About Heroes

Kick-Ass Movie Review, Or: How I Became Infatuated With A 10 Year Old Girl / Fictional Character...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:32:48 -0500

By joshiebear

It was any other Wednesday. I was futzing around on the internet and minding my own business when my trusty gmail notification blip went off and I scurried to my Gmail tab to see what online pharmacy was launching penis pills at me today, but to my surprise, it was the screening exchange instead. Somehow, I was selected to receive a ticket to see a super-early screening of the film adaptation of Mark Millar's Kick-Ass. And at the ArcLight in Hollywood no less! Not only was this a movie that I really wanted to see, but it was at literally the nicest theater you could go to in the area. Hooray!

Fast Forward to the day of, I show up super early and there's already a huge line. After waiting in line for a little over an hour and a half I got in and sat down and waited some more. Once everyone was let in and seated and the VIP's had their seats, one of the editors (if memory serves it was Eddie Hamilton) got up and explained that none of the special effects were done yet and all the music was temporary. This kinda made me sad cuz i didn't want to get cheated out of seeing the whole movie and miss out on the finished experience, but I was still happy to be sitting there for free when I didn't have anything else to do. And after a lot more boring waiting (man, I really should have brought a book or something, they don't let you bring in your phones so I couldn't text / call anyone) the movie started.

Jesus. This movie completely lives up to it's name. It's wraps up insane levels of ridiculousness and realism into a really fun package that you can't help but enjoy. I was skeptical of this movie at first simply because of how Wanted turned out, but this movie is made completely in the spirit of the comics (which aren't even done yet, haha). Everything I was kind of concerned about (mostly Nicolas Cage) was totally awesome. I don't want to sound too eager when reviewing this movie, but I really didn't know what to expect from this movie and it was really good from where I was sitting. By the end of the movie the whole crowd, including myself, were cheering, whooping and hollering. That's really saying something.

The characters are all awesome. Dave, the main character, (played by Aaron Johnson) is just like he is in the comics. A completely sarcastic improbable realist (haha, I know that doesn't make sense on paper, but he's a realistic guy who walks around as a costumed avenger). You completely sympathize with him as he goes through life in New York being pushed around by thugs and ignored by the girl he loves. He's had enough and he's going to stand up and make an effort to change the world he lives in. His friends are also really well cast. There's the inconsequential third guy, and Marty (played by Clark Duke, who's basically a much less-often laid transplant of his character in Sex Drive). They really help set the backdrop for Dave as a main character, because they play the guys you most likely hung out with in High School. A couple nerdy guys like yourself who constantly mess with you and give you crap because they're your buddies and they're supposed to.

Then There's Big Daddy and Hit Girl. Jesus Christ, these two were awesome. Big Daddy is played by Nicolas Cage and Hit Girl is played by Chloe Moretz. Both are amazing. Nicolas Cage plays his ridiculous character so well. As a Dad he's lovingly psychotic and oddly old-fashioned in his acting style, but it completely works to show that while he and his daughter go out and kill bad guys, they do love each other and function as a family on some weird level. The funniest thing is seeing him operate as Big Daddy. He kicks ass like a combination of the Dark Knight Batman, The Punisher (MAX of course), and talks like Adam West Batman, which just drives the whole thing home in a giant ball of awesome. And then there's Hit Girl. It's ridiculous that this movie has driven me to devoutly love a 10 year old girl, but it totally has. She's the perfect combination of out-of-costume cute little girl and then complete ass-kicking force to be reckoned with when in costume. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see the movie (you should, by the way). One minute she's daddy's little girl and the next she's calling a room full of gang bangers 'cunts' and then slicing them all up with swords.

There are a lot of other great characters in the film that are fun to see in this crazy story, gangsters, gang-bangers, high school chicks, and Christopher Mintz-McLuvin as Red Mist. The movie's just chock full of funny scenes, Awesome fights, and amazingly ridiculous story. It's really funny to compare and contrast the insane over-the-top insane fight scense featuring Big Daddy and Hit Girl to Kick-Ass, who basically is just a regular guy with some sticks who's trying to make a difference. The movie definitely handles the whacky idea of kids dressing up and trying to be heroes well. Whenever something goes right, 2 things go wrong to keep you grounded. I can't imagine a way this story could have been handled better, to be honest.

Lastly, as mentioned before, I was told that the music was all temporary and stollen from other places and the effect shots weren't done. Well, the effect shots all looked 100% fine to me (aside from a 3D comic backstory explaining Big Daddy and Hit Girl's backstory) and the music was actually awesome, because it was from a bunch of other awesome movies. I"m sure they'll make a great score for this movie, but I wish you had the chance to see the movie with music from The Prodigy, The Dark Knight, Superman, Batman, The Fountain, and all the other movies it uses movies from. The whole story is set around people who read comics, love them, and want to bring some of that heroism into the real world, so having music from other movies works so well. It's like they couldn't think of anything better themselves except for the same source material they're drawing from anyway. And I love The Prodigy (seeing him have his first true hero moment defending a guy from 3 Gang-Members while everyone looks and doesn't help while hearing The Prodigy's 'Omen' was really awesome, it totally drove the chaos and adrenaline of the scene home).

So...if you haven't figured it out yet I'll boil it all down for you. This is a movie for nerds and non-nerds alike (although nerds might identify a liiiiiiiittle more with it). It's funny. It's violent as hell. It's awesome. I'll have get you excited and yelling for more. When it comes out, go see it. It's going to Kick-Ass.

(P.S. I'm aware of how stupid that last line was. STFU.)

Manga Reviews:After Halloween Sort of Special!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:36:48 -0500

By EvilOmar

Gantz vols. 4-6
Story & Art: Hiroya Oku
Translation: Mathew Johnson
Lettering: Studio Cutie
Publisher: Dark Horse

When I read volume 1 last year, I came out and said it was the best new manga I had read that year. Not watching the anime didn’t spoil anything for me so it was all new and fresh. The series got off to a great start. It was a mixture of the mysteries in Twilight zone with the fun and adrenaline pumping action of Suicide Squad. The second and third volume really brought the series down by having lots of running around and trying to fight the same onion heads. I have to say that this series really picked up with these three volumes. It was really emotional to have the grandmother and grandson team killed by those bird beings and I can’t believe the crazy kid is gone! I really thought he was going to stick around. Kurono finally gets some action, but not from Kishimoto, but a new girl. Damn, way to go Kurono! That really brought a realistic take to the series, which is why I love the series so much. Gantz also packs in a ton of sex and violence which should get just about any male reader's attention. The series is 18+, so the title pages are often scantily-clad pin-up girls carrying guns and who doesn’t like that kind of stuff? Violence is brutal and gory in that slasher flick kind of way. If I have one complaint it's that like most titles in the genre, the action goes on for far too long at times, often extending for volumes before resolution. But what a resolution! Gantz is a completely unpredictable series, and none of the characters are safe. The roster switches up considerably as the series progresses, so there's always a sense of danger. So I wouldn’t pick a favorite character, because I haven’t seen this much death toll in characters since Suicide Squad and Battle Royale. B+

The Ghost in the Shell
Story & Art: Masamune Shirow
Translation: Frederik L. Schodt
Adaptation: Toren Smith
Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Sure there were plenty of cyber-punk stories long before this manga ever hit the stands like Megazone Saga, Bubblegum Crisis, or Maddox 01, but to me when I try to describe cyber punk to someone I always point them to this book. Now let’s get this out of the way Dark Horse has been printing this book since the 90s and everyone has had a problem with the editing they did on two pages. Shirow, himself, did cut that part out long time ago when the book was first printed in USA. later Dark Horse re-released GitS second edition, that one contain unedited version which does include the lesbian threesome. Kodansha Comics decided to choose version without the threesome lesbian. Sure it still doesn’t make any sense, because the book is rated Mature Content, but does it take anything away from the story? Hell no!

If you’ve been living in a cave and don’t know the story of Gits, well it centers on a security team led by Major Motoko Kusinagi. Kusanagi is like most of her team in that they are highly modified humans, or highly humanized machines, depending on your view. They are shells, biomechanical miracles, in which a human brain and spinal column have been places. However, unless you see one of them being made, or notice their cable contact points, they seem utterly human. The team investigates possible cases of government wrongdoing. Their paths often bring them into contact with the less reputable side of human and cyborg traffic. This is where you find that Shirow really shines; by using these contacts, robots in revolution, berserk cyborgs, and illegal memory copying to gradually shift the story from hard science fiction to a semi-metaphysical deep dive into the significance of the information net and alternate life form possibilities.

The question, of course, is not just 'what is human?' but 'what is intelligent life?' Where exactly is the boundary between the shell, whether it be bioengineered or flesh. In a world, where the definition of humanity is already stretched beyond anything previously believed perceivable, Masamune Shirow spins a tale that puts this graphic novel in a league of its own. Rarely is this medium used to ask questions of such probing depth and scientific curiosity. The novel Ghost in the shell does this with a brilliant cast of unlikely covert law enforcement personnel. Shirow does all this, and more, with a hilarious and refreshing touch of humor and prank. The artwork is some of the best in the industry. Mr. Shirow, which is not his actual name, uses his unique skills as a painter to convey his dark, questioning tale. Acrylics, watercolors and various copied textures are used in the renderings. Techniques from inking to scratching, to create effects with paint, are employed with tremendous skill and outstanding precision. For a man that claims that he was never a manga reader before his debut in the market, he does an outstanding job! The man can draw one hell of a woman, what else can I say?

This edition has a forward by the President of Dark Horse Mike Richardson thanking Shirow and Kodansha for allowing them to share with the world this wonderful story. There is also a nice postscript by Shirow himself that tells the story of how this book was made. I have Ghost in the Shell the anime to thank for popularizing the anime genre. If not for that movie or/and Ninja Scroll I would still be paying 30 dollars a pop for two episodes of a series. This book also put manga on the map here in the states and without it no collection is complete. You figure a guy like me would bring the grade down because of the missing lesbian threesome scene, but the story is really that damn good! A+

MW
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Vertical

For years I have heard about this particular manga. Being a huge fan of Tezuka and having read tons of his work, I have to say that this particular book was completely different than the other manga I have read. MW is the name of a deadly gas created by the United States that was stashed on a small Japanese island. This gas leaks out and kills all of the inhabitants of the island except for two: Iwao Garai and Michio Yuki. We learn this through a series of flashbacks 15 years later where Father Garai is haunted by his memory of the dead, and Yuki is simply a madman: he inhaled some of the gas, which gives him occasional attacks of bad health, but worse, it warped his brain, robbing his sanity. Now he takes great joy in using, kidnapping, torturing, and killing people. We find out his reason is just as insane as the acts themselves. Yuki always confesses his crimes to Father Garai, who has a vow to keep the confessions to himself. Towards the end of the book, humanity is hanging on the balance, but will Garai just stand by and watch? The story gets a bit complicated as the killings progress and more characters enter the picture. Basically, Yuki is smart and insane, which is a deadly combination. He has no conscience and does whatever it takes to meet his end which is getting more MW! Garai is somewhat powerless to stop him, since he’s a priest and can’t tell anything to the police. But he also happens to be Yuki’s homosexual lover as well. Originally Garai came on to Yuki, so there’s a weird dynamic between who’s really in charge of this relationship. I have to say for a manga released in the late 70s Tezuka was ahead of his time by introducing the two leading characters as homosexual lovers. The manga is flipped so that you can read it from left to right. If Tezuka set out to prove that he could write an adult oriented story that doesn’t rely on shock value to carry the story….well then mission accomplished. A-

XXXholic vol.14
The Official XXXholic Guide

Story & Art: CLAMP
Translation: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

Just like with Tsubasa I have been completely out of the loop with the XXXholic series. After reading 10 volumes back to back I found it difficult to skip to volume 14, because it seems like I missed a full chunk of story. It’s good and bad, because they pack so much in one volume, but when you miss three it seems more like 9 volumes. This is really sounding repetitive, so this is why I decided to play catch up and also review the official guide to XXXholic in this review. While most of the first 10 volumes had the spotlight on Watanuki, this volume seems to focus more on Domeki. Domeki is requested by Kohane and we dive a little into Kimihiro’s past when his secrets are started to be revealed. By the end of the volume we understand why he’s put up with all the grief and heartache. It’s a very touching explanation particularly the scene between Domeki and Kohane. This particular volume crosses over with Tsubasa when Domeki sees two Syaorans with the eye he shares with Watanuki. Though the two series are interwoven, this one still stands on its own charm and characters. Along with the release of volume 14 there was also the release of the Official Guide. The guide includes a story digest, character introduction, spirit index, glossary, corrections to Tsubasa, a quiz, interviews, and connections to Tsubasa and other Clamp works. Those are just a few of the things included in this book. This is a perfect book for someone that wants to play catch up with XXXholic or new readers to the series. The book itself tends to be a bit confusing, but it still enjoyable. B+ . The guide itself is not a necessity but it is a nice addition with enough new material to warrant it. B

Zone-00 vols.1 & 2
Story & Art: Kiyo Qyo
Translation: Nan Rymer
Adaptation: Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane
Publisher: Tokyopop

From the artist of Trinity Blood comes Zone -00! I finally got around to reading Trinity Blood volumes 1 through 6. Having read Zone, I went back and picked up six volumes because I fell for Oyo’s artwork. The story is really straightforward. We have demons that coexist with humans, but a new drug is making demon’s go back to their old way. So a Saburo Kujo, who unleashes a demon from within and Ango Shima; an exorcist team up to go up against this conflict. In the meantime Renji is being recruited by Tsukihiko to join the other side, and we learn more about the 300 year old past of Majoko and Senryo and Tsukihiko, while Renji and Rouji are prevented from taking their sibling rivalry to the death - for now. While we have seen this plot over and over again, I have to say Qyo’s art is what really carries this story. The character designs are amazing. They look like they come from a Persona (Shin Megami Tensei) videogame or a fighting game. She really knows how to draw some drop-dead gorgeous women, which usually comes with pretty boys. And even though this book has its share of pretty boys, there are some manly men in here too; with rippling muscles too! I really didn’t think I would enjoy this book, but the art really made it an easy and fun read. B-

Halloween Awesomeness...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:28:47 -0500

By joshiebear

Hey kiddies. We had our Halloween party here at West Coast About Heroes HQ a few nights ago and all the pics are finally rolling in. Since we want you to feel like you're a part of the crew, we thought we'd share some of the picks with you.

You'd best believe we threw down some beer pong.

Showing some love for Chris H.

Yeah, this happened a bit here and there....

Friends of the podcast Daniell T and Patty M. Sweet costumes, no?

It occurs to me that my ass is extremely compromised in this picture. MJ is not to be trusted. Too soon?

You can't keep up with the Chris K, and he knows it.

Chris H is gonna diagnose the shit out of Norman Bates...

Justin Q as Tony Stark hanging with Jennie B, as TANK GIRL!!!

I'm about to get punched in the face by Tank Girl (seriously though, as I type this, I still have a soft spot on my jaw).

A Happy (belated) Halloween to you from West Coast About Heroes and Friends.

Oh yeah, and this may or may not have happened....

Pics by Kelvin Blasko, Maria A, Jeptha S, and uh...possibly others.

Beasts of Burden #1

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:30:08 -0500

Writer: Evan Dorkin
Artist: Jill Thompson
Letterer: Jason Arthur

Recently Dark Horse released Beasts of Burden a comic series essentially about a bunch of dogs and cats fighting the supernatural.

I wanted to give this series a fair shake people I really really did but, the phrase "talking dogs & cats" is pretty much an automatic trigger for me to go into cynic mood. Memories of those horrible Look Whose Talking movies are brought up and it sours me a lot towards finding anything positive in anything.

Talking dogs and cats don't work. Point period. They don't work because nine times outta ten whoever is writing the characters doesn't understand the concept of decent characterization. Tell me how many times the dog or cat is written as a lovable, trustworthy animal. Yeah...almost always. Dogs/cats characterized with a "Oh golly" personality are boring, they are unrelateable. I am not saying we should sacrifice an entire story for the sake of good characterization but without decent writing giving voice to the characters, the writer is making the reader work harder to get into a story, and I think that's the problem with this title.

Evan Dorkin's writing is good, you can see glimmers of it here and there, but the characterization of the dogs/cats is just felt to be lacking. The artwork for the issue has a very fairy-tale feel to it which I dig. Jill Thompson's work on the huge frog, utterly disgusting but in a good way. Rare are the times a comic's art can gross me out but there is one scene in this issue where the frog explodes, aww man, seriously, it's pretty sick.

So in short, this first issue of Beasts of Burden is off to a ROCKY start. The writing right now is meh but the artwork by Thompson is promising.

C-

BPRD: 1947 #1 - #3

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:48:37 -0500

Writer(s): Mike Mignola, Joshua Dysart
Artist(s):Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá

BPRD: 1947 is a continuation of the BPRD: 1946 series. This story, like the 1946 series, is set in the older days of the BPRD when Professor Bruttenholm essentially sent soldiers off to investigate weird occurrences across the world. This time the Professor assembles a new group of soldiers to investigate the slaying of several Nazi soldiers throughout Eastern Europe. The way in which these soldiers were slaughtered seems to suggest one vampire making a statement to all of humanity..and well the statement is pretty much "I am gonna fuck all of humanity up" to put it simply. In search of this vampire a group of specialized soldiers are sent to a small village in France. There is more to this but I don't wanna give away anymore of the plot.

Dark Horse has cracked out another Hellboy inspired titled from the mind of Mike Mignola and yet again his style of storytelling kept me hungry for every page in these three issues I was given. I like Mignola folks, this is not news, the man can write a damn good comic. Mignola's style always seems to harken back to the old 50s comic monster tales. There is an oldness to his writing that is both familiar and new. It's hard to put into words I guess but, if you like corny horror movies and comics from the 1950s and 40s, with maybe a bit of mythology thrown in, good money you'll enjoy his stuff. His writing in 1947 is no different then usual but in this instance I think BPRD: 1947 is made even better by his co-writer, Dysart, who seems to flesh out the character's Mignola has created, giving in particular a sense of realism to each soldier in the group that has been dispatched to the small village in France. The artwork by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon is top notch and if your a fan of Umbrella Academy or the older BPRD art styles you'll dig it.

Overall these first three issues of BPRD: 1947 are good. There is some overlap from BPRD: 1946 but not so much where a first time reader couldn't just pick up BPRD: 1947 by itself and get into the story. So check this out if you get a chance, or if your strapped for cash definitely check it out in trade, it's a good tale you'll likely dig.

A+

Episode 127 - Deadpool is the new Wolverine

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:27:16 -0500

This ep we talk about the upcoming Deadpool Corp, Dark Reign, Alan Moore, the Umbrella Academy, trades and more!

