Manga Review: The Crater by Osamu Tezuka In the late 1960s, Osamu Tezuka’s career was facing a crisis. He was still popular, with publishers quite willing to buy more of the kid-friendly material he’d become famous for. But he wasn’t a trend-setter anymore. The new generation of manga creators was into gekiga, more serious and… Continue reading Manga Review: The Crater
Tag: gangsters
Movie Review: Tampopo
Movie Review: Tampopo (1985) directed by Juzo Itami Truck drivers Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki) and Gun (Ken Watanabe) get hungry on a long haul, and stop at Ramen Lai-Lai, a failing restaurant. To be honest, the food’s not all that good, but Goro gets into a fight with local drunk Pis-Ken (Rikiya Yasuoka), who’s being rude to… Continue reading Movie Review: Tampopo
Book Review: Enter the Jackal
Book Review: Enter the Jackal by Jonathan W. Sweet As you may have noticed by now, I’m a fan of the pulps. But I’m certainly not the most enthusiastic one, or most knowledgeable. Some folks have made the pulp magazines their main focus. Jonathan W. Sweet runs a reprint press, Brick Pickle Pulp, and does… Continue reading Book Review: Enter the Jackal
Manga Review: Orochi: The Perfect Edition 2
Manga Review: Orochi: The Perfect Edition 2 by Kazuo Umezz Quick recap: Orochi is a seemingly immortal being in the shape of a young woman who can pass anywhere from high school to college age. While her name evokes the eight-headed serpent of Japanese folklore, Orochi does not appear to be of ill intent. She’s… Continue reading Manga Review: Orochi: The Perfect Edition 2
Movie Review: Lady Snowblood
Movie Review: Lady Snowblood (1973) directed by Toshiya Fujita Yuki (Meiko Kaji) was born in prison, the result of her mother Sayo (Miyoko Akaza) seducing multiple guards in order to get pregnant. Sayo’s husband and son had been murdered, and herself raped and tortured, by four criminals as a byproduct of the criminals’ scheme to defraud… Continue reading Movie Review: Lady Snowblood
Anime Review: Beastars Season Two
Anime Review: Beastars Season Two This review will contain SPOILERS for Season One, so you might want to check out that review if you haven’t seen that season first. In a world where various species of animal people share an uneasy co-existence, Cherryton High is considered a prime example of integrated education. Tensions have been… Continue reading Anime Review: Beastars Season Two
Magazine Review: High Adventure #169: The Fort Terror Murders
Magazine Review: High Adventure #169: The Fort Terror Murders edited by John P. Gunnison The main feature in this pulp reprint originally appeared in Complete Detective Novel Magazine in December 1931, but the text comes from its reprint in Mystery Novels Magazine Quarterly in Summer 1932. Both magazines had relatively short runs, so it is… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #169: The Fort Terror Murders
Webtoon Review: Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters
Webtoon Review: Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters In the near future of Charter City, the metropolis has been largely transformed by the innovations of tech billionaire Jonathan Rook. Rook Unlimited supplies the maglev trains, communications devices and security systems the city uses, and even sponsors a top high school. But within the city lurks… Continue reading Webtoon Review: Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters
Webtoon Review: Kid Cosmic Season Two
Webtoon Review: Kid Cosmic Season Two Quick recap of Season One: Comic book-obsessed orphan Kid discovers five alien Cosmic Stones of Power, turns them into rings, and takes the name Kid Cosmic. He’s joined by his grandfather Papa G, teen waitress Jo, little girl Rosa and cat Tuna Fish to form the Local Heroes. Together… Continue reading Webtoon Review: Kid Cosmic Season Two
Movie Review: Raw Deal (1948)
Movie Review: Raw Deal (1948) directed by Anthony Mann Pat Regan’s (Claire Trevor) man is in jail. Joe Sullivan (Dennis O’Keefe) took a fall for Rick Coyle (Raymond Burr) for robbery. Rick owes Joe $50,000 as his cut for taking the rap. Joe could make parole in two, or more likely three years if he keeps… Continue reading Movie Review: Raw Deal (1948)