Some changes in RL has forced me to re-evaluate my Japanese studies. In other words, I have too many other things to keep up the pace I started last month. It hit me that had to come up with another plan when it was almost half way through the month and I hadn’t done anything to complete my kana studies. So, I did what any other sane person would do. I went online to find something more structured, and joined Smart.fm. I’ve head about this site for while, but my lack of progress convinced me that it might not be a bad idea to check them out. And, they’re actually not too bad. I’ve started my first goal, which is of course, Mastering Hiragana. This goal is a better way to learn the kana, because it not only takes you through the hiragana, it has audio, shows you the proper strokes for writing it, and has a typing of the romanji on the keyboard. And it doesn’t go in order, like I was doing with my memorizing. This has been really helpful in teaching me to identify characters faster. It quizzes with multiple choice and by having you type the…
“Time of the Angels”, the 4th episode of the new series of Doctor Who brings back one of my personal favorites of the new monsters; the Weeping Angels. In the episode “Blink” from the 3rd Series with the 10th Doctor and Martha Jones, Steven Moffat introduced these eerie beings that move in an instant, but quantum lock when they are looked at by a sentient being. “Blink” was such an awesome episode, that we were all dying for their return. And they do, but with some missteps. The biggest misstep for me is the return of River Song. In “Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead”, River was a great character. She knew the Doctor and had a journal of her adventures with her even through he didn’t know her. “Forest of the Dead” was her last. In “Time of the Angels”, she’s back as a past incarnation of herself. And this past River is really obnoxious. She’s brash, and very forward with the Doctor. Yes, I know they were married, and he’s trusted her some really important things (like his name), but seeing her in this episode really makes you wonder what he saw in her. I know Moffat…
Being a “Projectionist” can bring lots of money and fame, but only if you are good at it. If you want o become one, first you need to have the power to cast a four-dimensional image. The it is really important to be able to hone and perfect you projecting abilities. The best place to do that, of course, is at a high school filled with other aspiring projectionists. Step into this multi-dimensional world with a very special student body and see how each student deals with his or her special gifts! By Ayami Kazama Publisher: CMX Age Rating: Everyone Genre: Romance/Fantasy Price: $9.99 Rating: Buy This Book It’s an interesting world that is created in The World I Create, where completely realistic “projections” are created for entertainment. It’s a lot of hard work, and can be very rewarding. In this volume, we are introduced to 8 students, all attending school to learn to perfect their abilities. The all have different reasons for wanting to be a projectionist, but in the end this title just doesn’t distinguish itself well enough from other rom-com titles. The first volume is comprised of 4 stories that feature two characters each it. It’s usually…
“The Beast Below”, the second episode of the new Doctor Who series is one that takes the Doctor and Amy to the far future, where humanity has been forced to leave the Earth, and whole countries become space ships searching for a new home. Of course, they land on Britain’s ship, where the Doctor immediately pulls Amy into mystery and adventure in an underworld that is dark in more ways than one. This episode is a good example of why I enjoy Steven Moffat’s writing style so much. He throws the characters into an unknown situation, usually with a dark or menacing feel to it, but is able to turn it around at the end, and it doesn’t feel forced. There is a dark secret on Starship UK, one that keeps the people in check with creepy Smiler enforcers, and in blissful ignorance. I won’t say anymore, as I try to keep these impressions as spoiler free as possible, but suffice to say, it’s a national shame, all the more because it didn’t have to be that way. Amy really shines in this episode, as she first tries to save the Doctor from the truth, and then later saves him…
Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze, these deadly creatures, mushi, came into terrifying being. And they still exist and wreak havoc in the world today. Ginko, a young man with a sardonic smile, has the knowledge and skill to save those plagued by mushi…perhaps. By Yuki Urushibara Publsiher: Del Rey Manga Age Rating: 16+ Genre: Drama Price: $12.95 Rating: Buy This Book The back cover text make this book sound more sinister than it actually is. This first volume introduces the concept of the mushi, and the man we will follow who has the arcane knowledge to deal with them, Ginko, the Mushishi. Through a series of episodic stories, we see how mushi and men can interact, and how Mushishi bridge the gap and try to foster understanding between them. Ginko is a wandering Mushishi. He studies and tries to understand mushi. He is often called to a village that needs his expertise, but can also stumble upon people in need of help, even if they don’t realize it themselves. Strange and ancient, mushi are not actually malicious,…
Who’s Going Down? ICv2 reports that manga sales will drop to below 1000 volumes for 2010. The drop in sales was seen more in bookstores than in the direct market, and they speculate that shojo fans getting older, distracted by other things (Twilight) and lack of hit shonen anime is hurting sales more than scanlations. Some of these elements make sense. I can see the drop in sales from bookstores being more, since ordering through the direct market through Previews can often net you a 30% discount on many titles. It’s my preferred way to buy. And fans, male or female, have priorities shifts as they get older, especially in the 20’s, where kids become adults and must establish themselves in the real world. I know that’s where I stopped collecting comics and watching anime. Work and starting a family became much more important. I wonder though how much the “Cartoon Network” effect really drove sales. I can see it driving the sales for first volumes, but like the anime that they are based on them, once a series hits a lather, rinse, repeat cycle, no amount of TV promotion will keep a series selling. Personally, I’m not concerned about…
Here’s where it all starts: the beginning of the everything–the world, the gods, and even humanity. Mighty Kronos, the most terrifying of all the Titans, reigns as the unchallenged tyrant of the cosmos… until his son, the god Zeus, stands up and takes on his own father in a battle intense enough to shatter the universe! Who will emerge triumphant? By George O’Connor Publisher: First Second Age Rating: All Ages Genre: Action/Mythology Price: $9.99 Rating: Buy This Book A recent re-watching of the classic Clash of the Titans has inspired me to write this review. I’ve been in love with mythology since I was first introduced to the Greek myths in the 5th Grade. They were my gateway to other mythologies, such as Norse and Egyptian. Now, the Greek myths are getting a face lift of sorts. They are being retold in the way they were meant to be told; as tales of action and adventure, with monsters to be fought and maidens to be rescued. Zeus: King of the Gods tells the tale of not just Zeus’ beginnings, but also of the world and the Olympian gods themselves. The Greek gods are like the original superheroes. They possess super…
Recently the TV show Bones showed it’s 100th episode. Usually these episodes are about fun, looking back and celebrating making it for 5 years, an accomplishment that a lot of shows don’t get. The episode “The Parts in the Sum of the Whole” got only one of these right. This episode retconned a whole case from before the first episode, where Booth and Brennan met and worked together. It was nice to see Zac Addy again (yeah Zac! How I’ve missed you!), and Brennan was her old “straight-forward, resort to violence” self, but the whole dynamic of the lab was off. Zac and Hodges were at each others throat. Angela was dragged in to do the reconstructions, and Booth and Brennan were trying to jump into each other pants. So over the course of one year, Angela creates and becomes a compute graphics whiz, Zac and Hodges are the best of buddies (most likely, but still doesn’t feel right), and Booth and Brennan then take on 4+ years of cases without a hint of what happened in the first case? I don’t think so. It stretches my suspension of disbelief just a little too far. What was the real deal…
On Saturday, March 17, 2010, Carl Macek died of a heart attack. Most people know and remember him as the man that brought the US anime through the creation of Robotech. But to me, he will always be the co-owner of a small comic shop in Orange, California called 21st Century Comics. I think I may have met him once, but I almost never spoke to him. I was far too shy. It was in the early 80’s, about my freshman year in high school. My older brother came home with this video tape that he’d bought. It was in one of those black cases like video rental stores used for their VHS tapes, with what I think was a golden rod-colored xerox for a cover. It was Macross, Carl Macek and Harmony Gold’s first attempt at bringing Macross over to the US. That opening that is ridiculed in Bad English dubs that starts “Soldiers of Future from deep space…”? Yeah, that where it came from. My brother had bought it at Macek’s comic shop. It was a small shop at that time, on the north end of Orange Circle, I believe. The Orange Circle is a two way street…
It’s the third episode of the new season of Doctor Who. In the first two episodes (reviews to follow), Matt Smith has proven himself to be the Doctor, and no one can dispute this taking the role. Karen Gillian, his new companion of Amy Pond, proved herself a worthy companion in the second episode. This episode hits it’s marks and follows the pattern first set up by Russell T. Davies with the revival of the series. And I guess I’m alright with it. Some consistency is good, but at the same time I’d hate for the series to get into a rut. Just like every season before it, this season is following the patter of first taking the new companion to the future, and then they taking them to the past to meet some historical figure. In this episode, it’s to meet Winston Churchill, during the blitz of London. Now, I wasn’t bother with the Doctor already knowing Churchill. It was a nice change to see him know a historical figure instead of always seeing him meeting them for the first time. He’s traveled throughout Earth’s history for a good amount of 900 years. You’d think he’d know some of…
Everyone’s afraid of Koguma– the biggest, most intimidating guy at school. So when Shinobu accidentally spills milk on his bag, you can bet she’s pretty scared about what’s going to happen next. Turns out the bag contains an antique kimono, of all things. It belongs to Koguma’s grandmother, who runs a kimono shop. To make up for ruining the outfit, Shinobu’s going to have to start modeling kimonos as part of grandma’s big plan to market her products to younger customers. Big, scary Koguma’s into kimonos? Turns out there’s a lot no one knew about this tall, quiet boy, and now Shinobu’s out ot change that. But in doin so, will she also end up with a new boyfriend? By Miku Sakamoto Publisher: CMX Age Rating: Teen Genre: Romance/Comedy Price: $9.99 Rating: Buy This Book I’ve never been interested in fashion much, not as a teenage, and certainly not now, so I was wary about Stolen Hearts. The novelty of being set in a kimono shop did spark my curiosity, but I really wasn’t expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised then by the very sweet romance and great characters that I found in it’s pages. The title starts out like…
More Simon and Schuster Sightings The sharp eyes of Michelle Smith of Soliloquy in Blue has spotted some more manga listings on Simon and Schuster from Viz. Two of them we already knew about; Grand Guigol Orchestra and Cross Game. But then four new titles showed up scheduled to come out at the end of the year. Kurozakuro is scheduled for November, and the rest, Kamisama Kiss, Psyren, Itsuwaribito are scheduled for December. I can’t say any of them really inspire me, but I’ve been surprised before. I am saddened by the news of no sign of Story of Saiunkoku. I loved the anime, and am so dying to read the manga! Hopefully the new Kaori Yuki title, Grand Guigol Orchestra, will help to pass the time. Del Rey Ousts X-Men: Misfits & Wolverine: Prodigal Son The weekend ended with a bit of downer as news and confirmation of the cancellation of first X-Men: Misfits and then Wolverine: Prodigal Son came out on Twitter. This seemed to be surprising news as X-men: Misfits seemed to have sold fairly well, hitting the New York Times best seller list for a few weeks. But the creators of both series say Del Rey…