Manga Review: Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku 1 by Yuji Kaku Since time immemorial, humans have sought the secrets of immortality and eternal youth. Medical science has gradually improved people’s chances of living long, healthy lives, but the lure of a quick fix, an “elixir of life” remains strong. Thus, in an alternate 18th Century, when the… Continue reading Manga Review: Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku 1
Tag: Japan
Anime Review: Let’s Go Kaikigumi
Anime Review: Let’s Go Kaikigumi Our protagonist never has a name, but we do learn that he is a high school student somewhere in suburban Japan who is unusually afraid of ghosts. His family lives in a cheap rental, and his father collects model-building magazines. (We never actually see the protagonist’s parents.) One evening while… Continue reading Anime Review: Let’s Go Kaikigumi
Anime Review: Iron Wok Jan
Anime Review: Iron Wok Jan The Gobancho family restaurant is one of the top Chinese food places in Tokyo, serving authentic Chinese cuisine as well as innovative chef creations inspired by the Chinese tradition. The staff have a strong loyalty to the restaurant and are justly proud of their skills. So it’s an affront when… Continue reading Anime Review: Iron Wok Jan
Manga Review: The Magnificent Bastard: The Legend of Keiji 1
Manga Review: The Magnificent Bastard: The Legend of Keiji 1 Created by Keiichiro Ryu, written by Mio Aso, art by Tetsuo Hara The Sengoku (Warring States) period of Japanese history is drawing to an end. In what will in modern times be called Gunma Prefecture, there lives a man named Maeda Keiji. The adopted son… Continue reading Manga Review: The Magnificent Bastard: The Legend of Keiji 1
Comic Book Review: DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #8: Legion of Super-Heroes
Comic Book Review: DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #8: Legion of Super-Heroes edited by Jack C. Harris We’re skipping quite a few stories of the Legion of Super-Heroes since the last digest I posted about. This collection reprints the Legion stories from Adventure Comics #355-357 plus stories from Superboy #198 and #202. By this point,… Continue reading Comic Book Review: DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #8: Legion of Super-Heroes
Book Review: Strange Houses
Book Review: Strange Houses by Uketsu A young couple is in the market for a house, and they’ve found one that might meet their needs. It’s practically new, the exterior is attractive, and it has all the modern conveniences. But something about the interior layout feels off. They decide to consult their friend Uketsu, who… Continue reading Book Review: Strange Houses
Magazine Review: Pulp Review #22: Vulture Coast
Magazine Review: Pulp Review #22: Vulture Coast edited by John P. Gunnison As I mentioned in my review of High Adventure #200, that pulp reprint magazine was known as Pulp Review for its first 23 issues, and I have some of those earlier issues, that I hope to get to before I die. Let’s look… Continue reading Magazine Review: Pulp Review #22: Vulture Coast
TV Review: Human Vapor
TV Review: Human Vapor (Japanese title “Gasu Ningen”) When Professor Sano is killed by a mysterious mist on live television, it’s a big case. So much so that police detective Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri) is pulled off suspension to lead the investigation. He has mixed feelings about running into Kyoko Kano (Yu Aoi), a television… Continue reading TV Review: Human Vapor
Manga Review: Homunculus Volume 1-2
Manga Review: Homunculus Volume 1-2 by Hideo Yamamoto “Car Man” is called that because he’s living in his car. For the last few weeks, he’s placed his automobile at the edge of a city park, marking the border between a homeless camp and the fancy hotel he used to visit frequently. He hasn’t quite fit… Continue reading Manga Review: Homunculus Volume 1-2
Manga Review: Billy Bat 1
Manga Review: Billy Bat 1 by Naoki Urasawa with Takashi Nagasaki Billy Bat is a private detective in a world of anthropomorphic animals. He’s a hard-boiled type in the noir tradition with a cynical personality who refuses to use his wings unless he absolutely has to. (Or perhaps he can’t fly at all.) His current… Continue reading Manga Review: Billy Bat 1