Episode 127 -Deadpool is the new Wolverine

Manga Reviews: Akira, Bloody Kiss, Ode to Kirihito, Tsubasa

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:22:16 -0500

By EvilOmar

Akira Vol. 1
Story & Art: Katsuhiro Otomo
Translation: Yoko Umezawa
Adaptation: Linda M. York & Jo Duffy
Publisher: Kodansha Comics

How do I go about reviewing the very book that got me into manga over 20 years ago? How do I review the pinnacle of story-telling that changed the way I looked at comics forever? How long can I keep asking questions? It’s true; Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterpiece was my very first manga. Of course back then it was released in comic format by Epic Comics (Marvel) and in color by Steve Oliff. 10 years later it was reprinted in its original Black and White format by Dark Horse Comics with a new translation. This new version is brought to us by Kodansha Comics (the same publisher that has been in the game for 100 years. To be honest, other than the new introduction by Otomo himself I think that this version is identical to the sold out Dark Horse version.

The story takes place in Neo-Tokyo in the year 2030, which is also thirty-eight years after World War Three began when a new type of bomb exploded over Japan. While riding at night through Old Tokyo where the bomb exploded, a group of bikers led by Kaneda, suddenly come upon a small boy standing in the middle of the road. Before Tetsuo, who is riding at the head of the pack, can swerve out of the way, his motorcycle explodes. The small boy disappears as the military shows up and starts asking questions and then leaves without offering any aid to the injured Tetsuo. Kaneda’s life turns upside down when he encounters a woman named Kei who belongs to an underground revolutionary movement that is fighting against a covert government agency that studies humans with paranormal abilities. It turns out that one of these humans is the little boy that Kaneda's gang ran across that night in Old Tokyo. However, Tetsuo is also one of these superhumans, but he is far more dangerous than the others because his powers are just developing and he doesn't know how to control them. Things go to hell when Tetsuo tries to become the head honcho and ends up killing one of his old friends, Yamagata. There are also rumors and whispers of a small powerful force named Akira.

What can I say? Other than I loved this story and it still holds up after all these years. Otomo is a great storyteller. His artwork is very clean but also detailed and the action sequences were easy to follow. The artwork is top notch, but in the first book the style is quite different than the later installment. The characters look fairly rough to begin with, Kei and the Colonel in particular, though they fall into their usual forms fairly quick. Otomo's astounding attention to detail shines through from the very first panel, however, and the cityscapes are simply breathtaking. The artwork is flipped to accommodate English readers, and it's sometimes a little weird as the flow gets interrupted in spots. The translation is also pretty accurate. The dialogue isn't the greatest prose ever written or anything, but it's a far better translation than one might expect. No book collection is complete without Akira, I’m not talking manga or comics I’m talking books! A+

Bloody Kiss vol. 2
Story & Art: Kasuko Furumiya
Translation: Monica Seya Chin
Adaptation: Magda Erik-Soussi
Publisher: Tokyopop

It seems that the vampire craze has been sweeping the nation because of Twilight. But I guess vampires were always a part of our culture. We’ve had titles in manga like Trinity Blood, Chibi Vampire, and of course Vampire Hunter D (yes, I know that it’s a novel, but there is a manga out there). The premise of this book is pretty simple: After Kiyo inherits her late grandmother's run-down mansion and decides to temporarily move in as she prepares to become a lawyer. The catch is she also inherts two kind, handsome vampires, Kuroboshi and his servant Alshu, that have been living for years with her grandmother. Things turn for the worse when both vampires decide that they need to enroll in school to check out the female student body…well Alshu pretends to be a school nurse. It seems that Kiyo’s feelings for Kuroboshi are stronger than she first thought and is willing to keep him at school by playing a tennis match against Fujiwara. There is also another vampire story called Wishing on a Vampire at the end of the book. The story was interesting although sort of predictable, and is gets pretty repetitive. The idea of the story isn't new and I found it similar to Fruits basket in some aspects. Sometimes the art looked awkward and it got confusing to follow, but it really does fit the book, specially the chibi style used in parts of it. B

Ode To Kirihito
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Vertical

As much of a fan that I am of Tezuka it’s amazing that I never heard of this book until I started looking at Vertical’s back log of manga they have on their website. The plot of this book is pretty simple at first, but turns into a beautiful complex story. It starts with a young doctor named Kirihito Osanai and his efforts to cure a strange disease that deforms its victims so that they look like dog people. He eventually becomes infected with the disease himself and is led on a wild odyssey around the world as he is kidnapped and treated like a fool by many people. During his journey he meets strange allies and stranger foes. Many of the characters are portrayed as neither outright good nor bad. The series also includes a number of references to Christianity; and that is somewhat unusual in Japanese manga. This really just summarizes the plot, but there is a great deal more going on here; with many subplots, a raft of well-developed characters, and actions and reactions that feel completely realistic. Tezuka has created a wonderfully detailed world here, and the truly amazing thing about Ode to Kirihito is that, like all truly well-crafted graphic novels, it feels like we just don't spend enough time in that world. Osamu is simply brilliant and is a master story teller weaving all human emotions in this superbly crafted book. His brilliance lies in developing each character and handling it in such a way that left you gasping and wondering how keen an observer Osamu was. Eight hundred pages just don’t seem enough to read about. I could follow Kirihito’s life for more volumes. The cover is which features a slider that, when moved to the left, reveals Kirihito's face after he has contracted Monmow's disease. The only drawback to the book is that the last 350 pages started dragging the plot down because the pace slowed down dramatically. I had to push myself to get pass some of those pages. But the overall product is still an amazing story. A-

Tsubasa vols. 23 & 24
Story & Art: CLAMP
Translation: William Flanagan
Lettering: Dana Hayward
Publisher: Del Rey

I have been completely out of the loop in Tsubasa. After reading 17 volumes back to back I found it difficult to skip to volume 23 and 24, because it seems like I missed a full chunk of story. I guess if you aren’t familiar with Tsubasa you can check out our huge review of the books. Here is a quick catch-you-up just in case you didn’t want to read all that: Sakura is the princess of Clow and Syaoran is a young archaeologist passionate about the past and about Sakura. Before she can tell him that she, too, loves him, she is drawn into ancient ruins, where her memories, in the form of feathers, are scattered across multiple worlds. Syaoran goes with the dying Sakura to Yuko, the time-space witch, who grants him, along with Kurogane and Fai D. Flowright, the ability to travel across worlds to seek out the feathers. It’s been one hell of a ride with so many cameos by other CLAMP characters. It seems that volume 23 wraps up the story with Syoaran clone. They crammed so much into one volume with Syaoran's battle to stop the clone's rampage, protect Sakura, and salvage Fai's last chance at a life without physical dependency on Kurogane. The line that really got to me was when Sakura asked Syaoran if she could call him Syaoran. This shows that she has grown close to him and wants to express how much she cares about him without using honorifics. Volume 24 is the beginning of the final Tsubasa story arc (it ended in Japan with volume 28 just this month). The flashback sequences were really nice to see in this volume. This series has been epic so far and I can’t wait to see how it ends. A

SPOOKY COMIC ORIENTED GOARD!!!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:54:36 -0500

By joshiebear

Carved myself a Venom Pumpkin today. I'm pretty proud of it considering it took about an hour and a half, start to finish. Now I'm posting it on here because you're my only real friends and it's 1 in the morning, who else would look at this crap?

