Author: Penguin Truth
Dragon Ball Z Kai- Episode 09 Review
Episode 9, "Yamcha’s Hard Struggle! The Terrifying Saibamen"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Vegeta and Nappa, now on Earth, use their scouters to find the two strongest ki on the planet- Piccolo and Gohan. Kururin joins them just as the Saiyans find them. Nappa plants strange creatures called Saibamen. Tenshinhan, Chouzu, and Yamcha arrive, and they decide to each go one-on-one with the six creatures. Tenshinhan easily defeats his opponent, which Vegeta finishes off to motivate the others. Yamcha seemingly defeats his, but it recovers and grabs onto him, self-destructing. The blast kills Yamcha, angering Kururin, who prepares an attack of his own.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 09 Review
Episode 9, "Created Memories"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Edward regains consciousness in a hospital, scolded by Ross and Brosh for his recklessness. From there, he calls Winry to Central to repair his automail. Alphonse struggles with the implications of Barry the Chopper’s words, eventually leading to a confrontation with Ed. Winry yells at him for doubting his brother’s intentions, and the two make up on the roof, renewing their vow to keep going.
Comments:
It’s no secret: I’m a fan of the first Fullmetal Alchemist series. It’s how I was introduced to the world of FMA to begin with. It’s one of my favorite anime of all time. I even feel like it handled some of the manga’s material better than the manga did. However, in the case of Alphonse’s existential crisis, the manga, and this episode, handled it more naturally, with subtlety. The first series gave us a largely filler episode involving Scar and two Ishbalan children, which wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great, and certainly didn’t handle it as well as this episode did. Yes, I’m saying that Brotherhood, in this case, is superior to the first series.
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 08 Review
Episode 8, "Be Born! Baron Ashura!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kouji teams up with Tsubasa and her crew to take on Baron Ashura, who is holding Sayaka and Aphrodai A captive in a giant Mechanical Beast. Dr. Hell recounts’ Tsubasa’s hand in creating Ashura. Viscount Pygman, one of Dr. Hell’s other subordinates appears to rescue Ashura. Tsubasa tells her subordinates to take Kouji and his brother into the Kurogane House.
Comments:
Tsubasa and her group continue to be the most (see: only) interesting characters in the series. New ones keep popping out of the woodwork, but they’re always colorful. This time we got introduced to the guy who made Boss and his two friends shut up in the previous episode (or was it the episode before?), the man with the crack shot. We even got a little background on Tsubasa. I’d be more inclined to enjoy the program if were simply about this group, but unfortunately, it’s about Kouji Kabuto.
Dragon Ball Z Kai- Episode 08 Review
Episode 8, "Come Forth, Shenron! The Saiyan Finally Arrive On Earth"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: On the last day of training on Kaio’s planet, Goku practices the Genki Dama (Spirit Bomb) attack and contacts Master Roshi to tell him to use the Dragon Balls to ressurect him. Master Roshi summons Shenron and Goku is wished back to life. As he heads back to Earth, however, the Saiyans arrive.
Comments:
It looks like my excitement last week was premature, since we continue to set up things for most of this episode. This episode wrapped up all the preperation for the series of battles to come, with Goku testing his Genki Dama, Master Roshi and the gang summoning Shenron, and Goku heading back to Earth. I almost completely forgot that there was that scene of Goku testing his new attack on Kai’s planet. I’m glad it made the cut.
Anime Moment: Casshern Sin – Janice’s Song
Such a beautiful moment.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 08 Review
Episode 8, "Research Lab 5"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Edward and Alphonse are confronted by the guards of the Fifth Laboratory, Slicer the Homocide and Barry the Chopper, respectively. The guards turn out to be hallow suits of metal, who, like Alphonse, had their souls bonded to the armor. Inside the laboratory, Ed also discovers that Slicer is actually two souls, those of brothers, and barely manages to defeat them, using Scar’s technique of deconstruction. Outside, Barry fills Alphonse with doubts over the validity of his existence. Lust and Envy appear before Ed, with Envy knocking him out and taking him to his brother, Brosh, and Maria, as the lab collapses. Barry makes his escape, as does Envy.
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 07 Review
Episode 7, "Legendary! The Mechanical Beasts of Bardos Island!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Shiro realizes something is wrong when he wakes up in the police office and the officers are all dead. The Inspector Ankokuji that has been keeping Kouji in custody is actually Baron Ashura in disguise, with the real one recovering at the Kurogane House with the protection of Tsubasa Nishikiori. Tsubasa attacks Ashura at the police station, while Dr. Hell recalls his past involving Tsubasa and Dr. Kabuto. Kouji interrupts Tsubasa’s attack to get revenge for his grandfather’s death, but it allows Ashura to break free and summon a Mechanical Beast.
Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series – ROUND EIGHT
Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series – ROUND EIGHT

So, this is it. The final round of manga/first anime series comparisons. After volume 8 of the manga (actually during volume 8), the differences between the two versions of FMA expand into a large gulf. In volume 8, the Xingese characters are introduced. In episodes of the series, there’s a return to Lior, where Scar tries for revenge against those who destroyed his people.
It’s been fun comparing.
EVENTS:
