Movie Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

"Aunt Witch" is fast on the uptake.

Movie Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) directed by Mamoru Hosoda Makoto thinks of herself as an ordinary high school girl, neither brainy or stupid, neither athletic or clumsy, usually good luck slightly outweighing the bad. She also enjoys hanging out with her buddies Koutaro (a serious lad who wants to be a doctor… Continue reading Movie Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Manga Review: Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Volume 1

Manga Review: Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Volume 1 by Aidalro Nene Yashiro is in her first year at high school. She has a crush on one of the older boys, Minamoto. But Nene’s been unlucky in love before (the last boy said she had legs like a daikon radish), and Minamoto’s super popular so getting his attention… Continue reading Manga Review: Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Volume 1

Manga Review: Devilman vs. Hades, Vol. 3

Manga Review: Devilman vs. Hades, Vol. 3 story by Go Nagai, art by Team Moon Note: SPOILERS for the first two volumes follow immediately. This miniseries crossover project was made to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of two Go Nagai series, Devilman and Mazinger Z. The first, as long time readers of this blog will remember,… Continue reading Manga Review: Devilman vs. Hades, Vol. 3

Anime Review: Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan

Why is one of Japan's most successful manga creators broke?

Anime Review: Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan Kishibe Rohan is one of the truly great manga creators. He’s known for his superhuman drawing and inking speed (when he’s motivated), weird plotlines, and being eccentric and egotistical. What is not known to the general public is that he’s actually superhuman, possessing a Stand Power named “Heaven’s Door”… Continue reading Anime Review: Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan

Manga Review: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Volume 10

Manga Review: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Volume 10 by Koji Kumeta When Nozomu Itoshiki, a man whose very name can be misread as “despair”, attempts to hang himself from a tree, he’s saved/nearly killed by Kafuka Fuura, an insanely cheerful and optimistic schoolgirl. Since he’s still alive, Nozomu decided to show up at his new job the… Continue reading Manga Review: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Volume 10

Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventures May 1954

Cover by Clarence Doore, neither of these scenarios appear in this issue.

Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventures May 1954 edited by Harry Harrison This is the final issue of the magazine, one of the Lester del Rey-edited issues of which I reviewed earlier. We open the issue with “The Science in Science Fiction”, an editorial by Harry Harrison. He’s thrilled about the expansion of types of science… Continue reading Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventures May 1954

Manga Review: Iron Wok Jan! 2

Manga Review: Iron Wok Jan! 2 by Shinji Saijyo, with supervisor Keiko Oyama Jan Akiyama’s grandfather Kaiichiro was one of the two greatest chefs of Chinese cuisine in Japan. He took Jan into the mountains for years to train him in the culinary arts. But Kaiichiro Akiyama died, and his final instructions were for Jan… Continue reading Manga Review: Iron Wok Jan! 2

Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2

Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2 by various creators. Carl Lucas, a juvenile delinquent, straightened himself out and was trying to become a respectable citizen when he was framed for heroin possession. An unruly prisoner, he eventually ended up at Seagate Prison, where he volunteered for medical experiments conducted by Dr.… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2

Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76

Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76 by Gosho Aoyama Time for three more volumes of our favorite manga about a teen genius detective stuck in the body of a little boy! Volume 74 begins with the conclusion of the hostage situation in Kogoro Mouri (Richard Moore in the American version)’s office. After… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volume 33

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volume 33 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: High-schooler Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami (death spirit) partially of mortal human descent. As such, his powers are less than those of full-blooded shinigami, and he must use special booster items to perform his job as a psychopomp. Rinne’s assisted in bringing wandering spirits to… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-ne Volume 33