My Pumpkin wants to eat your brain...

At The Movies With About Heroes West Coast! (Episode 16)

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:23:38 -0500

By joshiebear

In this episode, grab your barf bags and get ready to watch some gore, because the West Coast Crew are watching Peter Jackson's Zombie Epic, Dead Alive (or Brain Dead, depending on where you live)!!!! Pop in your copy and grab your lawn mowers, this one's gonna be messy...

West
Coast About Heroes - Episode 16

We have a twitter account! For more frequent comic-oriented updates, follow us: TWEET. Also, feel free to email us: aboutheroes 'AT' gmail.com.

The Umbrella Academy Dallas TPB Review

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:12:17 -0500

By EvilOmar

Writer: Gerard Way
Artist: Gabriel Ba
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Nate Piekos
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

If I were ever to create a comic it would be released just like Umbrella Academy. I love the way that instead of having one ongoing title like Avengers or Justice League; Way just releases "seasons" whenever he feels a new idea coming on. But how would this work? Because the first book was a well told tale that had a beginning and a definitive ending. How could they keep going with the story of the seven gifted brothers and sisters? I mean they had already done what they had set out to do. Save the world from their all too powerful and crazy sister. How could they top that story? Well, how about we throw time traveling, President Kennedy, and tons of missiles in there!!!?

The story of Umbrella Academy is much like X-men or Doom Patrol, if I had to compare it to other comic books. The Professor X or Doc Niles of the book is Sir Reginald Hargreeves (The Monocle) and he adopts seven infants that will grow up to save the world. They are a dysfunctional group of superheroes who try to live as a dysfunctional family. As kids they just referred to each other by numbers, but as adults they each have their own code name which include; Spaceboy, Rumor, Kraken, Séance, Future, White Violin, and Horror (who didn't live long enough to get a decent codename). Turns that they had to save the world from their sister The White Violin.

This volume takes place after the apocalyptic battle with their sister. It really feels like that even though they saved the world, none of the siblings are out celebrating except for The Séance, who has become a celebrity. Spaceboy has become indolent and does nothing but watch TV, Kraken's working with the police to investigate his mysterious time-travelling brother No.5, The White Violin can't move and doesn't remember anything, The Rumor is dealing with the loss of her voice and is using a notepad to write down what she thinks, and of course the Horror is still six feet under. This is a really depressing start. After the first volume I figure they would be all together and teaming up against alien invaders or something. Without giving to much away things do get better when No. 5 shows back up and together they must stop Temps Aeternalis, which is an organization that has time traveling capabilities that has a plot to kill JFK. Did I mention that there are two time traveling psychos that make things harder for the team?

With his use of eccentric dialogue, nicely paced foreshadowing, and secret histories Way really had me hooked from beginning to end. Normally I grow tired of time traveling stories that feature JFK's assassination, but the reasons given at the end of the book really made me believe all of this was possible. I really didn't think I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did the first volume, because I really underestimated Apocalypse Suite. But, the book had a strong story from the beginning, with just the right amounts of insanity, dark humor, suspense, heart, darkness, and hope to keep me reading it in one sitting and rereading it again before I wrote this review. By the end of the volume, I not only became a believer that Gerard Way could tell a hell of a story using his own characters, but he could write stories featuring the X-men or the JSA or Doom Patrol and make them just as good.

What is a solid story without a prime artist to carry out the visuals? That talent came in the form of the expressive and vivid artwork by Gabriel Ba; whose artwork reminded me of a cross of Mike Mignola, Michael Oeming, Tim Sale, and Guy Davis, but with more of fluidity to his shapes and forms. His layouts are dynamic and can carry the unscripted story by themselves. I enjoyed his art in the first book, but this is a whole new level. His facial expressions were cute and creepy as if Tim Burton or Edward Gorey had design the characters. Ba does a fantastic job of grounding the insane stuff, giving enough attention to details like the two time traveling assassins Hazel and Cha-Cha wearing the cartoon masks. How can something that looks so adorable look menacing at the same time? The colors by Stewart only make the comic stand out from most new books on the market. Those vivid colors sure helped out during the brain splattering scenes.

If you aren't a fan of My Chemical Romance or just refuse to read this book based on its cult following, at least check out the intro by Neil Gaiman praising this book. If you like Hellboy, BPRD, the Goon, and X-men, Scryed, Doom Patrol you'll most likely LOVE Umbrella Academy. If you like weird, fun, and well plotted, paced story buy this book. And of course if you like My Chemical Romance, I'm sure you have already bought this book. It was a real treat to read. I think of UA Dallas in the same terms that I do of Terminator 2 or Aliens; sequels that surpass the original story. I think the one thing that I missed having in this collection is James Jean doing the covers. I'm a huge fan of his and it was a little disappointing not to have him come back again and do the covers. A small gripe really, but you know I will be first in line if these guys put together a third series. A

Manga Reviews: TGIF!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:26:15 -0500

By EvilOmar

Bakugan Battle Brawlers vol. 3
Adaptation: Elizabeth Hurchalla
Letterer: Tomas Montalvo-Lagos
Publisher: Del Rey

Years ago before anime made such a huge impact in America, Viz released a set of ani-manga books called Dirty Pair. Now the Dirty Pair OAVs were only available in Japan or via horrible bootleg copies so these books were a blessing. Fast forward 17 years later and ani-manga is still coming out here. I have seen many Inu-Yasha and Naruto, but I had no clue that there were so many available. In case you don’t know, ani-manga is a manga that takes its panels from the actual show by using stills. Then someone goes in and letters those pictures. Anyway, Bakugan to me seems like the Pokémon formula that has been recycled over and over. However, this book seems to be a little more than just capturing a new monster and keep trying to catch them all eventually. This book introduces Masquerade and his Bakugan Rikimaru and its up to Dan Kuso and Drago to put a stop this new menace. With images taken from the Nelvana production, Battle Brawlers is a great introduction to the world of Bakugan. The images are well chosen, and the resulting book is easy to follow and understand. I can see why kids get into this series and to be perfectly honest part of me really got into the monster battle. C

