and he often has to resort to special devices that cost money. Between that and… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 38-40