Book Review: If This Goes On

Gotta love this cover "old man yells at rocket."

Book Review: If This Goes On edited by Charles Nuetzel The “if this goes on” story is a staple of short science fiction. Pick a current trend like “women not wearing hats anymore” or “cat videos” and extend it out to an exaggerated conclusion. For example, the Robert Heinlein story of that name, which posits… Continue reading Book Review: If This Goes On

Manga Review: Devilman G Vol. 1

Manga Review: Devilman G Vol. 1 story by Go Nagai, art by Rui Takato Dateline: Tokyo, in the present day. Or rather, the present night. Three strangers who met on the internet get together for a night of drinking. Susumu, Sacchan and Deathmask. Deathmask heads out alone, and Susumu manages to convince the heavily drunk… Continue reading Manga Review: Devilman G Vol. 1

Book Review: Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters

Book Review: Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters edited by Tim Marquitz & N.X. Sharps Like many a Godzilla fan, I have a fondness for movies where gigantic monsters rampage across the landscape. The fandom has more or less adopted the Japanese term for such monsters, kaiju. While the big critters have been a staples of… Continue reading Book Review: Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters

Movie Review: Zebraman

Sometimes Zebraman is caught shorthanded and needs a little help from Zebranurse.

Movie Review: Zebraman (2009) directed by Takashi Miike Strange things are afoot in Yokohama, possibly involving aliens. Defense Agency workers Oikawa (Atsuro Watabe) and Segawa (Koen Kondo) are assigned to go undercover and investigate. But they aren’t the protagonists of this story. Instead, the focus is on third-grade teacher Shin’ichi Ichikawa (Sho Aikawa), who is not… Continue reading Movie Review: Zebraman

Anime Review: Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

Azz, Iruma and Clara demonstrate their love of Black Sabbath.

Anime Review: Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Iruma Suzuki is illegally working aboard a tuna fishing boat when we first meet him, a job arranged by his abusive parents to net them his salary. There’s a storm on, and Iruma is about to be crushed by the cargo when a demon appears. The demon, Sullivan,… Continue reading Anime Review: Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

Manga Review: Primitive Boyfriend Vol. 1

Manga Review: Primitive Boyfriend Vol. 1 by Yoshineko Kitafuku Kamigome Mito is the proverbial farmer’s daughter, with clean-cut good looks and a body made healthy with hard work in the fields. But there’s no traveling salesman in this story. Instead, seventeen year old Mito is attending a high school with a bevy of boys who… Continue reading Manga Review: Primitive Boyfriend Vol. 1

Manga Review: Azumanga Daioh Vol. 1

Manga Review: Azumanga Daioh Vol. 1 by Kiyohiko Azuma It is spring of the year 2000, and the Japanese school year is beginning. There’s always some confusion on the first day back, and teacher Yukari Tanizaki winds up trying to introduce herself to the wrong home room! Once that’s sorted out, it’s time to meet… Continue reading Manga Review: Azumanga Daioh Vol. 1

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

Manga Review: Case Closed Volumes 65-67

Manga Review: Case Closed Volumes 65-67 by Gosho Aoyama Premise: Teen detective Shinichi Kudou (Jimmy Kudo in the American version) is trapped in the body of a child. As Conan Edogawa, he solves mysteries anyway, while trying to track down the Black Organization that did this to him. See my previous entries. We open Volume… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed Volumes 65-67

Movie Review: Let the Right One In

Oskar meets Eli.

Movie Review: Let the Right One In (2008) directed by Tomas Alfredson Oskar, like a lot of twelve year olds, has problems. His parents are divorced (and Dad has a drinking problem), and he’s being bullied at school. Having a strong interest in serial killers, Oskar has taken to carrying a knife and fantasizing about solving… Continue reading Movie Review: Let the Right One In