Fairy Tail vol.8
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translations: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I remember reading the first three volumes of Fairy Tail back to back when they first launched in America. I was already a huge fan of Rave Master so I didn’t have to get my arms twisted to read this book. The first thing that pops up about his artwork is that is looking more and more like Eiichiro Oda and this is not a bad thing. Of course their artwork could look alike because they shared the same studio at one time. Celestial wizard Lucy has always wanted to be in the wizard guild Fairy Tail, and she thinks she's got an in when she

teams up with Natsu, and his bobble-headed cat Happy, Erza, and Gray! While the art work is great, I have to say that the fight scenes are getting dull and repetitive. At times the angles and the way the characters are drawn make the fighting really hard to follow. Nothing is really standing out now, except for Ezra’s armor and weapon ability. What I do like about the book is the fast paced straightforward story. It is definitely filled with comic relief, mostly of the belly-laugh variety, lots of strange antics, and fun dialogue. Add in lots of mass mayhem when the wizards start brawling and it still a good read. B+

Mikansei NO. 1 vol.1
Story & Art: Majiko
Translation: Ray Yoshimoto
Adaptation: Hope Donovan
Publisher: Tokyopop

I’m assuming that when it states that this book is from the artist of Code Geass it means the manga, not the anime. Anyway, Mikansei has an interesting twist on time travel (no, not interesting like Time Crimes). For some reason Neo Takigawa wants to travel to the 21st century from the 23rd to be a pop star of all things. Somehow, because I’m still not sure how, she finds a bottle with weird mist inside and once it cracks open she appears in the year 200X. As soon as she appears in 200X she starts singing a duo with Saya Kudou and the two must get along if they are to make their dreams of becoming a pop sensation come true. Of course it’s not going to be easy when Neo gets on Sayaya’s nerves and she gets put in trashcans because the competition is rough. I can’t describe how fast this book moved. This book was made for people with ADD, because there is no time for anything. In one page Neo is the 23rd century and two pages later she is singing with Saya and for some reason no one wonders where she popped out of. It got aggravating to follow at times, but it took no time to read. I have to say that the art is the best thing about the book. It’s an appealing style that gives certain cuteness to the characters. The sequential art is easy to follow, but it really doesn’t help the story that seems to be everywhere. C

Papillon vol. 4
Story & Art: Miwa Ueda
Translation: Elina Ishikawa
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

Before you read this review I want you to know that unlike Omar, I am not biased at all when it comes to judging people based on their previous work lol. Just messin with ya! Anyway, I love and I really need to stress how much I loveeeee Peach Girl. It was a manga that seemed to me ahead of its time and the artwork was unique back then. I had never heard of Papillon so I decided to play catch up and read the first three books last week. It’s about a girl named Ageha trying to steal the guy she likes from her twin sister Hana. Hana seems to be the pretty and popular one of the twins. It’s amazing how much just happens in four volumes because now Ageha is confident and dating her guidance counselor Kyu, who is all about positive thinking. Now Hana wants to get Kyu’s attention. The characters in the book are very likable and the heroine is easy to relate to if you're a shy or mousy person who wants to stand out, or if you’ve ever been in love with someone from a distance. Ageha's attitude and confidence changes dramatically through a smooth transaction which takes place in the previous three volumes, so it feels like we are growing with her. Although it moves kinda slowly and nothing big happens, the characters deliver it well and Ueda's artwork skillfully captures the expressions of love and heartache. The only bad thing about this book is that it seems to share the same formula that Peach Girl had with all the twist and surprises. I really hope they don’t keep doing that in this book, because it got old in Peach Girl. Overall I’m hooked on the series and can’t wait to find out what happens with all the characters specially Ryusei. Check it out if you love all that teen drama we’ve all been through. A

WCAH Episode 15: Catching Up With The WC Crew...

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0500

By joshiebear

In this episode, the West Coast crew read some listener hate mail and catch up with each other telling various nerd stories. Josh talks about his proud moment of his girlfriend's first 'nerd rage' episode, Chris K talks about seeing Paranormal Activity, We address claims that we're homophobes, We talk a little about comics, it's a good one, kiddies!

West
Coast About Heroes - Episode 15

Uggo 'Sexy' Captain America Outfit:

Also, check out the paranormal activity where Chris H and Josh P can be seen @ 1:05!

Screen-caps from around the web:

We have a twitter account! For more frequent comic-oriented updates, follow us: TWEET. Also, feel free to email us: aboutheroes 'AT' gmail.com.

Manga Reviews: Kamichama Karin Chu, Mad Love Chase, Minima, Trigun Maximum

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:03:29 -0500

By EvilOmar

Kamichama Karin Chu vol. 6
Story & Art: Koge-Donbo
Translations: Althea Nibley
Adaptation: Athena Nibley
Publisher: Del Rey

If the name Koge-Donbo or Kokoro Koharuno ring a bell, it’s because you have heard that name before. Not from the predecessor of this title, but from a small title called Digi Charat. One look at the character’s eyes and you’ll see it was pretty obvious. Anyway, Kamichama Karin Chu is a sequel to Kamichama Karin that was originally published by Tokyopop. Karin is a reincarnation of the goddess Aphrodite and can transform using a ring left to her by her parents. Nya-Ke is her pet cat/goddess, but every magical girl has to have a pet-sidekick. Kazune and Himeka are some kind of reincarnated versions of her husband and daughter who also posses powers and are now living with her. At this point Karin has lost her memory and the baddies are taking advantage of this. The only way to get it back if for Jin to use Professor Karasuma’s power. After reading this volume I think I found my main problem with this book. I don’t know if it’s the translation team or the actual dialogue, but the story is written very amateurish. The explanation of the ability to use magic just doesn’t make any sense and the repetitive dialogue started getting annoying. The art, much like Digi Charat is very cute and that is the main focus, every character keeps getting cuter and cuter, except for the villains (they get no love). And when I mean cute, I mean cute; soo cute your stomach won’t be able to stand it. The story did improve over the last few volumes. The tensions are getting bigger between friends and having Karin lose her memory really threw a wrench in the repetitive plot, but something is still not clicking with this series. However, if you were a fan of the first series or are completely into magical girl stories you are going to love this book. C+

