Anime Review: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo

Clockwise from lower right: Giorno, Buccaratti,Mista, Fugo, Narancia and Abbacchio.

Anime Review: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo Giorno Giovanna never knew his father. Given that his biological father was the vampiric supervillain known as DIO, this is probably for the best. His mother named the product of her one-night fling Haruno Shiobana, but after she married and settled down in Italy, Giorno changed his name… Continue reading Anime Review: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo

Manga Review: Berserk Volumes 31 & 32

Manga Review: Berserk Volumes 31 & 32 by Kentaro Miura Heads up, there will be major SPOILERS for earlier volumes as I briefly recap the series so far as this first review is so far into the story. This seinen (men’s) manga series began publication in 1989 and is still running. Or perhaps I should… Continue reading Manga Review: Berserk Volumes 31 & 32

Movie Review: Tales from Earthsea

Sparrowhawk arrives!

Movie Review: Tales from Earthsea (2006) dir. Goro Miyazaki There is something rotten in the Two Lands. Wizards are losing their powers, dragons are fighting each other, animals and children are dying of disease, storms are getting worse, slavery and drug addiction are on the rise. And also, Prince Arren has just committed an unspeakable crime.… Continue reading Movie Review: Tales from Earthsea

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7,8 & 9

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7, 8 & 9 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami, a psychopomp who helps ghosts and wandering spirits move on to the next life. Because he’s part human, Rinne’s powers are relatively weak and he must use gadgets, often expensive, to bolster his attempts. Moreover, due to… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7,8 & 9

Book Review: The Edge of Reason

Book Review: The Edge of Reason by Melinda Snodgrass Albuquerque, NM police officer Richard Oort has many things. Good looks, musical talent and training, a fine education and a passion for police work. He even has some dark secrets. But it’s what Richard doesn’t have that makes him special. When Richard saves a young woman… Continue reading Book Review: The Edge of Reason

Book Review: The Best of R.A. Lafferty

Book Review: The Best of R.A. Lafferty by R.A. Lafferty Raphael Aloysius Lafferty (1914-2002) was one of those “American originals” you hear about every so often. His writing takes some form from the American tall tale, some from Native American yarn spinning, and mixes it into a style all his own. This anthology collects 22… Continue reading Book Review: The Best of R.A. Lafferty

Manga Review: Deka Kyoshi Vol. 2

Manga Review: Deka Kyoshi Vol. 2 by Tamio Baba When fourth-grade teacher Ms. Shimizu is found fallen from the roof of her condo, it’s ruled a suicide. But when the police receive a message claiming that someone in her homeroom class was responsible, and that more incidents are to follow, they decide to take action.… Continue reading Manga Review: Deka Kyoshi Vol. 2

Book Review: A Wrinkle in Time

Book Review: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle There is a darkness between the stars, the Black Thing that hates the light and brings shadows to the worlds it touches. Some worlds have fallen completely to the darkness. Earth is not one of them. Not yet. Hope still lives there, and perhaps something even… Continue reading Book Review: A Wrinkle in Time

Book Review: People of the Book: A Decade of Jewish Science Fiction & Fantasy

Book Review: People of the Book: A Decade of Jewish Science Fiction & Fantasy edited by Rachel Swirsky & Sean Wallace One of the perils of reading a lot of anthologies is that you see a fair amount of overlap in stories, particularly in themed anthologies. (I include “Best of the Year” in that as… Continue reading Book Review: People of the Book: A Decade of Jewish Science Fiction & Fantasy

Movie Review: The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb (2006)

Movie Review: The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb (2006) directed by Russell Mulcahy. Most history books leave out some details of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s reign. For example, they won’t tell you that King Tut was a winged superhero who fought an army of demons led by the Great Beast Set. Nor do they mention that Tut… Continue reading Movie Review: The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb (2006)