Mad Love Chase vol.1
Story & Art: Kasuza Takashima
Translations: Katherine Schilling
Lettering: Star Print Brokers
Publisher: Tokyopop

I have never read Wild Rock or Man’s Best Friend, so I’m going into this book with an open mind. I guess I’m one of the reviewers that sometimes let’s someone’s previous work influence the way I grade their next book. I guess we all have our faults. Anyway, this book is about Prince Kaito of the Demon World who escaped to the human world so he could avoid an arranged marriage. For some reason he changed to a high school student named Kujou Yamato and his cat Rebun became the school nurse, Haga. Things get complicated when Kaito’s father sends three demons after his son. You have the brains of the outfit, one who becomes Kujou’s best friend, and the third demon is just worried about hooking up with Haga (who don’t forget is really just a cat). Of course it can’t end there, because when these three fail to bring back Kaito, it’s up to his fiancée to go to the human world and get her man. She becomes the guidance counselor Sugita. The art is completely gorgeous. Not only fan service with all the pretty boys, Takashima does great goofy faces and exaggerated body language, that suits the slapstick storytelling very well. It’s not that deep of a story, but the characters and the stupid situations they get into really made it easy to enjoy this book. The only downside I have to point out is that it seems fairly short. I could do with less ads and character sketches as long as I got more story. B+

Minima! Vol.4
Story & Art: Machiko Sakurai
Translation: Athena Nibley
Adaptation: Alethea Nibley
Publisher: Del Rey

I remember in my first review mentioning that I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to grow up without a favorite stuffed animal. Yes, I am admitting that my toy rabbit was my buddy when I was a kid and I would have given anything for him to come to life. Well that’s exactly what happens to Ame Oikawa. She is a shy schoolgirl that happens to be in love with the cutest guy in the school Sasaki; she also finds a stuffed animal that is already alive. Nicori is a little meerkat doll (I still think he looks like a mouse) that has a mind of his own and he lets people know exactly what is on his mind all the time. . Nicori decides to stick around and help Ame win Sasaki’s love. But when he sees that he is causing more problems than fixing them, he decides to leave. He leaves because he loves Ame and he seems to think that everything going bad is his fault. When he leaves this time it was really heart wrenching, because the little guy turns back into a doll. Watching Ame tell him she loves him and the last scene where she is crying and holding his now stuffed animal body was depressing. It really hit me and reminded me of the final scene in the Winnie the Pooh (the books not the Disney series) story. While the artwork is not remarkable, it does manage to tell this story clearly and simply. I’m not sure why this series grew on me, but I’m glad I kept reading it because in the end I would recommend it to not just kids, but adults that are still kids at heart. Which goes to show you sometimes it’s hard to judge manga by one volume, specially the first. A-

Trigun Maximum vols. 12-14
Story & Art: Yashiro Nightow
Translation: Mathew Johnson
Lettering: Replibooks
Publisher: Dark Horse

It’s kind of ironic that my first manga I ever reviewed was Trigun volume 1 for komikwerks.com all those years ago. Alright, it wasn’t that long ago, just six years ago when Omar and I started reviewing manga together. I find it suiting that I review the last volumes of this wonderful series that has taken me six years to read. Not because I’m a slow reader, just because it takes that long to get these out. Before I finished the series I reread the entire Trigun run to refresh my memory and let me tell you, I’m glad I did.

This is it boys and girls! The ride has come to an end. Wolfwood is dead, Livio is having visions of Wolfwood while fighting Elendria, and Vash has his final confrontation with Legato and Knives. And what a hell of a fight between Vash and Legato it is. Brutal, morbid, and bloody to the bitter end even though Vash had to kill Legato to keep save Livio’s life, he still kept in character with his no-kill rule. But he had to because Legato gave him no choice, I guess this is why I have always loved Vash, he tries to find other ways to solve a problem than just shoot someone in the head. For a guy with three guns, he is such a pacifist. The Earth Defense Force can’t think of a way to destroy Knives without killing everyone on the planet. The final fight between Vash and Knives is short and sweet, by the end, I knew how it was going to play out since Vash could never kill Knives and as twisted as Knives is he could never kill Vash. The outcome of the fight is what really made the series for me. Knives taking his brother to get help after he what seems to be mortally wounded and the silly aftermath that takes back the series full circle. The book ends on a lovely 2-page color spread of Vash the Stampede, which I did not expect. To see that 2 page image and the cover of Vash giving a Love and Peace sign really brought joy to this series.

My quick and only gripe about is the untranslated sound effects. Sometimes I can overlook it, but at other times, such as in Trigun, translations could really come in handy. The more the series progresses, the more the story relies on the artwork because it’s so actiony. I still love the series and will continue to love it, because believe it or not after 12 volumes it does get easier to understand. Vash is fighting Knives, who is absorbing plants to annihilate the human race, and Livio fighting Elendria while having flashback and the little details as to how all this comes about is lost due to sound effects remaining untranslated! The only words that can be found for pages at a time are the sound effects, and I need every little hint I can get as to what’s happening in the story. But the more you read, the more you get used to it and you can even start making your own sound effects. Just a small gripe for an otherwise fantastic ride. So long Vash and the rest of the gang! And as always: LOVE AND PEACE!!!! A

Manga Reviews: Second Week in a row!

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:52:56 -0500

By EvilOmar

Black Jack vols. 6 & 7
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Vertical
Sometimes I find it difficult to review Tezuka’s work because after all the man is the God of comics and how do you criticize perfection? I remember being so excited when Viz first released these stories in their short-lived manga Anthology Manga Vizion. It was upsetting that they didn’t continue publishing the adventures of the tortured renegade Doctor. Along came Vertical to the rescue and this translation is far superior to its predecessor. Like the previous five books, these volumes are oversized with 14 different stand alone stories per volume. Black Jack is a complex individual; he is a man who professes to care only about money but who is deeply concerned for the well-being of all his patients. He is a man with no limits in the medical field and even though he works miracles, not everyone has a happy ending. The stories are a fantastic mix of sci-fi, romance, horror, and of the human will to survive. One of my favorite things about Tezuka’s art is that he never recycles any of his character designs (unless they make a cameo) and the secondary characters all stand out in their own unique way…I think I developed a soft spot for Pinoko after reading The Two Pinokos story. Camelliah Nieh does a stupendous job with the translations making the characters sound so real and as true to the Japanese as possible. I literally read the book from cover to cover twice and have passed it around to other friends to get them to read comics. If you are a fan of House, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, or even Scrubs you are missing out on such a great series if you aren’t reading this book.A

Karakuri Odette vol.1
Story & Art: Julietta Suzuki
Translation: Aimi Tokutake
Adaptation: Peter Ahlstrom
Publisher: Tokypop

There are certain things I’m a sucker for in life: Giant robots, two chicks and one cup, X-men, and for some reason robot girls trying to become human. Sure we have seen this kind of story since the days of Pinocchio, but it’s always a nice twist when the thing trying to become human is a cute girl any guy would fall for. It would have been really easy for Suzuki to turn Odette into an annoying Bimbo (yes, they do exist), but for some reason she comes across as a naïve, gentle, and caring android that you end up cheering for in the end. While the first few chapters get a little repetitive, I still found myself wondering what she was going to come home and ask for next. Kind of like Arale in Doctor Slump, but not funny. When she asked for weaker arms, because she didn’t want to stand out during gym class I wasn’t expecting her to get stuck in a well with her friend. During the Christmas season Professor Yoshisawa leaves Odette alone, she finds herself in company of Chris Number Seven, yep another android that ends up playing the game of Life with her. The art in this book is your typical shojo art. But it is refreshing to see that you won’t find any kind of fan service in this robot chick story. A -

NG Life volume 1
Story & Art: Mizohu Kusanagi
Translation: Nan Rymer
Publisher: Tokyopop

Kind of funny that the day after I watch the episode of Doctor Who entitled The Fires of Pompeii, I end up reading this book Now stay with me cause the plot can get a little confusing, well just the players can get confusing. In the city of Pompeii Sirix was becoming a champion in the gladiator arena. His best friend, who was always at his side, was named Loleus. His love interest was the lovely Serena. All this came to an abrupt end when Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the city. Of course nobody survived the disaster, but it seems that their souls are occupying bodies in modern-day Japan. Sirix is a high school student named Keidai Saeki, his best friend is now a girl named Mii Serizawa, his sister is his mother, and his arch nemesis is his father. The biggest twist of fate comes in the reincarnated body of Serena, who turns out to be his new neighbor named Yuuma, and happens to be a boy. Not only is Keidai the only person who remembers everyone’s past lives, but he’s managed to creep out Yuuma, who I still think looks like a girl. While this is all some great ingredients for a confusing love story, it is really overshadowed by the unfunny comedy that is all over this book. It seems that in every other page Keidai is freaking out about something and over reacts with jaw dropping faces. The art's a little rough on the edges, but it has a warm feel and brings out the characters' personalities, but like I mentioned before, sometimes a little too much. Plenty of clichés in the story, but I still have hope that after the play something happens to the other characters to make them remember. C+

Oh My Goddess! vols. 9-12
Story & Art: Kosuke Fujishima
Translation & Adaptation: Dana Lewis & Toren Smith
Publisher: Dark Horse

How could I only put one exclamation mark when I write Oh My Goddess? I believe three exclamation marks wouldn’t do the book justice. Okay, in case you don’t know what Oh My Goddess! is about, here is a real real quick recap: Keiichi Morisato accidently dials a goddess hotline and ends up with three goddesses. These three Goddesses are Belldandy, who Keiichi is madly in love with, her older sister Urd, and her younger sister Skuld. These four volumes have so much story pact in them it’s insane. From Keiichi turning into a girl a storyline that takes a turn for the darker as Urd's evil half is exploited by the demonic Mara, partly as another scheme to drive Belldandy back to Heaven but also simply to return to the friendly relationship she enjoyed with Urd when they were kids. Mara being Mara once again fails to fully consider all ramifications of her plan... and the resulting two Urds may both die before the story is over. By far the greatest OMG story comes from these volumes. The sad story about Keiichi’s dog literally brought tears to my eyes, as I’m sure any animal lover would get teary eyed too.

What are the odds of someone making the same mistake twice? Well, leave it to Keiichi to beat the odds when he manages to dial up Peorth, a beautiful goddess who happens to know what Keiichi's secret desires are, and wants to grant him his fantasy.
Peorth will stop at nothing to get Keiichi to admit his desire for intimacy. Showing up nude in the bath to scrub his back? Getting into his bed in black lingerie? Trying to get him to drown so she can perform mouth-to-mouth? She'll do it. Things only get worse when Peorth meddles with Urd's love potions, accidentally creating one that makes ANY woman Keiichi looks at fall in love with him. And wouldn't you know it, his sister Megumi is visiting for the day! Keiichi and Belldandy's love for each other is put through trial after trial, as Peorth attempts not only to seduce Keiichi, but to make Belldandy remember an insult she gave Peorth long ago. Fujishima's characters and their relationships continue to evolve in these volumes with Belldandy and Keiichi taking a backseat for the first two volumes while Mara, Urd, and Skuld step into the spotlight. The art is, as always, the gorgeous mix of cartoon-like style and realism that Fujishima becomes increasingly adept at. It seems that in these volumes Fujishima is finally comfortable with his characters and it is just plain gorgeous. Do yourself a favor and buy these books! A+

Reservoir Chronicle Tsubasa: Character Guide 2
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Adaptation: Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane
Publisher: Del Rey

Since CLAMP has done so much work over the years, sometimes I wish I knew what character came from what manga in the Tsubasa books. Over 20 volumes deserves a character and world guide. Put out by the Shonen Magazine Editorial Department it is a bit like the Clamp No Kiseki, with a little more information in a more manga-style format as opposed to the magazine/art book type. There are a lot of fun tidbits other than just a guide to the characters. Pre-production character sketches, the original color art, and artist contributions are probably some of my favorite parts of this guide. There are other things that seem to just take up room to fill in the book like an advice column by Fai and the personality test. The new manga in the back is very short and doesn’t affect the continuing story in any way. The mini interview did peek my interest. Reading about how CLAMP is tailoring their traditional shojo style of art and storytelling to fit into a shonen magazine was something I didn’t know. They’re very conscious of the different expectations shonen readers have, both in art and storytelling. Ohkawa has a good sense of humor and makes the interview an enjoyable read and I love how she draws herself. I think that as long as you've read the manga, this book provides no information about the stories or characters that you don't already know. But if you are a completist, like me, you know you are going to purchase this book. C

It's a good thing Superman has Lois keeping him happy in the sack...

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:38:24 -0500

By joshiebear

I mean, he's the only one who can do that stuff, how can we really tell him HOW he should do it!?